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 Rare Diseases and Emerging Therapies Team (RDET) is a policy team, sitting within the Health Ethics Branch of DHSC’s NHS Quality, Safety and Investigations (NHSQSI) Directorate. The wider Health Ethics branch has responsibility for sponsorship of NHS Blood and Transplant, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Tissue Authority and for legislation and policy associated with these areas. The RDET team leads on policy on rare diseases and emerging technologies associated with human genetics, coordinating across partners to deliver improved patient outcomes and proactively engaging with a wide range of external stakeholders​.

RDET is responsible for policy on:

• emerging technologies associated with human genetics including genomics science, cell and gene therapies, and stem cells
• the Code on genetic testing and insurance
• policy on rare diseases including implementation of the 2021 UK Rare Diseases Framework and England’s annual action plans
• Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority sponsorship and assisted conception policy

Job description

This exciting role offers the opportunity to support Ministers through provision of reactive briefing across topics related to rare diseases and emerging technologies associated with human genetics. An ability to translate sometimes technical information into accurate well-crafted written briefing for non-specialists is important. With over 7000 different rare diseases an ability to shift topic quickly, prioritise and deliver at pace is essential, as is an ability to develop networks of contacts and work collaboratively with a range of partners.

There will be opportunities to develop core civil service skills – working on topics across the RDET team on briefing, speech writing, parliamentary work including parliamentary questions and submissions to Ministers.

The role offers opportunities for personal development and will involve working with a broad range of DHSC and external stakeholders (for example NHS England, Genomics England, rare disease charities and patient advocacy groups, the Association of British Insurers and industry), the devolved administrations and other government departments.  Alongside this there will be an opportunity to get involved with policy development and plan and deliver discrete policy-related projects, for example on the Code on Genetic Testing and Insurance.

Working to a grade 7 and alongside an SEO, you will be part of a small friendly and supportive team that aims to provide individuals with an opportunity to develop and progress. You will be expected to work flexibly, contributing to wider branch work streams as appropriate.

Person specification

Role responsibilities

• Lead on tracking and responding to reactive briefing (PQs, debates, Ministerial meetings, correspondance ) across the team.
• Develop strong networks and trusted relationships with colleagues across DHSC and other government departments and with external stakeholders.
• Commissioning briefing from a wide range of contacts.
• Maintaining an up to date core script and how to documents.
• Leading on planning and delivery of discrete policy-related projects.
• Supporting on briefing and policy work across the wider branch as needed.
• Provide Secretariat at governance meetings for stem cell programmes.
• Support addressing acute issues faced in the rare disease community (e.g. working with NHSE on to understand challenges and find solutions on specific rare diseases).

Key skills and experience required for the role

Essential

• We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who can develop strong relationships and work across organisational boundaries to effectively produce accurate briefing.
• Confident making decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Ability to communicate complex information accurately to a non-specialist audience and to write for different audiences.
• Ability to accurately interpret and use statistics and data in briefings.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Ability to deliver at pace to manage the competing priorities of the role.

 

Desirable

• A background in health or life sciences would be helpful but is not essential.
• Experience of drafting policy briefing. 

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 and Experience.

Sift date: expected W/C 01/01/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 15/01/2024

Interview location: By video

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

Applications will be sifted on Online tests, CV, Statement of Suitability, 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 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.

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 02/01/2024. 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 CV 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 Strengths.   

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

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.

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.