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.

Over 20 million people in the UK have a Musculoskeletal (MSK) condition such as arthritis or back pain and 1.3m economically inactive people have reported MSK as their main health condition. The postholder will have an important role within the new MSK Policy team, which is focused on improving MSK health across the life course and improving employment outcomes for people with MSK problems.

The MSK Policy Team, sits within the Health Division, which forms part of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Joint Work and Health Directorate (JWHD).

The JWHD aims to improve the integration of health and work agendas to deliver better health and work outcomes for individuals and populations and deliver key manifesto commitments. JWHD is part of Employers, Health and Inclusive Employment Directorate, a large Directorate. The JWHD is part of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, with bases in London and Leeds.

The team leads on developing MSK policy and delivery. It does this by working closely with DHSC policy teams, DWP delivery and analytical teams, building on evidence and practice. Success means aligning action across government, arm’s length bodies, health systems, voluntary and community sector (VCS), and local government to address MSK related work and health issues, including the wider determinants of health.

The JWHD secured over £100m as part of the 2023 Spring Budget, to expand and create new elements to the MSK programme. This major new funding covers 2023/24-2027/28 and work is underway, in collaboration with NHS England and VCS stakeholders, to develop and deliver existing and new programmes of work to address MSK and improve work and health outcomes. The team also contributes to the development of the Department of Health and Social Care Major Conditions Strategy.  MSK has been announced as one of the six main conditions the strategy will focus on, with opportunities to develop and introduce new policy that gives MSK greater parity with other health conditions.

Job description

The MSK Policy team is seeking a policy and delivery lead who, working as part of a small immediate team though a much larger programme team, will lead on the day-to-day policy development and management of MSK health improvement projects. Notably, the policy lead will have responsibility, for working alongside the DWP delivery and analytical teams to develop and deliver the Employment Advisors in MSK pathways project and the MSK Physical Activity hubs in the Community project.

The development of these two pieces of work is at a critical stage and requires a highly experienced policy and project individual who can demonstrate their ability to adapt, work collaboratively and lead the day-to-day design, delivery and implementation of complex, inter-connecting health improvement programmes. The two projects are briefly described below:

• MSK Physical Activity hubs in the Community: aims to design and scale up MSK Physical Activity hubs to expand access to community based physical activity interventions, including access to vocational support.  This work cuts across government departments, the NHS, VCS, Local authorities and the leisure and fitness sector. There is the opportunity to explore alignment with integrated neighbourhood teams to expand access to community based physical activity interventions and vocational support, helping people with MSK conditions start, stay and succeed in work.
• Employment advisors (EAs) in MSK pathways: this work aims to assess how to integrate EAs within MSK Pathways and explore whether it provides better patient health and work outcomes. Based on learning from EAs in NHS Talking Therapies (NHS TT) programme, phase one of a wider evaluated roll out, will see Integrated Care Boards and MSK services implementing and integrating EA teams, across MSK pathways, to support people with MSK conditions with employment advice.

These two projects exist as part of a much broader and significant programme of work to deliver on MSK, which OHID is working to develop and deliver with DWP and the NHS.

Person specification

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the day-to-day policy development, insight and input, alongside DWP delivery and analytical teams, to enable delivery of the EAs in MSK pathways AND the MSK Physical Activity hubs in the Community projects, including major role in developing and executing commercial approaches, governance and assurance processes, evaluation and research approaches and stakeholder engagement.
• Manage working/reference groups and other meetings with stakeholders to ensure MSK projects are developed to high quality and with the buy-in from stakeholders and delivery partners.
• Work with line manager and SLT, across the JWHD, to continuously review collaborative working arrangements, management, and operational delivery of MSK health and work improvement projects, including identifying synergies and opportunities to work across policies.
• Support the management of complex relationships, and represent MSK Health improvement team and JWHD, in discussions and engagement with broad set of stakeholders, including healthcare, physical activity, MSK stakeholders, local government and VCS.
• Contribute to development of MSK health improvement projects and policies seeking to connect and align with opportunities including contributing to the development and delivery of any MSK related activity in the Major Conditions Strategy.
• Support and enable development of the team, including identifying opportunities to share and learn from JWHD programmes and creating opportunities for the team to feed in views and on ways to improve and inform existing and new policies.
• Support delivery of core JWHD business, for example verbal and written briefings for ministers and senior management; timely and effective responses to parliamentary questions/debates and correspondence; and taking opportunities to present at events.
• Deputise for the G6 when required to do so, alongside any other tasks and duties that may reasonably be required.
• Day to day supervision of 1-2 members of staff.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the advertised roles. 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.

Key skills and experience required for the role

Essential Experience and Knowledge:

• Substantial experience of and successful delivery of complex health and physical activity improvement programmes and using your project management experience to identify and promote quality improvement and deliver added value through joined up policy approaches.
• Proven experience of successful partnership working, to build constructive and influential working relationships internal and external. This could include cross Government (national and/or local), health and social care system and voluntary and community sector to align agendas and enhance delivery.
• Experience of working in a dynamic and fast paced health, related policy environment within a national or local government organisation or equivalent charitable/commercial organisation.

Essential Skills:

• Proven track record of high-quality policy development and policy delivery, with a focus on strong project management expertise and policy design
• Proven ability to deal with change, adapt to meet priorities and working to deliver whilst managing uncertainty.
• Excellent engagement skills with proven ability to manage conflict and build and seek trust and consensus with stakeholders and deliver in challenging circumstances.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with ability to prepare compelling written documents and use spoken word to convey messages and information to senior colleagues and through presentations to external audiences.
• Ability to critically translate evidence, including practice level information, to inform and monitor policy and delivery approaches.
• Ability to identify and put into action approaches to drive continuous improvement and delivery.
• Ability to deliver effective and quality outputs at pace, enabling teams and self to maintain resilience.
• A commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable:

• Understanding and experience of working with NHS, Local and national government – policies and cultures.
• It is highly desirable that the individual has knowledge of MSK policy and public leisure sector and community approaches, including physical activity interventions.

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 £14,341 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 and Experience.

Sift date: W/C 18/03/2024 

Interview date: expected 19/04/2024 

Interview location: By video

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

Applications will be sifted on CV and Statement of Suitability.

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 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, Strengths, and Experience.

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.

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

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.

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. 

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.