DPULO Ambassador information pack

Strengthening Disabled People’s User-LedOrganisations (DPULOs): Ambassador RoleDWPMay 2012

ContentsStrengthening Disabled People’s User-Led Organisations(DPULOs): Ambassador Role ........................................................ 1 Contents ..................................................................................... 2 Background information .............................................................. 3 Overview of the Ambassador role............................................... 4 Person specification.................................................................... 6 Well-respected ........................................................................ 6 Understanding the community................................................. 6 Excellent communication skills................................................ 6 Experience of working in partnership and encouraging partnership working between organisations ............................ 6 Support organisations to develop specialist projects and submit associated funding bids ............................................... 7 Decision making ...................................................................... 7 Excellent understanding of disability ....................................... 7 Terms and Conditions................................................................. 8 How to apply ............................................................................... 9 The recruitment process ........................................................... 10 What the ODI does ................................................................... 13DWP 2May 2012

Background informationMaria Miller MP, Minister for Disabled People, recognises the roleand value of disabled people in the local community, and the rolethat Disabled People’s User-Led Organisations (DPULOs) andvoluntary organisations play in enabling this.The Strengthening DPULOs Programme was launched in July2011 and provides a multi-layered programme which provides arange of practical and financial support.The programme’s layers are as follows:National Lead - this role is delivered by a secondee into the Officefor Disability Issues from a DPULO and a member of staff from theOffice for Disability Issues. This shared role brings together skillsfrom inside and outside of government and provides a focal pointfor the programme.Ambassadors – DPULO Ambassadors work across England toraise awareness of local organisations, promote projects which willbuild sustainability and strengthen the role of disabled people inthe local community.Underpinning this non financial support is the Facilitation Fund.This is a pot of funding that enables DPULOs to bid for smallamounts of money to fund specific things that will make asignificant difference to their sustainability.To further develop the programme we are looking to recruitadditional Ambassadors in Wales, Scotland and northern England.DWP 3May 2012

Overview of the Ambassador roleAmbassadors are well-respected people who, through theirposition, experience, expertise and work can promote the value ofDisabled People’s User-Led Organisations to a variety ofstakeholders within their local area.The Ambassador role can be described as one that: enthuses,energises, open doors, engages, challenges, promotes, buildsrelationships and facilitates.This translates to the following objectives:  To encourage partnership and closer working between DPULOs, voluntary sector organisations and Local Authorities.  To work with local organisations to develop community based activities for disabled people.  To develop a range of projects and activities that build skills, provide volunteering opportunities and create learning and development.  Strengthening the role of disabled people in the local community.  To participate in the decision making associated with the programme.This can be achieved in a variety of ways including, but not limitedto:  Meetings with all relevant organisations including DPULOs, commissioners within Local Authorities and other public sector organisations, voluntary sector organisations, employers etc.  Establishing links and partnerships between local organisations.DWP 4May 2012

 Capturing and sharing good learning and examples.  Making full use of all forms of communication to promote the work and value of DPULOs.  Working with organisations to develop projects that meet the needs of local disabled people.  Ambassadors are independent of Government and work with and report directly to the National Leads.DWP 5May 2012

Person specificationBelow is the set of experience and expertise that Ambassadorswould be expected to demonstrate:Well-respectedAmbassadors, because of their position or status (e.g. their “dayjob”), will be able to contact people and places that voluntarysector organisations or DPULOs can’t. Their profile, experienceand expertise will therefore enable them to “open doors”. Theintention is that Ambassadors would come from a variety ofbackgrounds bringing to their role the skills, knowledge, credibilityand commitment.Understanding the communityAmbassadors need to have a good understanding of their localcommunity and how Disabled People’s User-Led Organisations(DPULOs) and voluntary sector organisations operate in their localarea. They should have a good understanding about what ishappening for disabled people in their area. They need to beinvolved in the local community and understand the problemswithin their community. Their key role will be promoting the valueof DPULOs and voluntary sector organisations and championingthem, particularly within the local community, elected membersand local authorities.Excellent communication skillsAmbassadors would be expected to have excellent communicationskills and networks. This will enable them promote localcommunity organisations and their cause at every possibleopportunity, by using existing contacts, talks at conferences, orthrough media opportunities etc.Experience of working in partnership and encouragingpartnership working between organisationsAmbassadors will help and encourage DPULOs and communityorganisations to work together. They will also encourage widerpartnership working between DPULOs, community organisationsand a wide range of other stakeholders – including commissionerswithin Local Authorities and other public sector organisations,employers etc. – to work together to share skills, knowledge,experience and learning as well as facilitating partnership working.DWP 6May 2012

In addition Ambassadors will share experience and learningbetween themselves, and also act as a means of linking up localcommunity organisations from further apart geographically (forlearning etc).Support organisations to develop specialist projects andsubmit associated funding bidsAmbassadors will have good experience of developing specialistprojects that are often complex and require the involvement of arange of different stakeholders from different sectors. They shouldbe able to demonstrate the ability to translate these ideas intorobust projects, that include the ability to deliver to time and tobudget.Decision makingAmbassadors will be used to taking part in decision making forumsand will need to demonstrate effective decision making whenapplying the criteria of funding associated with the programme tobids submitted by DPULOs and community organisations.Excellent understanding of disabilityAmbassadors must have an excellent understanding of disabilityissues, including the issues faced by disabled people on a day-to-day basis and the wider environment disabled people live in. Theymust demonstrate an understanding of the Social Model ofDisability and what this means in practice.DWP 7May 2012

