About the job

Job summary

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) helps people live more independent, healthier lives for longer. We lead, shape and fund health and social care in England, making sure people have the support, care and treatment they need, with the compassion, respect and dignity they deserve.  

The Chief Data Officer’s (CDO) Directorate is a new directorate that sits within the Chief Scientific Advisor Group. This new function is responsible for setting the approach to and direction and ambition of all data related services, platforms and projects within DHSC.  

It will deliver corporate and ministerial data services, lead cross-Whitehall data relationships, drive improvements and innovations in the department’s use of data and develop, define and promote the department’s role and purpose with respect to data across the Department of Health and Social Care and its Executive Agencies (EAs).  

We are recruiting to the post of Head of Data Management. The post holder will lead, manage and develop our data management processes and capability, providing a responsive service to the analytical workforce, modernising and improving our offering and supporting DHSC in producing high quality intelligence.

Job description

This role is critical in supporting the development of DHSC’s data and information strategies, working in the Data and Digital Innovation (DDI) team to the Deputy Director of Data and Digital within the CDO Directorate.

You will have a broad understanding of ‘big data’ and the application of modern data management and data science techniques and approaches to the use of data, including managing complex database systems.  You will be required to develop and deliver strategic and operational plans for DHSC data environments and ensure a consistent, quality assured end to end data service that is effectively governed and audited, and delivers exceptional customer service.

The DDI team currently provides, supports or manages the following services and projects:

• Abortion Notification System (ANS) Manage and develop the data collection service and produce the analytical outputs as part of a statutory and mandatory requirement.
• DataLake: Ensure data is acquired, loaded, stored, provided, cleansed, enriched and accessed inline with relevant governance policies. We are responsible for developing, managing and expanding the DataLake and surrounding ecosystems.
• Fingertips and Digital Health Platforms: Manage, maintain and develop the systems that publishes more than 1,500 health indicators and 60+ health profiles, dashboards and reports, many of which are Official Statistics and all need to comply with Government Digital Standards and legal accessibility requirements.  This system is a main source of public health information for all local authorities, GP Surgeries and Integrated Care Boards across England. It is also a rich source of data for Parliamentary questions.
• Information Governance leadership and co-ordination for the team working closely with the Information Governance arm of the CDO Directorate.
• Migration of public health data and analytics assets off UK Health Security Agency infrastructure to new hosting arrangements.
• National Drug Treatment and Monitoring System (NDTMS) systems collect substance misuse treatment data for England. The data support the ongoing monitoring and quality improvement of drug and alcohol treatment services, the data is used for indicators that underpin the governments drug and alcohol strategy, the management reports are used by commissioners across England to manage contracts.

The post holder will:

• Lead the strategic development and operational management of the DataLake, implementing our Health Intelligence and Information strategies, agreeing and embedding information standards in the organisation, and promoting quality assurance.
• Deliver and capitalise on cutting edge data and digital innovation and thinking to secure improvements in information processing practices, through embedding information standards, promoting quality assurance, promotion of required changes in skills and culture, matrix working, processes and technology.
• Lead the development, delivery and promotion, information and data management standards and best practice on behalf of the DDI team, CDO, DHSC and wider where appropriate;
• Oversee data innovation, development and approaches to collection, curation and effective use of data, especially supporting health improvement and non-communicable disease control;
• Support transformational changes to the Data Management systems, culture, infrastructure, technology and processes that are fit for a modern Civil Service Department.

You will work collaboratively within and across Directorates and deliver work through others; influencing across OHID, DHSC, NHS England and UKHSA at a strategic and operational level. You will have a high degree of insight on and experience with data innovation and need to be able to take initiative and establish and influence the right direction of travel. You will need excellent communication skills, judgement and the ability to establish and maintain a range of stakeholder relationships in order to support the business needs of the organisation.

Person specification

• Lead the development of data strategies that align with digital, technology and wider DHSC strategies and policies.
• Lead development of strategic data collection and acquisition including primary care and reference datasets and lead the further development of the DataLake and Data Management systems, linking with the wider CDO and DHSC strategic direction for Data, Technology and Infrastructure.
• Work with the responsible Deputy Director and the other Deputy Director lead teams and colleagues across DHSC to develop data science offerings, capability and capacity.
• Develop and support our work on public trust, transparency and confidentiality, working with the Caldicott Guardians, information governance leads within CDO and other relevant cross government parties and stakeholders.
• Work with others to build our information assurance systems and processes – security, availability, integrity, and information governance compliance.
• Lead on management of SQL databases to ensure data availability and quality (including leading on data quality, audit and response)
• Seek out, understand and deliver data innovations and best practice to help continually improve our data processing efficiency, consolidation and automation, and interoperability between datasets and other resources.
• Develop our approach to sharing and re-use of data (including open data commitments and information fair trading obligations), ensuring Data Sharing Agreements are current, fit for purpose and have appropriate use cases signed off.
• You will manage and lead a team of data engineers and specialist to maintain, improve and deliver a responsive data management service.

Other

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Professional development

You should pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.

Key skills and experience required for the role

You will have;

• A master’s level qualification or equivalent in a relevant topic such as Public Health, Data Management, Informatics, ICT, Data Science, Mathematics, etc. Alternatively, you will be able to demonstrate the equivalent knowledge and experience through working at a senior level in an appropriate scientific or technical specialist area and through CPD.
• An understanding of ‘big data’ and modern techniques for loading, storage, access, quality assurance and information governance for large complex datasets.
• Experience of delivering services and/or programmes of work preferably in public health, data or related area. Experience of managing complex multi-stakeholder projects and working in a changing environment.
• Knowledge and experience using some or all of the following; Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise (up to 2022) including system and database design, installation, maintenance and performance tuning, clusters, VMs, Azure SQL DBs and SQL Managed Instances. SSMS and Azure Data Studio for data management with T-SQL, SSIS for ETL data loading, SSRS, PowerBI and R-Shiny for reporting, Databricks for data manipulation and management in secure environments, R and Python for data integration and manipulation, Visual Studio (to 2019) with C#, IIS, HTML, Javascript for user facing management systems, GITHib version control environments.
• Understanding of quality assurance procedures and working to the best practice processes
• Numerate, with highly developed analytical skills and the ability to use and understand qualitative and quantitative data. With an understanding of epidemiology and statistics.
• Knowledge of and experience using sources of health data, particularly related to validity and reliability issues.
• Experience of successfully negotiating and influencing at a senior level
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands and tight timescales
• Ability to work on own initiative and plan and organize a broad range of complex activities, formulating and adjusting plans to reflect changing circumstances
• Experienced and skilled line management and leadership with experience managing a multi-disciplined team and a responsive data management service. Skills for delivering results through managing through others and using a range of levers in the absence of direct line management responsibility. 
• Skills for managing relationships with a range of different stakeholders, the ability to explain and distil complex concepts and issues into straightforward and understandable language and working with and influencing Stakeholders to develop performance improvement plans and plans for innovation
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £66,832, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £18,044 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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Sift date: W/C 06/05/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 20/05/2024

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 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. 

An initial sift based on the Lead Behaviour (Managing a Quality Service), CV, Statement of Suitability and Technical skill 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, Strengths and Technical Skills. 

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here 

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.

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

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.