About the job

Job summary

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) strives to be an exemplar in the use of data. This new post of Chief Data Officer will be pivotal in helping us deliver on this vision.

As Chief Data Officer, you will be at the heart of our mission in leading the nation’s health and care system. We help people to live more independent, healthier lives, for longer. The use of NHS data was at the forefront of this country’s fight against COVID-19; we want to build on this and drive better use of data and information across DHSC and the wider health and social care systems; helping to embed a strong culture of data-driven delivery. We seek applicants who have a proven ability to transform data into valuable decision-enabling resources.

You will define the vision, strategy, and processes by which the department acquires, stores, curates and manages data and data flows, setting standards for data quality. You will be the ‘voice of data’ for the department and represent data as a strategic business asset. Working with analysis, digital and technology Directors, you will shape the way we use our data and foster a data-driven culture, developing the capability for outstanding use of data and information across the Department.

A critical part of the role will be to build partnerships and connections across health and social care, so that in partnership we provide a joined-up data service. This will provide better insights to all decision-makers on outcomes and impacts, and on the progress and experience of people, improving outcomes for all. This means that the ability to work in partnership and to develop collaborative working relationships is an essential part of this role.

As our first Chief Data Officer, you will bring together existing teams working on data, set out an ambitious and inclusive data strategy and develop a new function, delivering benefit across the department. You will lead a team of capable data professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and will be responsible for engaging, nurturing, and developing their capabilities, as well as attracting the best talent and potential into the department. You will need to be an exceptional leader, as well as someone who understands the worlds of data, digital and analysis.

Job description

As Chief Data Officer, you will be at the heart of our mission in leading the nation’s health and care system. We help people to live more independent, healthier lives, for longer. The use of NHS data was at the forefront of this country’s fight against COVID-19; we want to build on this and drive better use of data and information across DHSC and the wider health and social care systems; helping to embed a strong culture of data-driven delivery. We seek applicants who have a proven ability to transform data into valuable decision-enabling resources.

You will define the vision, strategy, and processes by which the department acquires, stores, curates, and manages data and data flows, setting standards for data quality. You will be the ‘voice of data’ for the department and represent data as a strategic business asset. Working with analysis, digital and technology Directors, you will shape the way we use our data and foster a data-driven culture, developing the capability for outstanding use of data and information across the Department.

A critical part of the role will be to build partnerships and connections across health and social care, so that in partnership we provide a joined-up data service. This will provide better insights to all decision-makers on outcomes and impacts, and on the progress and experience of people, improving outcomes for all. This means that the ability to work in partnership and to develop collaborative working relationships is an essential part of this role.

As our first Chief Data Officer, you will bring together existing teams working on data, set out an ambitious and inclusive data strategy and develop a new function, delivering benefit across the department. You will lead a team of capable data professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and will be responsible for engaging, nurturing, and developing their capabilities, as well as attracting the best talent and potential into the department. You will need to be an exceptional leader, as well as someone who understands the worlds of data, digital and analysis.

You will report to Professor Lucy Chappell, the Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser, who has overall leadership of the Department’s use of data, analysis, and scientific advice.

Responsibilities:

The Chief Data Officer will be the single person responsible for data ownership across DHSC; an unambiguous single point of accountability, providing advocacy and voice both for exploitation and for handling the data in a safe, secure, and legal way, providing analysis ready data, products, and services.

• Supporting Ministers and the Executive Committee by driving and delivering a department focussed Data Strategy that delivers a new operating model for the use and quality of data in DHSC in line with the wider health and care family. This work will be focused on improving health and care policy outcomes with data-driven insight.
• Managing and maintaining strong relationships with partners within and outside the DHSC including data leads in our arm’s length bodies, the NHS and other Government Departments, working in partnership to deliver an organisational model that leverages data for the Government and health and social care systems.
• Ensuring our data are fit for purpose, meeting current and future user needs across the system. This includes establishing collaborative data governance; improving the flow and speed of data sharing; identifying scope for improving outcomes; assessing the value of data; and ensuring that our processes meet user requirements
• Maintaining the infrastructure required to support DHSC’s data-driven activities, including publication of official statistics, while also leading a programme of transformation, setting challenging ambitions for future capability.
• Reducing duplication and deriving full value from the Department’s data, ensuring the provision of trusted, curated datasets that are easily accessible, delivering a high quality and effective data engineering capability providing analysis ready data, working closely with the Director of Analysis to build an ambitious programme to drive improvements that meet ministerial and Departmental needs.
• Setting standards and data requirements across DHSC to support decision-making and better outcomes and working with the responsible Director for technology to specify the data infrastructure, software and tooling needed to achieve them, ensuring that we can leverage and use data and platforms held in arm’s length bodies and other Departments, working in a partnership model, to ensure frictionless access by DHSC to a full range of operational and clinical data.
• Accountability for data, data ethics and other functional standards in DHSC. Ensuring that all major policy and operational decisions fully consider data implications.
• Maintaining a highly skilled, motivated, engaged and diverse workforce, including accountability for professional development of Data professionals in the department.
• Partnering with digital, technology, and analytical colleagues to build a data culture - enabling staff to see data as a strategic asset, understanding its value and their role in maintaining, building and harnessing this value. 

