Policy & Equalities Officer

at  BCP Council

ROLE PURPOSE

This is an exciting time to join the council’s policy team, we are ready to launch our corporate strategy ‘A shared vision for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’ 2024-2028, which sets out the council’s priorities and ambitions, alongside this we are developing and implementing corporate dashboards for monitoring performance and reporting on our progress.
You will be joining a team that lead on corporate policy, who are at the forefront of translating national and regional policy and advising both officers and cabinet members on changes to legislation and policy changes.
We are looking for a policy officer to join our busy team, who is excited by new challenges and wants to be part of local government, making a difference for our residents, business and local democracy.
Helping to shape or influence local and national policy to improve the health, wellbeing and prosperity of local residents, providing effective equality, policy and strategy advice and support across the Council. This involves researching, writing and interpreting local and national policy to help the organisation and partners fulfil their legal and social responsibilities. You will also support and drive the Council’s diversity and equalities policies and programmes, leading on and developing innovative, sustainable approaches to diversity and equalities activity across the Council and key partners.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• To proactively horizon scan the external environment for changing government policy & legislation and translate and communicate at a local level enabling service units and partners to:
• be responsive to local need
• understand and discharge their public sector equality duties
• pursue external funding opportunities that reduce demand on council resource
• comply with the Localism Act and empower communities.
• To develop and communicate new corporate policy and strategy as required and support the production of policy documents and guidance for internal stakeholders.
• Collect evidence and research to assist with policy changes.
• To facilitate the development of strategic partnership opportunities which bring together and enhance the public sector, private and community capacity to meet local needs.
• To support the planning and delivery of a range of initiatives and events to foster good relations and build resilience in communities.
• To ensure key stakeholders (Members, Directors, Heads of Service etc.) are regularly informed about the impacts of changing government equality policy & legislation and new opportunities.
• To support the development of an overarching corporate strategy or plan, informed by reliable insight and intelligence that sets out clear priorities and measurable outcomes.
• To keep abreast of developments in the field of diversity and equalities and ensure that the council operates in compliance with appropriate legislative and regulatory requirements.
• Use professional curiosity in developing and implementing programmes aimed at improving understanding and awareness of diversity and equalities among officers, councillors and partners.
• To research, design, implement and evaluate projects to deliver the Council’s duties under the Equality Act 2010, providing expertise and examples of best practice, to improve the council’s level of understanding and progress.
• To develop reporting mechanisms to gather equality performance information, including primary responsibility for the Equality Impact Assessment process.
• Carry out and support Equality Impact Assessments for all strategies, budget proposals, policies and procedures across all council activity.