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.

DHSC leads national policy on child health across the health and care system and across government.  Government has an ambitious programme of multi-sector reform for children’s health and social care, intended to improve support and outcomes for children and families.

The Children and Families team in the Early Years, Children and Families Directorate is responsible for DHSC policy on child and family health; child safeguarding and violence and abuse. We set the policy direction, and work very closely with experts, partners in NHS England and more broadly across the health and care system to deliver on our priorities. In addition, we work with a number of Other Government Departments, notably the Home Office (lead Department for violence and abuse), the Ministry of Justice, and the Department for Education, as well as with several other teams in DHSC (e.g. SEND, mental health and substance misuse teams).

Job description

Role 1:  'Violence and Abuse Policy Advisor'

One of the roles will be the 'Violence and Abuse Policy Advisor'. The Violence and Abuse Policy Team is responsible for DHSC policy on all forms of violence and abuse, such as knife crime, child sexual abuse and domestic abuse. The health and care system has a responsibility to prevent violence and abuse, and to provide support to those who have been affected. 

Role 2: 'Child Health & Family Policy Advisor'

One of the roles will be the 'Child Health & Families Policy Advisor'. The Child Health and Families Policy Team is responsible for DHSC policy relating to children aged 2 to 18 years and families. Our role is to build relationships across Government and beyond, and strengthen the evidence base for how child health outcomes can be improved, including how we can reduce health inequalities. 

Role 3: 'Child Safeguarding Policy Advisor'

One of the roles will be the 'Child Safeguarding Policy Advisor'. The team leads government policy on child safeguarding in health. We work closely with DfE, Home Office and NHS England colleagues to develop and deliver national policy on child safeguarding, modelling at a national level the joint and equal partnership that local authorities, Integrated Care Boards and Police are required to deliver for their areas.

These roles will provide an exciting and rewarding opportunity to work on national policies that impact the health outcomes of children, families and vulnerable people. You will support policy development, build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, provide advice to Ministers and officials, and support on the delivery of Parliamentary business. Postholders may be asked to work flexibly in response to evolving Ministerial priorities.

Person specification

Role responsibilities

• Working with your team to develop a broader understanding of your policy area and the challenges and opportunities associated with it;
• Providing advice to Ministers and senior leaders on policy issues;
• Building and maintaining good relationships with stakeholders in the Department and across government;
• Communicating information clearly and concisely, both in writing and verbally, to a range of partners;
• Supporting on the delivery of Parliamentary business, including correspondence.
  

Key skills and experience required for these roles

Essential:

• Strong communication skills, both written and oral, with an ability to tailor your messages to meet the needs of different audiences;
• The ability to grasp complex issues readily, and to build on that to help develop policy;
• The ability to work well with a range of policy colleagues and stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes;
• The ability to deliver high quality work in a timely fashion;
• The ability to adapt to changing priorities and environments.

Desirable:

• Experience or knowledge related to the health sector, policy making, and/or improving the outcomes of children, families, and vulnerable people.

Flexible working location requirements

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 £32,188, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £8,690 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, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

Sift date: W/C 02/04/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 15/04/2024

Interview location: By video

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

Applications will be sifted on a Verbal Reasoning Test, Statement of Suitability, and Behaviours. 

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.

Candidates will be required to complete a Verbal Reasoning Test as part of the online application, this will follow immediately after the initial short application form is submitted. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the full application. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended) to give yourself enough time to complete your full application. The closing date for the tests and for submitting your full application is 02/04/2024 at 23:55. If you fail to complete the online test and submit your full application before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

An initial sift based on Statement of Suitability and the lead behaviour of Communicating and Influencing 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 a Technical Skill

Candidates will be asked to complete a written exercise at interview which will assess a technical skill: delivery of effective internal communication. Details of the written exercise will be provided to candidates at interview.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.