Deliverables

They would have overall responsibility for building a departmental data strategy, ensuring data are fit for purpose, meeting current and future user needs across the system; robust data governance and assurance; improving the flow and speed of data sharing; maintaining and developing the infrastructure required to support DHSC’s data-driven activities, and ensuring the provision of trusted, curated datasets that are analysis ready.  It will also include statutory data protection responsibilities.  

Key Deliverables include:

1. Data strategy- ownership and accountability for the development and implementation of a Departmental facing data strategy and associated data professionalisation and capability development
2. Data governance- organise the way we manage and use data, available to all who require it, as a single version of the truth, and complying with the regulations
3. Data management/operations- Data acquisition, automating, streamlining and quality assuring data flows from source through to policy analysis and digital services. Coordinate use of ALB owned data platforms and operate complimentary internal data platforms to ensure that they are available, performant, resilient and secure - managing ‘data’ relationship with NHSE and other ALBs to meet DHSC needs.
4. Data engineering- capture, creation and maintenance of curated data assets (matching, transformation, data documentation) and designing re-usable, analysis ready datasets, automating the flows of data and serving them quickly to the analysts
5. Product development- facilitating the building and managing interactive internal (e.g. datahub) and external (e.g. fingertips) dashboards and other products.

Person specification

It is important through your CV and Statement of Suitability that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following

Essential criteria:

• You will be a highly credible leader, able to provide evidence of your ability to set a clear vision for the data function of a large organisation and make strategic decisions to drive through the changes needed to deliver this; and to ensure your senior leadership team pulls together to work with people across the Department and within the function to deliver this vision.
• Strong people-leadership skills, with the ability to develop an inclusive and collaborative working environment, and attract, motivate, develop, and lead staff at all levels within a data function to the highest standard.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with Ministers, senior operational and other colleagues, as well as developing strongly collaborative and partnership-based working with a range of external stakeholders inside and outside government.
• A track record of leadership on data, with a breadth and depth of professional knowledge in this area.
• Lived experience of leading transformational change or establishing a new function at pace (probably in the data, digital or technology arena) that has delivered benefits and shifted practice or culture. Including sponsoring the adoption of modern delivery practices, continuous delivery, lean and agile methods; and the ability to inspire and to take people with you through change.
• A good working knowledge of Information Governance essentials; ensuring DHSC is always operating in line with relevant data legislation, guidance and practice and has a keen understanding of the landscape, barriers, risks, and opportunities around data in a public context.
• A commitment to inclusivity and diversity, that ensures each person is and feels treated fairly, is supported to do their job effectively and can thrive in our working environment.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £100,000, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £27,000 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Application

To apply for this post please submit the following documents no later than 23:55 on Wednesday 10th January 2024.

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A Statement of Suitability (no more than 1250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only has limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. 

As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say'. The information you provide when submitting your application will help us monitor our progress towards the Civil Service becoming the most inclusive employer by 2025.

If you are unable to apply online please contact

Selection Process

Lea Paterson a Civil Service Commissioner, will chair the process. The Civil Service Commission has two primary functions:

• Providing assurance that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. For the most senior posts in the Civil Service, the Commission discharges its responsibilities directly by overseeing the recruitment process and by a Commissioner chairing the selection panel.
• Hearing and determining appeals made by civil servants under the Civil Service Code which sets out the Civil Service values – Impartiality, Objectivity, Integrity and Honesty - and forms part of the relationship between civil servants and their employer.

More detailed information can be found on the Civil Service Commission website.

In addition to Lea Paterson, the panel will also consist of:

• Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care
• Chris Mullin, Chief Economist and Director of Analysis · Department of Health and Social Care
• Felix Greaves, Director - Digital, Data & Innovation Strategy & Head of the joint DHSC/NHSE Digital Policy Unit

Shortlist

The panel will select a shortlist of candidates whose applications best demonstrate suitability for the role, by considering the evidence provided against the essential criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’.

Candidates applying under the Disability Confident Scheme and A Great Place to Work for Veterans Scheme who meet the minimum selection criteria in the job specification are guaranteed an interview.

Assessment

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a series of assessments which could include a staff engagement. These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

Discussion with Vacancy Holder and a DHSC Minister

Shortlisted candidates may have the opportunity to speak to Chris Mullen, Chief Economist and Director of Analysis · Department of Health and Social Care and a DHSC Minister prior to the final interview. This is an informal discussion to allow candidates to learn more about the role, and is not part of the assessment process.

Interview

You will be asked to attend a panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

Interviews will take place in person at 39 Victoria Street, London, full details of the interview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.

Feedback

If unsuccessful at any stage, please contact scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk at Government Recruitment Service to request feedback on your application or interview. The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, all candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter, and we will advise on any delays.

Shortlisted candidates who attend an interview will also be offered verbal feedback from a member of the interview panel.

A reserve list will be held for up to 12 months, which we may use to fill future suitable vacancies for candidates who are considered appointable following interview.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.