Further to your interest in this post, please find:

Information about CPAG and about the post Job description Person specification Application form Equal opportunities monitoring form Additional information on Terms and Conditions of Employment

To apply, please return the application form, taking particular care to provide full details of how you meet the person specification. We would also be grateful if you would return the recruitment monitoring form if you are willing to do so (this is not a requirement for consideration for the post but will assist us to review our recruitment procedures). Please send your application and monitoring form by email, to office@cpag.org.uk or by post to

RecruitmentChild Poverty Action Group 94 White Lion StreetLondonN1 9PF

marking the envelope “Confidential”.

If you require further information or need us to make any special arrangements to enable you to participate in the selection process please contact us on 0207 812 5201. Closing date for applications: 12pm, 4 August 2014Interviews: 14 August 2014

General InformationSenior Communications & Campaigns Officer

About CPAG

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is a registered charity established in 1965, and a company limited by guarantee. CPAG is the leading charity campaigning for the abolition of child poverty in the UK and for a better deal for low-income families and children.

To achieve this purpose, CPAG aims to: Raise awareness of the causes, extent, nature and impact of poverty, and strategies for its

eradication and prevention; Bring about positive policy changes for families with children in poverty; Enable those eligible for income maintenance to have access to their full entitlement.

CPAG’s activities include: research, policy and campaigning; lobbying and media work; welfare rights advice, training and test case work; information provision and publishing; and membership work. There are currently two offices from which this work is undertaken, the main office being in London and CPAG in Scotland, located in Glasgow. There is a recognised union to which most of the permanent staff belongs.

What We Do

Policy and campaigningWe seek to achieve positive outcomes through our high-profile lobbying and campaigning work – using our expertise and evidence to influence government, policy makers and the national and local media. We publish research and information on the causes and effects of child poverty (including regular briefing materials on our website and seek practical solutions. Our journal “Poverty”, published three times a year, aims to carry articles and features that inform, stimulate and develop the debate on poverty, its causes and consequences, and the action required to tackle it.

Rights and AdviceWe help ensure that families receive the support they are entitled to by providing expert advice, training and information to welfare rights advisers, lawyers and others on all aspects of the social security and tax credit systems. Advice lines are open to advisers and our staff in London and Glasgow respond to over 2,500 queries a year. Our bi-monthly Welfare Rights Bulletin keeps advisers up-to-date on new legislation and developments. Over 10,000 people a year attend CPAG’s training courses. Through carefully selected test cases, we challenge unjust legislation or unfair or discriminatory decisions.

Publishing and ResourcesCPAG is a major publisher of handbooks used by thousands of volunteer and paid advisers, community workers, lawyers and members of the public. The Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook gives full coverage of all aspects of social security and tax credits. We publish a legal reference work – CPAG’s Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefits Legislation – and handbooks on the child support scheme, fuel rights, debt advice, migration and social security, council tax, student support and benefits, and personal finance. We also run training courses for thousands of benefit advisers across the country ensuring they are up-to-date on the complexities of the social security system and equipped to help their clients. For more information about the work of CPAG visit our website at www.cpag.org.uk

Background to the Post

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a new post within the Policy, Rights & Advocacy team of the UK’s leading child poverty charity.

With child poverty expected to rise steeply in the coming year, CPAG’s Senior Communications and Campaigns Officer will play a key role in building public and political support for action to ensure all children have decent childhoods and fair life chances.

The Senior Communications and Campaigns Officer will help strengthen the expertise, capacity and coordination of CPAG’s communications activities. In particular s/he will play a leading role in strengthening messages by framing discussions about poverty in ways which connect to the key values of the general public but which remain rooted in what the evidence tells us about the causes, effects and solutions to child poverty.

By strengthening messages, by working with strategic partners in civil society and by mobilising supporters, the Senior Communications and Campaigns Officer will play leading role in shaping the public debate.

This is a three-year project supported by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

Terms and conditions of employment

Job title: Senior Communications & Campaigns Officer

Contract: Contract. This post is funded for three years.

Salary: £35,834 - £37,721 plus a non-contributory (5% of salary) Group Personal Pension Scheme.

Hours: 35 hours per week. Normal working hours are 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (including a 1 hour unpaid lunch break). Overtime is not payable, but CPAG operates a ‘core hours’ and TOIL (Time Off In Lieu) policy.

