Dear List Members
I thought the following job Description would be of interest to those
in the UK; it's for the Government's Strategy Unit. They are looking
for a disabled researcher to work on disability Issues for the
Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People project.
With the very best of wishes
Colin B
Strategy Unit Project – Improving the Life Chances of
Disabled People
Job Description – Researcher on Disability Issues
Background
The Strategy Unit operates at the heart of Government, reporting
directly to the Prime Minister through the Cabinet Secretary, and
with a remit to address strategic, cross-cutting issues.
The Strategy Unit has been asked to provide supporting analysis
and a strategic assessment of disabled people’s life chances – the
opportunities available to disabled people, both children and adults,
to improve their quality of life. The Unit is working with disabled
people and their representatives, with other interested
organisations and with Government Departments, and will report to
the Minister for Disabled People, Maria Eagle. The project is
expected to run through to the end of summer 2004.
Overview of the post
The Strategy Unit has been working to identify the priority areas
that should be addressed in the main part of this project. This
phase of work has drawn on background research and on
extensive stakeholder interviews, and is now drawing to a close.
The Strategy Unit is now entering the next phase of the project,
which is to analyse in much more depth the issues raised in each
of these priority areas, with a view – in due course – to identifying
specific policy proposals.
To this end, the Strategy Unit is now looking to recruit on a 4-6 month secondment a disabled person11 The Strategy Unit is looking to recruit somebody who self-defines as a disabled person. By way of guidance – though this is not in any way a restriction on those candidates who wish to put
themselves forward – the definition of a disabled person in the Disability Discrimination Act is:
“someone with a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities. In this context, long term means having lasted 12 months or more, or expected to last 12 months or more from the time it started, or
expected to last for the rest of the individual’s life.” with expertise in research, to provide input to the project on
relevant research carried out by/for disabled people and
representative organisations.
Terms and conditions will be based on the terms and conditions of
the secondee in his/her home organisation. However, as a
guideline we are looking to recruit a team member at the equivalent
of the Cabinet Office’s “Band A” (£34,608 - £45,407 per annum) or
“B2” (£22,279 - £29,525 per annum) levels. Generic descriptions
of posts in the Strategy Unit at these levels are available at
{ HYPERLINK http://www.strategy.gov.uk/output/Page4021.asp }http://www.strategy.gov.uk/output/Page4021.asp and
{ HYPERLINK http://www.strategy.gov.uk/output/Page4020.asp }http://www.strategy.gov.uk/output/Page4020.asp respectively.
The Strategy Unit is committed to flexible working, and will consider
on an equal basis applications for part-time or full-time working
(including job shares). The Strategy Unit will also consider on an
equal basis applicants who wish to spend at least part of the week
working away from the Unit’s offices in Admiralty Arch – though
some attendance at meetings etc. will be required. In addition, the
Strategy Unit will take all appropriate steps to meet any individual
access requirements.
Essential criteria for the post
The successful candidate for this post will demonstrate the
following criteria:
· Extensive knowledge of research relevant to the life chances
of disabled people, including in particular research carried
out by disabled people themselves.
· Good awareness of existing disability policy – especially in
the UK but also in other countries.
· Experience of working with disabled people, for example
through disabled people’s forums, focus groups or similar.
· Familiarity with the views and opinions of disabled people,
and an ability to ensure that those views and opinions are
reflected fully in the Strategy Unit’s analysis.
· A willingness to work with an open mind in a mixed team, to
listen to alternative viewpoints and to contribute
constructively to analysis and policy development.
Desirable criteria for the post
The successful candidate will also need to demonstrate their
abilities in the following areas:
· Communication skills – including the ability to present
complex information in a clear way;
· Delivering results – including time management skills and the
ability to work to deadlines
· Customer focus – a recognition of the different customers for
this piece of work, most notably disabled people themselves,
and Government Ministers;
· Team-working;
· Problem solving and judgement.
Next steps
Further details on this post - along with Braille and large print
versions of this job description – are available from the project
leader, Ian Coates, who can be contacted at { HYPERLINK "mailto:[log in to unmask]" }ian.coates@cabinet-
office.x.gsi.gov.uk / 020 7276 1423.
Application forms for this post are available from Teresa Norman,
who can be contacted at:
Room 4.16
Admiralty Arch
The Mall
London SW1A 2WH
{ HYPERLINK "mailto:[log in to unmask]" [log in to unmask]
020 7276 1467
Completed application forms should be sent to Teresa Norman at
the above address by Monday 8th March 2004. Candidates meeting
the Strategy Unit’s criteria will be invited for interview – at which
any necessary access requirements will be fully taken into
account. The successful candidate will be notified within 1 week of
interview.
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