Job Vacancy – Policy and Evidence Officer, Healthwatch Sheffield

As a Policy and Evidence Officer, you will use your strong analytical skills to collect evidence from a huge range of resources and use different communication methods to demonstrate your findings in a way that people from all walks of life can understand.

You will write reports and represent Healthwatch on many different issues, from mental wellbeing to Deaf people’s experiences of healthcare. The aim of your role will be to ensure that Healthwatch Sheffield has a robust evidence base for its work; to connect Healthwatch Sheffield’s research to changes in practice at local and national levels; and positively promote Healthwatch and Voluntary Action Sheffield at events and meetings.

Location: The Circle, 33 Rockingham Ln, Sheffield, S1 4FW
Start date: August/September 2018
Length of role: 12 months initially

Typical activities might include:

● Collate intelligence about health, social care and well-being from a variety of sources
● Ensuring intelligence gathering and research through Healthwatch Local, Student Healthwatch and Young Healthwatch is embedded and robust
● Setting up follow up research about specific issues raised by intelligence gathering
● Analysing evidence to draw out key messages, issues and lessons
● Drafting reports and briefings to influence and inform Healthwatch Sheffield’s work, and working with service providers on the issues raised
● Making active links with local and national policy development including local institutions, organisations and think tanks
● Supporting the Healthwatch Sheffield team with research tools and briefings to ensure their work is closely connected to evidence gathering
● Supporting volunteers and engagement staff in planning and carrying out ‘Enter and View’ visits to providers and commissioners of NHS and social care services
● Representing Healthwatch Sheffield at a range of meetings
● Working with the Chief Officer, Healthwatch Sheffield team and partner organisations on policy and influencing using Healthwatch research and intelligence
● Ensuring Healthwatch Sheffield data and research informs Healthwatch England evidence gathering

The ideal candidate will:

● Be a graduate of any degree discipline. We particularly welcome applications from people who identify into the following groups: BAME, refugees, Roma and Traveller communities, disabled people, people with experience of long term health conditions and people with caring responsibilities
● Have experience working in the voluntary sector
● Have excellent verbal communication skills and emotional intelligence. This means being self-assured, able to “hold their own” in group discussions, navigate internal politics and challenge opinions and assumptions in a diplomatic and productive way
● Show good judgement and understand the best way to solve problems
● Be discreet, empathetic and resilient – you may hear about situations that are upsetting and confidential so responding appropriately is key
● Have highly developed analytical skills and the ability to analyse research evidence and information to draw out critical issues
● Have excellent written communication skills and the ability to write easy to understand content in a variety of formats for different audiences (reports, briefing papers, social media posts etc)
● Be well organised, able to work at a fast pace, methodical and have high attention to detail
● Be committed to inclusive working, equality and diversity
● Be collaborative and happy to get stuck into a wide range of tasks – this is a busy organisation, so you will be asked to muck in with other projects when required
● Be happy to work occasional evenings and weekends