Policy Officer London, England
Job description
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About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
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Location
About the job
Job summary
Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. We inspect and regulate services that care for children and young people, and services providing education and skills for learners of all ages.
Every week, we carry out hundreds of inspections and regulatory visits throughout England and publish the results online. We also report on standards across the country and are accountable directly to Parliament. Ofsted’s inspections are independent and impartial.
The Education Directorate is led by the National Director of Education. It is responsible for policy development in early years, schools, further education and skills, teacher development, and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The Directorate is responsible for the continuous improvement and development of Ofsted’s education inspection policy and methodology, driving improvement through the education system with a clear focus on pupils.
A significant part of the Directorate’s role includes leading on policy development and associated legislative change, including developing inspection frameworks, instruments and guidance. The Cross Remit Education team (CREd) sits within the Education Directorate. It holds overall responsibility for the continuous improvement of the education inspection framework (EIF) and leads the directorate’s cross-remit inspection work, including in special education needs and disabilities (SEND) and teacher development. We also lead, coordinate and influence cross-cutting work across all education inspection remits to ensure consistency and coherency
Job description
Person specification
The key responsibilities of the role are outlined below. However, this is an overview of the role and is not exhaustive. Ofsted reserves the right to assign other duties appropriate to the B2 APT grade as required.
- To support the timely development, production and dissemination of policies, guidance and frameworks relating to area SEND.
- To lead on particular areas of policy work according to demand.
- To support relationships with a diverse range of external stakeholders.
- To provide prompt and high-quality responses to requests for information, including internal and external queries and briefings to senior managers.
- To support the delivery of advice and recommendations to colleagues on the detail of frameworks and policy to support the development and delivery of Ofsted’s activities.
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Knowledge and experience of developing policies, guidance and frameworks under which an organisation delivers its work.
- Knowledge and experience of managing a programme of work.
- Experience of building positive and effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders and team members.
- Experience of promoting change or influencing the behaviour and actions of others.
Benefits
Ofsted operates a hybrid working approach, allowing colleagues to benefit from time in the office, with the flexibility also to work from home. Our expectation is that you will spend at least 60% of your time working in your office, or at external meetings or events. The exact balance will depend on the nature of your role and the suitability of your home environment, and will be discussed and agreed with your line manager.
Ofsted is committed to maintaining employee health and wellbeing, whether it is physically, emotionally, financially or socially, and offers a range of benefits to support employees in this. Such benefits include the option to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme, professional and personal development opportunities, 32.5 annual leave days per annum (plus eight days public holiday) and counselling and advisory services for you and your family.
Any move to Ofsted from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Shortlisting:
The selection panel will assess your application based on your evidence you have provided against the essential criteria as set out in the person specification.
You will also be asked to provide information within the “Employer/Activity History” section of the application form. This information is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV setting out your career history (this will be used in the sifting process).
In the event, we receive a high number of applications, the business will sift on the criteria below:
Knowledge and experience of developing policies, guidance and frameworks under which an organisation delivers its work.
Assessment and Interview:
The most suitable candidates will be invited to attend an assessment and interview at either Clive House, London, 2 Rivergate, Bristol or Piccadilly Gate, Manchester.
Please ensure you are available to attend during the week commencing on Monday 12 June 2023.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/02a_RECRUITMENT-PRINCIPLES-April-2018-FINAL-.pdf
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should email Ofsted recruitment at [email protected] in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at:
https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/