Terms and ConditionsLength of the appointmentThe appointment will initially be for a period of 18 months, with anoption to extend thereafter.RemunerationApproximately 2 - 3 days per month at £200 per day (up to £7,200per annum).We will also pay reasonable expenses for the cost of travel(fares/petrol/taxi), including travel time in line with DWP guidance.Members will be office holders and not employees and will beresponsible for payment of their own income tax and nationalinsurance contributions.DWP 8May 2012

How to applyIf you are interested in being considered for one of these positionsplease:  Examine the Overview of the Ambassador Role Person Specification carefully to assess whether you are suitable for one of the roles.  Complete the application form, including the enclosed monitoring forms.This application form is separated into 8 sections (16 pages) and isavailable in easy read. It is important you complete the applicationform in full.This is to ensure the selection panel can easily find the informationthey require in order to compare the responses from all candidatesequally and transparently against each other. For this reason,applications from candidates who have not completed theapplication form will not be considered, and CVs alone will not beacceptable.All information will be treated in strictest confidence. However, ifyou are successful, the information provided on the political activityform will be published with the announcement of your appointment.The closing date for applications is Friday 8th June 2012 at10.00am. Late applications will not be considered.Accessible FormatsIf you need to make your application in an accessible format, EasyRead or have any problems at all in making your application thenplease telephone contact Audrey Daft 0207 449 5025.All applications will be acknowledged in writing, either by email orpost.DWP 9May 2012

The recruitment processBased on previous experience, we anticipate a high level ofdemand and high standard of applications for the role ofAmbassador.The selection panel will identify from among the applicationsreceived those candidates the ones suitable for a final interviewwith the panel. All candidates will be informed of the results bytelephone. Those going forward will be invited to a formal panelinterview in London.Please see the timetable below for specific dates.Closing dateFriday 8th June at 10amPanel Interviews2nd July to 9th JulyPlease list on your application form any dates when you willbe unavailable during the recruitment process.ExpensesReasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed to candidates whoare required to attend an interview, against production of a receiptAppointmentsThe DWP is committed to the principles of appointments based onmerit with independent assessment, openness and transparencyof process.DWP 10May 2012

Standards of Conduct and Conflicts of InterestSuccessful candidates will be required to show commitment to theSeven Principles of Public Life, as drawn up by the Committee onStandards in Public Life, more usually known as the NolanPrinciples. These can be found at:http://www.public-standards.org.uk/About/The_7_Principles.htmlPublic bodies are expected to maintain a register of members’interests to avoid any danger of board members being influencedor appearing to be influenced, by their private interests in theexercise of their public duties. Candidates invited to interview willbe questioned about any real or perceived conflicts of interest.These do not constitute an automatic bar to appointment, but theymust be manageable. Conflicts could include: financialarrangements, e.g. fees or shareholdings, of the candidate,business associates or close family; membership of organisationswhose aims might be perceived to be in conflict with those of theDWP; and any activity which, if revealed after appointment, couldcause embarrassment to the DWP or the Minister.Political activity questionYou must also complete the political activity declaration in theapplication form. On the recommendation of the Committee onStandards in Public Life all applicants for these appointments mustanswer the standard questions on political activity. The format ofthe questions has been designed by the Commissioner afterconsultation with the Government and the Committee onStandards in Public Life. It must not be amended in any way. Thequestions only ask for information that is already in the publicdomain; it does not ask for personal or private information such asmembership of political parties or voting preferences.DWP 11May 2012

Definition of DisabilityThe Act defines a disabled person as a person with a disability. Aperson has a disability for the purpose of the Act if he or she has aphysical or mental impairment and the impairment has asubstantial and long-tern adverse effect on his or her ability tocarry out normal day-to-day activities.This means that, in general:  The person must have an impairment that is either physical or mental,  The impairment must have adverse effects which are substantial,  The substantial adverse effects must be long-term, and  The long term substantial adverse effects must be effects on normal day-to-day activities.Diversity and EqualityThe DWP is committed to providing services which embracediversity and which promote equality of opportunity. We will nottolerate discrimination on any of the following: gender, maritalstatus, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, race, colour,nationality, religion, religious belief or other philosophical belief,age, disability, HIV positivity, working pattern, caringresponsibilities, trade union activity, community background orpolitical beliefs – or on any other grounds.DWP 12May 2012

What the ODI doesThe Office for Disability Issues works directly with the departmentsresponsible for:  Health  Transport  Children, schools and families  Work and pensions  Business and enterprise  Communities and local government.We work to make equality a reality for disabled people by:  promoting joined-up government to improve the way policy is made and services are delivered  involving disabled people and their expertise in what we do and encouraging others to do the same  being a source of evidence and expertise on disability for the rest of government  promoting human rights and ensuring effective disability equality legislation  communicating what is happening across government on disability.For more information please visit the ODI website:http://odi.dwp.gov.uk.DWP 13May 2012

DPULO Ambassador information pack

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