I’m looking for a Communications and Constituency Support Officer to join my team!

A great opportunity to be part of a small but dedicated team in Oldham supporting my constituents across Chadderton, Oldham and Royton.

If you or someone you know is interested, please do get in touch & apply!

See below for the full details of the job and how to apply:

Job Title: Communication and Constituency Support Officer

Location: Constituency Office, Chadderton Town Hall, Oldham

Salary: £21,529 – £32,938 depending on experience

Length of Contract: Permanent after a probationary period

Job Details

Essential Criteria

• Well organised with excellent IT and communication skills
• Ability to use social media effectively
• Ability to communicate with key media and stakeholders
• Good understanding of the political environment and knowledge of issues in the constituency.
• Experience of managing confidential/sensitive information

Key responsibilities

• You will usually work 5 days over a 7-day working week supporting the MP when in the constituency. This role involves routine evening and weekend work, and flexibility is essential.
• Supporting the MP on any additional responsibilities or roles when undertaking visits outside of the constituency in conjunctuction with the London Office.
• Maintain a forward plan of proactive press and social media activity, gathering content from local events and visits, casework generated through the office, and issues raised on behalf of constituents.
• Maintain strong professional relationships with key stakeholders, including other elected members, public bodies, local organisations and local and regional media outlets.
• Maintaining social media accounts, responding to incoming messages, comments and any follow up action as required. This also involves being able to analyse visitor and post interaction to grow audiences.
• Produce online graphics and video content, as well as publicising surgeries and news alerts etc.
• Monitor media coverage and prepare press releases as required, meeting deadlines where appropriate.
• Manage the local events diary
• Keeping the MP informed of issues as they arise
• Helping to produce a regular newsletter as well as producing reports and online material

A car owner with a clean driving licence is essential.

Upon appointment you will be required to comply with the Baseline Personnel Security Standard, undertaken by the Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO). See Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO) page for further info. MPs generally pay staff in accordance with IPSA guidelines.

Closing Date: 3 August 2022

Interview/Start Dates: Interviews will take place between the 4th and 5th of August.

Application Details

To apply please provide a CV and covering letter – each no longer than one side of A4 please, outlining your experience.  Please send directly to Jim McMahon at jim.mcmahon.mp@parliament.uk with the subject line Communication and Constituency Support officer

Many constituents have been in touch with my office over the last few months regarding delays to passport applications, and I’m sorry to report that the service that the Home Office is providing my constituents is appalling.

Last week I wrote to the Home Office with a list of cases sent to them between April and June to which my office have received no repl.  Members of my team in London have been to a drop-in session with Home Office staff to raise a variety of cases and unfortunately made very little progress.

The summer is always a busy time for chasing up passport applications, as you would expect with more people going away during the school holidays, but the level of delay this year seems unprecedented.

The Home Office are refusing to look into or give an update on a case unless it has been over ten weeks since the application was made, and even then there appears to be no equality with the service people get when they reach out to the Home Office. A number of my constituents have had real difficulties getting through to the helpline in the first place, and some of those who do report it is sometimes of no help, whilst others have found that their passport has arrived within a couple of days of them speaking to somebody.

I know of at least one person who applied for their passport in early March, ahead of their holiday in June, who in the end had to cancel their holiday as their passport did not arrive on time.

The chaos in the passport office is just one example of the failure on the Home Secretary’s watch, Boris Johnson and the Tories are presiding over backlog Britain, where waiting lists across government are crippling our economy, costing the taxpayer billions and preventing British people from getting on with their lives.

At a time when the cost-of-living crisis is hitting the country hard, Home Office incompetence is forcing British families to pay for fast-track passport services or face losing hundreds for cancelled holidays.

The Home Office was warned that a surge in passport applications was likely once Covid travel restrictions ended and families had gone two years without a holiday abroad, but they completely failed to do the forward planning needed to prevent the chaos we’ve seen over the last few months. It is the same lack of foresight and planning which has led to cancelled flights and summer misery for hard working holiday makers wanting to get away.

My office will continue to push the Home Office to keep constituents in the loop with their applications and chase those seemingly lost in the system so please don’t let the delays make you hesitate to get in touch if you haven’t heard back from them, we will always do our best for constituents.

My MP colleagues for Oldham and I have written to the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Leader of Oldham Council to set out our continued expectations for achieving justice for the survivors of child sexual exploitation in Oldham.

You can read our letter below:

This week I got to visit the new Brian Clarke Academy site in Oldham Town Centre (and took in some fabulous views of Oldham too!)

An incredible team effort from the Cranmer Trust which includes Blue Coat in its family.

Delighted that over 80% of the first intake live within 2 miles making a school for the whole borough, as all roads lead to the centre from all over the borough.

I secured a debate in Parliament on the issue of child sexual exploitation in Oldham.

This is a long video but it’s vital to set out what has happened, what the recent report said, and what it didn’t.

Victims are the absolute priority in all of this. I wanted to be clear about what we need to do to support them in achieving justice and to ensure that anybody else affected comes forward as soon as possible.

