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.

This role sits within the Evidence and Evaluation team in the Strategic Evidence and Analysis Division.

The Evidence and Evaluation team plays a key role in supporting evidence-informed public health providing support across the whole of OHID in relation to research, evidence and evidence reviewing, and evaluation.

Job description

The role of the team is to provide strategic leadership and supporting infrastructure for research and evidence, to provide specialist advice, expertise and training on evidence and evaluation, to produce a variety of rapid evidence reviews on high priority policy topics and provide hands on support for the evaluation of major policies.

The post-holder will work across all of these areas, meaning workload is varied. Key aspects of the role will involve leading the production of rapid evidence reviews, delivering evidence-related training, and supporting and providing expertise to policy teams in the commissioning of research, evidence reviews and evaluation. The post-holder will need to develop relationships with colleagues in similar roles across DHSC and other government departments, as well as policy teams leading on key policy topics and programmes both regionally and nationally. The post-holder will also interface with public health academics and others involved in supporting evidence-informed public health.

Key areas of work currently within the team include, developing and coordinating governance for research and evidence, developing and commissioning an evaluation of a workplace NHS Health Checks pilot, providing methodological expertise on a pilot randomised controlled trial of health incentives, and working with the Cabinet Office Evaluation Taskforce to deliver evaluation training.

Person specification

• Leading the delivery of rapid evidence reviews and other outputs, ensuring they are appropriately planned, delivered on time, to high quality standards and in an efficient manner.
• Leading on cross-OHID methodological work relating to rapid reviews in public health, for example in considering reporting formats and the use of GRADE.
• Providing expert methodological advice and support for the development and commissioning of research, evidence reviews and evaluations on high priority policy topics. Ensuring that outputs are timely, relevant and high quality.
• Development and delivery of training to support the use of evidence and evaluation.
• Supporting the development and co-ordination of cross-OHID governance and infrastructure for research and evidence. This may include, for example, development of cross-OHID approaches for the identification and prioritisation of research and evidence needs and coordination of processes for commissioning research, evidence reviews and evaluation.
• Contributing to development of Evidence and Evaluation team priorities and the continuous improvement of our work.
• Line management of at least one Senior Public Health Researcher.
• The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, internal and external to OHID and DHSC.

Key skills and experience required for the role

Essential:

• Educated to degree level with a degree in health, public health or social sciences
• Knowledge of public health and the role of evidence and evaluation in the delivery of public health policies and programmes
• Knowledge and experience in conducting systematic or rapid evidence reviews using appropriate methods and tools
• Critical and analytical scientific skills, including scientific literature reviewing and experience of applying basic epidemiological and statistical knowledge
• Prioritise own work effectively and to direct activities of others, including responding to sudden or unexpected demands
• Must be able to use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations to Manager, with the aim of improving deliverables
• Excellent communication skills (written/oral) – strong written skills to summarise scientific issues for scientific and lay audiences; strong oral skills to represent the team in a range of settings
• Skilled at building and managing relationships with internal and external colleagues
• 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

Desirable:

• Post-graduate degree or equivalent experience in an appropriate scientific or technical specialist area relevant to the role
• Understanding and/or experience of working in the NHS and/or a political environment (e,g. local or national government)
• Experience of project management and an appreciation that tasks are expected to be delivered at pace, with competing priorities but always delivered in an assured and professional manner
• Experience of managing others
• Hands-on experience using a range of evaluation methodologies across different areas

Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or Leeds.  Within DHSC we offer non-contractual hybrid working. The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time spent in the office, enabling in person interaction and collaboration and enhancing team working, learning, and support. 

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Opportunities for some working from home may be available; other flexible working options may be discussed with the hiring manager in line with individual circumstances and business need. 

There are a limited number of DHSC colleagues who have existing agreed homeworking contracts resulting from Our Future Estate Programme 2023-2024. Colleagues covered by these arrangements are eligible to apply for this role whilst continuing their agreed existing home working arrangement. Occasional travel to DHSC offices or other locations may still be required according to business need. Travel and subsistence will be provided in line with the pre-agreed homeworker arrangements.    

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: W/C 17/06/2024 

Interview date: expected W/C 01/07/2024

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, and Behaviours.

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 500 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert.

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

Candidates will be asked to give a presentation which will assess experience: application of knowledge and experience in the understanding, analysis and application of evidence will be assessed based on a research study. 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 

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.

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. 

Further Information

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

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 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).

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. 

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.