Annual leave: 30 days a year annual leave (as well as 4 days during the Christmas/New Year period when the office closes down). The holiday year runs from April to March. The basic annual leave is pro rata depending on starting date and hours.

Other benefits Interest free travel loan, income protection insurance and ‘death in service’include: provision , and a range of leave entitlements for family and other reasons (details are

on the attached sheet).

There is a six-month probation period for this post.

CPAG’s Commitment to Equal Opportunities

CPAG aims to be an equal opportunities employer and will apply objective criteria to assess merit. It aims to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the ground of race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, responsibility for dependants, disability or age. Selection criteria and procedures will be reviewed to ensure that individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. All employees will be given equal opportunity and, where appropriate and possible, special training to enable them to develop their potential both within and outside CPAG. CPAG is committed to a programme of action to make this statement effective, and will bring it to the attention of all employees.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Senior Communications & Campaigns Officer

Reports To: Director of Policy, Rights and Advocacy

Team: Policy, Rights and Advocacy

Grade: Grade D: £35,834 - £37,721

Location: CPAG London office

Job purpose

To develop and communicate CPAG’s key messages in order to strengthen public understanding of the causes, effects and solutions to child poverty.

To build a stronger and more focused civil society voice on child poverty.

To ensure the voices and real experiences of low income families are heard in public debates.

To develop, implement and evaluate CPAG campaigns helping low income families and build public and political support

Responsibilities

COMMUNICATIONS

1. To understand and monitor the latest research on influencing public attitudes to poverty and social security.

2. To develop, implement and evaluate a communications strategy to establish a narrative on the causes, effects and solutions to child poverty which resonates with the values of the general public.

3. To produce strong stories, infographics and symbols to convey complicated poverty and social security issues clearly and powerfully.

4. To provide communication tools and resources for civil society partners to ensure they understand the impact of child poverty on their work and support CPAG key messages.

5. To work with colleagues to identify and make strategic interventions to challenge ill-informed public, media and political discussions on poverty and social security.

6. To utilise digital and social media opportunities, e.g., Website, Twitter and email, in order to deliver on communications and campaigns work.

7. To work with colleagues to identify and support low income families willing to talk about their own experiences, develop case studies and identify appropriate platforms so their voices are heard by the government and the public.

CAMPAIGNS

8. To project manage campaigns, working with colleagues across CPAG to ensure campaigns are integrated and delivered.

9. To build and manage a network of CPAG campaigners to support communications and campaign activities.

10. To strengthen CPAG’s campaigning capacity by making best use of engagement with its networks and coalitions.

GENERAL

11. To ensure compliance with all CPAG’s policies and standard practices, paying specific attention to issues of Diversity and Equality.

12. To take on any other reasonable tasks which contribute to achievement of the job purpose and the aims of CPAG.

PERSON SPECIFICATION – SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS AND CAMPAIGNS OFFICER

Experience

Essential DesirableExperience of working in a press, public affairs, campaigning, or another relevant role or environment

Experience of initiating, planning and implementing campaigns

Experience of public campaigning or mobilising campaigners, including using digital campaigning tools

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

Essential DesirableKnowledge of current social policy and political issues in the UK

Knowledge and understanding of causes, effects and solutions to child poverty

Excellent writing skills including the ability to draft compelling and concise campaign communications and web copy for different audiences

Knowledge of relevant social policy area, such as social security, employment or family policy

Strong oral communication skills, including the ability to influence opinion formers and potential civil society partners

Ability to understand research on influencing public attitudes and use this to strengthen CPAG’s communications

Understanding of branding and how communications need to reflect CPAG’s brand

Knowledge of the latest campaigning techniques and good practice

Ability to maximise digital and social media influencing opportunities

Ability to work collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders

Ability to identify and support low income families to have their voices and experiences heard in key political and public debates

Ability to work to tight deadlines and to prioritise between competing tasks.

Strong organisational and administrative skills including proficiency with Microsoft Office andContent Management Systems.