Oldham is a town that is currently divided and hurting.

We must repair that division and bring our community together to ensure that the safe space is there for victims to have the confidence to come forward.

I won’t allow disinformation campaigns that seek to make personal financial and political gain, to prevent that from taking place and will not be intimidated by their tactics.

My message to the perpetrators, is that we are coming for you.

Jim

(Watch the full speech here: https://www.facebook.com/jimfromoldham/posts/pfbid038DoD3RW7aiCEcLDB7gwhDNKZHZ3h7ShpYzXeWqJM28EJhfqXLpGsVSAe6JHcocBil)

Upon the news that the Owners of OAFC and Boundary Park have come to an agreement with a local business to buy the club, Jim McMahon MP issued the following statement:

I’m delighted to see the news that a deal has been agreed for the takeover of Oldham Athletic Football Club, Boundary Park and the surrounding land.

After years of turmoil off the pitch I hope this brings the stability the fans deserve, to kick the club on and fight for their place back in the football league.

I look forward to welcoming the new owners to the community and working with them going forward.

https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/2022/june/30062022-club-statement/?fbclid=IwAR2o4yl_Qbm92zV56wBVrQtDdSCSJx7gcmL2qv0v2sWpX8oH2HWsXoeAgYE

Debbie Abrahams MP, Jim McMahon MP and Angela Rayner MP have released the following statement in response to the publication of the Oldham Independent Assurance Review:

“This is one of the most comprehensive safeguarding reviews undertaken and we welcome the recognition of the progress that was made in Oldham in shining a light on, disrupting and tackling child sexual exploitation and raising awareness to increase reporting.”

“It is an uncomfortable and disturbing fact that abuse takes place in every city, town and village and Oldham is not immune from that. The vast majority of victims are well supported, and professionals are working hard to meet increasing demand and changes to the nature and pattern of abuse as it develops. However, the report is clear that not all victims received the support they deserve, and one victim let down is one too many.”

“Our priority has always been supporting the victims, and as MPs we will continue to support victims’ right to justice when the system falls short.”

“Today’s independent review identifies that, whilst these incidents are not current cases, there is still work to be done in ensuring offenders face the full force of the law and the passage of time should not be a barrier to justice.”

“This independent review also addressed head on the false and often politically motivated conspiracy theories that claimed grooming gangs were operating under the protection of senior politicians. The review was clear that there is no basis for these accusations, and we are pleased that the report draws a line under this.”

“We hope today allows trust in the system to be rebuilt so that victims who have not already to come forward have the confidence to do so.”

Reference: 84392

Date Added: 31 May 2022
Closing Date: 1 July 2022

Job Title: Head of Office

Working For: Jim McMahon MP (Oldham West and Royton)

Location: Oldham

Salary: In line with IPSA pay scales

Length of Contract: Permanent after probationary period

Job Details

Jim McMahon, the MP for Oldham West & Royton, is seeking to recruit an experienced Head of Office.

The Head of Office will lead a small but extremely busy constituency office that provides casework support for around 8,000 cases a year. You will work with Westminster colleagues to support Jim’s work as a Member of Parliament and as the Shadow Environment Secretary and Chair of the Co-operative Party.

Excellent organisation, experience of managing staff and resources, communications experience, and driving licence/car essential. The position will involve flexibility, routine travel as well as evening and weekend work.

Key responsibilities

1) Managing and implementing the strategic objectives relating to Jim’s constituency work.
2) Providing administrative support to Jim, including the management of a complex diary in conjunction with the Senior Parliamentary Assistant and Political Advisor in Westminster.
3) Line management and mentoring of constituency office staff, including ensuring accurate personnel, budgetary and casework records are kept.
4) Leading on local media management/relations, proactively and reactively managing all communication channels including newsletters, website, and social media accounts.
5) Identifying opportunities and shaping local campaigns arising from incoming casework and issues affecting constituents.
6) Liaising with key local and regional stakeholders.
7) Providing detailed briefs for Jim on key local issues as required.
8) Devising and executing a constituency visits plan.
9) Accompanying Jim and/or representing Jim at constituency events (weekend and/or evening work will be required).
10) Dealing with complex correspondence and enquiries on Jim’s behalf.
11) Ensuring all legal and regulatory compliance

Key Skills and Experience

• Experience of leading a team and dealing with employment and payroll processes is desirable.
• Ability to manage budgets effectively.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet multiple conflicting deadlines.
• Knowledge of relevant office management, communication, and video editing software.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Knowledge and experience of working in a political environment and managing a wide range of     stakeholders.

Upon appointment you will be required to comply with the Baseline Personnel Security Standard, undertaken by the Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO). See Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO) page for further info. MPs generally pay staff in accordance with IPSA guidelines.

Closing Date: 1 July 2022

Interview/Start Dates

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview as soon as possible after the closing date. Please also outline your notice period if applicable.

Application Details

Please send a CV (maximum 2 pages); and covering letter (maximum 2 pages) that details how your skills and experience make you suitable for this role, with reference to the responsibilities above to jim.mcmahon.mp@parliament.uk.