Strengthening Disabled Peoples User-Led Organisations (DPULOs): Ambassador Role

DWP May 2012

Contents
Strengthening Disabled Peoples 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 ................................................................... 13

DWP May 2012

Background information
Maria Miller MP, Minister for Disabled People, recognises the role and value of disabled people in the local community, and the role that Disabled Peoples User-Led Organisations (DPULOs) and voluntary organisations play in enabling this. The Strengthening DPULOs Programme was launched in July 2011 and provides a multi-layered programme which provides a range of practical and financial support. The programmes layers are as follows: National Lead - this role is delivered by a secondee into the Office for Disability Issues from a DPULO and a member of staff from the Office for Disability Issues. This shared role brings together skills from inside and outside of government and provides a focal point for the programme. Ambassadors DPULO Ambassadors work across England to raise awareness of local organisations, promote projects which will build sustainability and strengthen the role of disabled people in the local community. Underpinning this non financial support is the Facilitation Fund. This is a pot of funding that enables DPULOs to bid for small amounts of money to fund specific things that will make a significant difference to their sustainability. To further develop the programme we are looking to recruit additional Ambassadors in Wales, Scotland and northern England.

DWP May 2012

Overview of the Ambassador role

Ambassadors are well-respected people who, through their position, experience, expertise and work can promote the value of Disabled Peoples User-Led Organisations to a variety of stakeholders within their local area. The Ambassador role can be described as one that: enthuses, energises, open doors, engages, challenges, promotes, builds relationships 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 limited to: 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 May 2012 4

 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 May 2012

Person specification
Below is the set of experience and expertise that Ambassadors would be expected to demonstrate: Well-respected Ambassadors, because of their position or status (e.g. their day job), will be able to contact people and places that voluntary sector organisations or DPULOs cant. Their profile, experience and expertise will therefore enable them to open doors. The intention is that Ambassadors would come from a variety of backgrounds bringing to their role the skills, knowledge, credibility and commitment. Understanding the community Ambassadors need to have a good understanding of their local community and how Disabled Peoples User-Led Organisations (DPULOs) and voluntary sector organisations operate in their local area. They should have a good understanding about what is happening for disabled people in their area. They need to be involved in the local community and understand the problems within their community. Their key role will be promoting the value of DPULOs and voluntary sector organisations and championing them, particularly within the local community, elected members and local authorities. Excellent communication skills Ambassadors would be expected to have excellent communication skills and networks. This will enable them promote local community organisations and their cause at every possible opportunity, by using existing contacts, talks at conferences, or through media opportunities etc. Experience of working in partnership and encouraging partnership working between organisations Ambassadors will help and encourage DPULOs and community organisations to work together. They will also encourage wider partnership working between DPULOs, community organisations and a wide range of other stakeholders including commissioners within 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 May 2012 6

In addition Ambassadors will share experience and learning between themselves, and also act as a means of linking up local community organisations from further apart geographically (for learning etc). Support organisations to develop specialist projects and submit associated funding bids Ambassadors will have good experience of developing specialist projects that are often complex and require the involvement of a range of different stakeholders from different sectors. They should be able to demonstrate the ability to translate these ideas into robust projects, that include the ability to deliver to time and to budget. Decision making Ambassadors will be used to taking part in decision making forums and will need to demonstrate effective decision making when applying the criteria of funding associated with the programme to bids submitted by DPULOs and community organisations. Excellent understanding of disability Ambassadors must have an excellent understanding of disability issues, including the issues faced by disabled people on a day-today basis and the wider environment disabled people live in. They must demonstrate an understanding of the Social Model of Disability and what this means in practice.

DWP May 2012

Terms and Conditions

Length of the appointment The appointment will initially be for a period of 18 months, with an option to extend thereafter. Remuneration Approximately 2 - 3 days per month at 200 per day (up to 7,200 per 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 be responsible for payment of their own income tax and national insurance contributions.

DWP May 2012

How to apply
If you are interested in being considered for one of these positions please: 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 is available in easy read. It is important you complete the application form in full. This is to ensure the selection panel can easily find the information they require in order to compare the responses from all candidates equally and transparently against each other. For this reason, applications from candidates who have not completed the application form will not be considered, and CVs alone will not be acceptable. All information will be treated in strictest confidence. However, if you are successful, the information provided on the political activity form will be published with the announcement of your appointment. The closing date for applications is Friday 8th June 2012 at 10.00am. Late applications will not be considered. Accessible Formats If you need to make your application in an accessible format, Easy Read or have any problems at all in making your application then please telephone contact Audrey Daft 0207 449 5025. All applications will be acknowledged in writing, either by email or post.

DWP May 2012

The recruitment process

Based on previous experience, we anticipate a high level of demand and high standard of applications for the role of Ambassador. The selection panel will identify from among the applications received those candidates the ones suitable for a final interview with the panel. All candidates will be informed of the results by telephone. Those going forward will be invited to a formal panel interview in London. Please see the timetable below for specific dates. Closing date Friday 8th June at 10am Panel Interviews 2nd July to 9th July Please list on your application form any dates when you will be unavailable during the recruitment process.

Expenses
Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed to candidates who are required to attend an interview, against production of a receipt

Appointments
The DWP is committed to the principles of appointments based on merit with independent assessment, openness and transparency of process.

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Standards of Conduct and Conflicts of Interest Successful candidates will be required to show commitment to the Seven Principles of Public Life, as drawn up by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, more usually known as the Nolan Principles. These can be found at: http://www.public-standards.org.uk/About/The_7_Principles.html Public bodies are expected to maintain a register of members interests to avoid any danger of board members being influenced or appearing to be influenced, by their private interests in the exercise of their public duties. Candidates invited to interview will be questioned about any real or perceived conflicts of interest. These do not constitute an automatic bar to appointment, but they must be manageable. Conflicts could include: financial arrangements, e.g. fees or shareholdings, of the candidate, business associates or close family; membership of organisations whose aims might be perceived to be in conflict with those of the DWP; and any activity which, if revealed after appointment, could cause embarrassment to the DWP or the Minister. Political activity question You must also complete the political activity declaration in the application form. On the recommendation of the Committee on Standards in Public Life all applicants for these appointments must answer the standard questions on political activity. The format of the questions has been designed by the Commissioner after consultation with the Government and the Committee on Standards in Public Life. It must not be amended in any way. The questions only ask for information that is already in the public domain; it does not ask for personal or private information such as membership of political parties or voting preferences.

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Definition of Disability The Act defines a disabled person as a person with a disability. A person has a disability for the purpose of the Act if he or she has a physical or mental impairment and the impairment has a substantial and long-tern adverse effect on his or her ability to carry 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 Equality The DWP is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. We will not tolerate discrimination on any of the following: gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, religion, religious belief or other philosophical belief, age, disability, HIV positivity, working pattern, caring responsibilities, trade union activity, community background or political beliefs or on any other grounds.

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What the ODI does

The Office for Disability Issues works directly with the departments responsible 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.

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