Personal Qualities

Essential DesirableCommitment to CPAG’s aims and objectives

Commitment to CPAG’s Diversity & Equalities policy

Other Contractual Requirements

Essential DesirableAbility to spend occasional nights away from home on business

Application FormSenior Communications & Campaigns Officer

Please complete (word process, type or write) this form in black ink, to enable clear photocopying. If you require more space in any section, please continue on A4, single sided, sheets of paper. PLEASE DO NOT SEND A CV. Please do not fold application form more than once.

Personal details:

Name:_________________________________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Tel Nos: Home: _______________ Mobile Work: _______________

May we contact you there? Yes No circle which one (Discretion will be used)

Email: _________________________________

Current Employment: Please give details of your present or most recent employer.

Employer’s Name:_________________________________________________________________________

Job Title:__________________________________________________________________________

Date Started:____________________ Date Left:_____ _____________

Salary:______________________

Reason for Leaving:_______________________________________________________________________

Summary of Duties:

Previous Employment: Please start with the most recent position and work backwards

Date From Date To Employer’s Name/Address Job Title/Summary of Duties Reason for Leaving

Other Experience: Please give details of any unpaid work or other experience relevant to this post:

Qualifications: Please list below examination results with dates:

Training: Please list any specialist knowledge acquired that is relevant to the job including training courses attended (with dates).

_____________________________________________________________

Work Permit:

Do you require a work permit? Please answer yes or no

The successful candidate will be required to show proof of eligibility to work in the United Kingdom prior to the start date. A list of documentation required will be sent with the provisional offer letter.

This Post:

Please address all the criteria in the person specification, giving examples to show how you meet each requirement. Please be concise.

Please continue on separate A4 sheet/s if necessary.

References:

Please give the names of two referees, one of whom should be your present or most recent employer. (If this is not possible, then someone who has known you well in your most recent work experience/employment.)

N.B. We will take up references for the successful candidate only.

Name: Name:

Title: Title:

Organisation: Organisation:

Address: Address:

Telephone:

Email:

Telephone:

Email:

Notice period required/date available for employment:

I confirm to the best of my knowledge that the information given on this form is true.

Signed Date:

Closing date for this position is 12pm, 4 August 2014

Please return to: Private and ConfidentialRecruitmentChild Poverty Action Group 94 White Lion StreetLondon

Or via email: office@cpag.org.uk

RECRUITMENT MONITORING

In the interests of monitoring our recruitment procedures we would be grateful if you could complete this form. We will separate this document from the application form and it will not take part in any selection process.

Please tick as appropriate

Male

Female

What is your ethnic group?

A White

  British

  Irish

  Any other White background, please write in

B Mixed

  White and Black Caribbean

  White and Black African

  White and Asian

  Any other Mixed background, please write in

C Asian or Asian British

  Indian

  Pakistani

  Bangladeshi

  Any other Asian background, please write in

D Black or Black British

  Caribbean

  African

  Any other Black background, please write in

E Chinese or other ethnic group

  Chinese

  Any other, please write in

Do you have a disability as defined under the Disability Discrimination Act (defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on [your] ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)?

Yes

No

Please provide details of any special arrangements you would require if invited to

interview

What age group do you belong to?

Under 25

26 – 35

36 – 50

Over 50

CPAG is keen to improve our recruitment practices and ensure we do all we can to attract a diverse range of applicants for our posts. To assist us, we would be very grateful if you would tell us about anything that attracted you about the organisation or the post that may help us to improve our recruitment process in future. Please also tell us how you heard about this vacancy.

Thank you for providing this information to assist us with our recruitment monitoring

Additional Information on Terms and Conditions of Employment

CPAG offers 30 days annual leave (in addition to 4 days to be taken when the office is closed over the Christmas break), along with a range of family and other leave entitlements as follows:

26 weeks paid maternity leave and 26 additional weeks unpaid maternity leave

6 weeks paid leave for staff whose partner has or adopts a baby (These entitlements are also available to staff who adopt children).

13 weeks unpaid parental leave for parents or guardians of children up to age 16 (18 weeks for parents or guardians of disabled children)

10 days paid leave for staff members who have to care for a dependent

5 days paid leave for urgent domestic reasons

5 days paid leave for staff who carry out public duties

10 days paid study leave subject to agreement by CPAG

An unpaid career break of up to 6 months available to staff after 2 years’ service

Time off in lieu to allow staff to work flexibly

Arrangements apply pro rata to part-time staff