Mental Health Complex Care and Rights Division – Senior Policy Advisor

Looking for a role that combines fast-paced policy delivery with longer-term strategic impact Join the Mental Health Complex Care and Rights Division and help drive change.

The Mental Health Directorate has undergone a significant re-design this is to ensure we are better aligned with current priorities and are able to provide an agile response to changing landscapes in the future. The Directorate has three divisions and we are looking for two Senior Policy Advisors to work within the Mental Health Complex Care and Rights Division which delivers key aspects of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy as well as the Population Health Framework and Scotlands Public Service Reform Strategy.

We are looking for enthusiastic focused individualsto lead on high priority policy areas with a mix of fast paced reactive work and longer-term policy development. Evidence of effective team working and a strong track record in stakeholder collaboration are essential as all of the posts involve working across different policy areas and with stakeholders such as NHS Boards Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) Scottish Prison Service Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service Police Scotland Mental Welfare Commission the Scottish Human Rights Commission HM Inspectorate for Prisons and third sector bodies.

General (Across all Roles)

• Proactive engagement with key internal stakeholders including regular access to Ministers providing high quality advice;
• Managing relationships with external stakeholders building relationships navigating difficulties and engaging with tact and sensitivity;
• Critical appraisal of policy options ensuring any appraisal is good quality independent free from bias and well informed;
• Deployment of good project management skills to manage progress across policy responsibilities identifying and mitigating risk;
• Corporate activities including supporting Ministers PQs FOIs and MiCases;
• Finance oversight of budgets associated with policy responsibilities which may include financial allocations to NHS Boards grants to third sector partners and regular financial reporting to relevant teams.

Learning Disability Senior Policy Advisor (0.6 WTE)

The focus of this role is the Coming Home agenda which contributes to the First Ministers mission to reduce delayed discharge. This aims to ensure that people with learning disabilities and complex care needs are not delayed in hospital for long periods and are able to live at home or in a homely environment.

This role provides a great opportunity in a supportive team for those who are seeking a flexible working pattern and there will be potential to do this either as a job share or as a split of responsibilities.

Prisoner Mental Health Senior Policy Advisor

This role sits within the Forensic Mental Health Unit: Forensic Reform Care and Custody Team and main aim is to improve mental health care experiences and outcomes for people entering within and leaving prison custody.

The team works across a Matrix team with Population Health and Drugs policy on specific areas of work.

For more information on this role or any other please contact Shannon ORourke or Lewis McGarry

• Policy Context and Purpose Practitioner level

Understand the policy process. Develop expertise within the policy area to operate credibly and effectively. Embed cross-cutting policy objectives and responsibilities.

You can find out more about the skills required here: Policy Profession Standards Annex

• Experience of advising and supporting senior officials and/or Ministers as well as working with a range of external stakeholders

• Making effective decisions Level 3
• Seeing the bigger picture Level 3
• Communicating and influencing Level 3 (this criteria will only be assessed at interview not at sift)

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