About the job

Job summary

In DHSC, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you’d like to work in, we’d love to hear from you.

The Start for Life Unit is part of the Early Years, Children and Families Directorate within DHSC. In March 2021, the Early Years Healthy Development Review – chaired by Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP – published an ambitious Vision to ensure every baby in England is given the best start for life: The best start for life: a vision for the 1,001 critical days - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The Start for Life Unit is charged with implementing this ambitious vision by putting words into action.

Following on from the Review, the Chancellor announced approx. £300m for the transformation of Family Hubs and improvement of Start for Life services – including funding for parent-infant mental health and breastfeeding services, the publication of Start for Life offers, and the establishment of Parent and Carer Panels in 75 upper tier local authorities. The Unit has been now working closely with officials in the Department for Education (responsible for the family hubs element of the package); and DHSC Ministers to deliver the funding package.

We published a progress report in February 2023 detailing the success of the Programme thus far and our wider work to develop and implement the commitments in the original Vision: The best start for life: a progress report on delivering the vision - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The Start for Life analytical team, in which this post sits, are responsible for monitoring and evaluating the Start for Life programme, building and exploiting the evidence base on early years and making the case for future investment in early years. The analytical team vision is that we are a diverse, inclusive and collaborative team that delivers impactful analysis and evidence to improve outcomes for babies, children and families, whatever their background.

Job description

An exciting jobshare opportunity has arisen in the Start for Life (SfL) analytical team, to be the joint data lead for the Start for Life programme.

The main responsibility for this post is to lead, jointly with the lead Department for Education analyst, the SfL and Family Hubs Management Information (MI) collection – including managing the regular collections, continuously reviewing and improving the data collection questions and processes  and leading the analysis and reporting of data to Ministers and senior officials. The goal of the MI is to provide a comprehensive picture of the delivery and impact of conception-to-aged 2 services in the 75 funded local authorities whilst driving improvements in local authorities’ collection of data about babies and families.​

Another important role of this post is to develop and lead a data strategy for the Start for Life programme. This will include working closely with analytical and policy colleagues to identify evidence gaps and explore both innovative short-term ways and longer-term plans to fill them. 

This job share role has significant stretch for an experienced analyst who wants to strategically manage a complex programme of data collection, working jointly with analysts from DfE and engaging with senior officials and Ministers in multiple Government Departments on a high-profile programme.

This role is advertised as a job share of 0.6 FTE, working with an existing Grade 7.

Person specification

This role involves: 

• Lead the regular management information collection through the whole statistical cycle - including data collection, processing, analysing and dissemination
• Thinking at a ‘systems level’ about the data being collected from the 75 funded local authorities and how findings from that data will be reported
• The use of statistical skills for analysis and quality assurance, including building an analytical pipeline
• Engaging with issues around data governance, data storage, and data protection
• Engaging with the funded Local Authorities
• Briefing senior officials/Ministers across government departments on your work, and reporting to the senior leadership team of the Start for Life Unit on the data programme
• Identifying strategic opportunities for improving the data collections through continuously reviewing and improving the data collection questions and processes
• Leading a team. This includes supporting direct reports’ development and wellbeing
• Produce a data strategy for the Start for Life programme, ensuring that the key outcome metrics for the programme and the benefits set out in the benefits realisation plan are measured.
• Working as a joint team with analysts from Department for Education on the data collection and working very closely with other SfL analysts
• Contribute to the Senior Leadership Teams including supporting a positive team culture, promoting diversity and inclusion, and working collaboratively to set priorities for analytical work.

Key skills and experience required for the role

We are looking for individuals with a passion for working with data to improve the lives of the youngest in our society. The role comes with a high level of responsibility with a strong focus on delivering a challenging but high quality data collection from Local Authorities, generating new, innovative insights from data, and delivering a comprehensive reporting system to monitor delivery of Local Authorities plans as well as contribute to evaluation of the programme.  

The role would especially suit an experienced statistician, data scientist, or operational researcher looking for a stretching analytical role, but we welcome applications from any analytical profession. We also welcome applications from unbadged analysts who don’t already belong to a Government analyst profession, although you do need to meet the eligibility criterion and qualifications.

Essential criteria: 

• Experienced in leading a complex programme of analytical work
• Experienced in leading a team and line management, or potential to line manage, including supporting their development and wellbeing
• Able to work with and to exploit complex data sources to provide new insights and improve evidence bases
• Able to build clear and reproducible processes to manage, structure and clean complex data; manage risks around data returns; and communicate this clearly to policy colleagues  
• Skilled at analysing complex or incomplete information to weigh up options and make recommendations   
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to convey complex information with clarity to a range of stakeholders
•  Able to build relationships both internally and externally

Desirable criteria:  

• Experience of building management information systems
• Understanding or experience of Local Authority data related to children and the early years

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,116, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £14,354 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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Sift date: expected W/C 01/01/2024 

Interview date: expected W/C 22/01/2024

Interview location: By video. Further details will be released to candidates who are successful at sift. 

The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores. 

Applications will be sifted on CV, Statement of Suitability, Behaviours and Technical Skills.

Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the ‘key skills and experience required for the role’ section of the advert. Please also include a list of your relevant qualifications.

Please use your Statement of Suitability to (in no more than 750 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert including whether you are currently a member of one of the government analytical professions or meet the appropriate qualifications and experience to become members.

Please complete statements on the specified Behaviours (250 word max per statement)

Please complete statements on the specified Technical skills (250 word max per statement)

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

An initial sift based on Lead Behaviour, Managing a Quality Service, and Statement of Suitability may be held if a large number of applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and Technical Skills.  

Candidates will be asked a presentation which will assess a technical skill: data improvement. Details of the presentation question will be issued to candidates with the release of the sift scores.

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service Careers Website here 

Further Information

Applicants who are appointable but were not successful in appointment to this vacancy, may be held on a reserve list for up to 12 months, and contacted if similar vacancies become available. 

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.

Memberships and Qualifications required for the role will be checked and verified by the vacancy holder as part of the onboarding process. You may also be asked to provide evidence that any qualifications obtained overseas are equivalent to those advertised.

Any move to DHSC from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via dhscrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This role is being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Terms and Conditions

Candidates should note that DHSC’s Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful. 

New Entrants to the Civil Service

New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions:

• Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff
• Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King’s birthday
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Probation: 6 month probation period

Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion

All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above). 

Existing DHSC staff, appointed on either level transfer or promotion

If DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC’s pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).

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.