Policy & Research Internship

1 Year Fixed Term
Real Living Wage
Hybrid working considered

About us:
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation (CBF) is a leading learning disability charity. We are the only UK charity specifically focused on people with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges and their families.

About the role:
- Interns play a crucial role in shaping positive change on behalf of people with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges and their families at the CBF
- The CBF’s internships offer an exciting opportunity for individuals interested in working collaboratively with stakeholders across research, health, education and social care and the charity sector
- Ideal candidates will have a passion for addressing inequalities and possess strong communication and organisational skills
- Our internship scheme has been running for over a decade and is structured to provide valuable experience and networking opportunities with experts in the field whilst receiving a salary. We offer guidance from experienced managers and operate a flexible working hours policy with a culture that promotes excellent work life balance.
- This is an excellent stepping stone into a career within the learning disability field and/or the voluntary or public sector.

Objectives
- To contribute to national policy influencing work, including the work of the action-focussed Challenging Behaviour National Strategy Group, raising awareness of the issues faced by children, young people and adults with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges and their families
- To support the co-production of national research studies with leading learning disability researchers and family carers
- To support delivery of The CBF’s communications strategy

Responsibilities may include:
1. To support the CBF’s co-production of research including:
- Building and maintaining positive relationships with researchers and family carer advisory groups
- Supporting the recruitment of new advisory groups
- Organising and preparing papers for meetings in collaboration with colleagues
- Attending in person and online meetings and recording discussions and actions
- Supporting the delivery of agreed actions
- Maintaining group membership and record keeping of attendance/payments
2. Contributing to the CBF’s national policy influencing work including consultation responses, internal and external meetings, reports and key correspondence. This will include:
- Sourcing up to date research evidence and best practice
- Working collaboratively with family carers and professionals
- Drafting content or questions
- Supporting the planning, delivery and appropriate follow up of internal and external meetings
- Ensuring references and links to external resources are accurate and up to date
- Supporting the development of information resources or multimedia resources
3. Working with the Policy Team to support the Challenging Behaviour – National Strategy Group (CB-NSG) and steering group:
- Organising and attending national and subgroup meetings of key stakeholders, in collaboration with colleagues to influence policy and campaign for change to enable people with learning disabilities to have good lives.
- Preparation of papers for national, steering group and subgroup meetings
- Supporting the delivery of actions identified by the steering group and subgroups
4. Contributing to internal and external communications of the charity, including:
- Communicating with a range of stakeholders and The CBF’s networks
- Supporting with content for email mailings, social media, The CBF’s newsletter and website
- Producing materials to disseminate CBF’s policy, research and project work, in a range of formats including video, visual and text formats
- Updating content on The CBF’s database as required
5. Ensuring regular support for and communication with other members of The CBF team
6. Any other tasks as determined by the Line Manager

This role requires a Basic Disclosure Check.

This role requires proof of the right to work in the UK. This role is NOT open to applications from those who require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Person specification:

Experience and knowledge:
- Politics, psychology, sociology, social policy, or other relevant degree (Essential)
- Experience of working with children or adults with learning disabilities and/or autism and behaviour that challenges (Desirable)
- Knowledge and understanding of learning disabilities, challenging behaviour and related issues (Desirable)
Personal qualities:
- Excellent organisational skills including the ability to manage a varied workload, work independently and work to deadlines (Essential)
- Ability to source information and present complex information, data and concepts in a way that is simple and easy to understand (Essential)
- Excellent written communication skills, able to communicate in a range of styles to suit the audience e.g. policy documents, email updates, website posts, social media (Essential)
- Sound IT and word processing skills, ability to learn and use new applications quickly. Proficient in the use of Office 365 applications including SharePoint (Essential)
- Excellent listening and oral communication skills (Essential)
- Initiative and self-motivation (Essential)
- Ability to work collaboratively with a range of external partners (Essential)
- Ability to work flexibly within in a small team environment (Essential)
- Ability to empathise with the needs of family carers (Essential)
- A commitment to promoting equality, diversity and human rights (Essential)
- Willingness to undertake occasional travel to meetings across England which will involve travelling outside of your usual working hours (Essential)