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.

Diversity and inclusion are two of our biggest priorities and we recognise they are a work in progress. We aim to establish a workforce which reflects the society we serve, and DHSC welcomes applications from all. We are especially interested to hear from gender diverse, disabled, LGBT+ candidates, and candidates from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds, including Black, Asian, mixed and other ethnic groups. We view flexible working and inclusive leadership as essential for all our employees. 

The Adult Social Care (ASC) Group in DHSC is a motivated, friendly and supportive group and leads on all matters relating to adult social care in the department. Putting social care on a sustainable footing, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, is one of the biggest challenges that our society faces. 

The government has ambitious plans for transforming the sector, backed by billions of new funding. We are driving improvements in the capacity and capability of the workforce, how care is commissioned, the support given to unpaid carers, how technology is integrated into services, how the sector is supported to work closely with the NHS to ensure effective pathways, and how we ensure the quality of services. Over the next few years, the ASC Group in DHSC will design and implement policies in all of these areas and more, defining the experience of millions of people drawing on or providing care and support.

Job description

We are looking to recruit three SEO policy delivery managers. The roles sit across two teams in the ASC Group:

Adult Social Care Reform

As the Adult Social Care Reforms move into delivery, we have an exciting opportunity for two solutions and delivery–focussed self-starters to join our friendly and high performing team to contribute to the successful delivery of this major reform agenda.

The government’s vision is for an Adult Social Care workforce where people can experience a rewarding career with opportunities to develop and progress, and where staff are empowered to deliver the highest quality of care. The Workforce Reform Portfolio is responsible for delivering this vision. We work closely with Ministers, the Adult Social Care sector and our delivery partners to develop and implement our reform plans at pace to achieve priority policy outcomes.

Hospital Discharge

Reducing the number of people who are in hospital but have no medical need to be there is a key priority for the government. The Hospital Discharge Programme is responsible for reducing delays in hospital discharge to improve outcomes for patients and maximise hospital capacity and flow. 

We have an exciting opportunity for a project delivery focussed team player to join the Intermediate Care Funding and Programme team, which leads on both discharge funding and programme management function across the Hospital Discharge Programme. 

There will be huge variety in the activities and outputs of each post, no two days will be the same, and all posts offer the opportunity to own delivery of priorities, design policy solutions to problems, engage with senior stakeholders, internally and externally, hone and develop policy thinking and project delivery skills, and gain experience of working with delivery partners in a high-profile and fast-paced portfolio delivery environment.
Successful candidates will be matched to a role appropriate to their skill set and experience.

Person specification

Role responsibilities

There are three posts available, two are working in our largest reform programme seeking to recognise and professionalise the social care workforce via funded training and development, and one is working on management and delivery of the Hospital Discharge Programme aimed at improving safe and timely discharge of patients from hospital – to the right place and with the right support. These 3 posts will each lead and support on:

1. Delivery of the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Qualification. This is a new baseline qualification for the adult social care workforce. The successful candidate will oversee both the implementation of the qualification as it launches to the sector in June, but also lead on critical policy workstreams around communications and strategy planning.
2. Delivery of a new digital platform. This role will involve close working with our delivery partner to implement policy, overseeing the digital build, and subsequent operation. The successful candidate will help drive the platform delivery to time, cost and quality parameters. There will be opportunities to develop skills and experience in MoU management, grants and subsidy management, digital assurance, and operationalising complex policy for delivery, ensuring its alignment with the rest of the workforce reform portfolio.
3. Delivery of the Discharge Fund and embedding of project management standards across the Discharge Programme. This role will combine elements of policy delivery and project management. The successful candidate will be expected to work with stakeholders to deliver and monitor the discharge funding and implement assurance processes for funding delivery  using project management methodologies. They will also be part of a small team working to embed effective project management controls across the Hospital Discharge Programme.  

 The roles involve:

• Leading on aspects of the end-to-end delivery lifecycle on your project/s to ensure delivery milestones are met.
• Project management, including the development and maintenance of the delivery plan with monitoring delivery against plan
• Owning project-level governance and secretariat functions, and project-level risks and issues management and reporting.
• Working with external delivery partners which may include leading aspects of procurement and/or contract/MoU management governing the performance of delivery partners.
• Leading on discrete aspects of policy design to inform the longer-term strategy for your area.
• Managing relevant stakeholder relationships to facilitate the planned delivery to project parameters and working collaboratively to navigate complex political and commercial sensitivities with a problem-solving mindset.
• Development and drafting of key documentation and communications (both internal and external facing) including: MOUs, scheme rules and guidance and sector wide public communications and briefings.
• Tailoring and embedding project controls, processes and tools to ensure effective management of work

All postholders will be expected to build and maintain excellent relationships with key stakeholders, internally and externally, provide high quality and accurate verbal and written advice and recommendations, proactively identify and manage risks to successful delivery, work effectively with external commercial delivery partners, and flexibly support on wider reform priorities in the lead up to key milestones.

Key skills and experience required for this role

Essential skills and experience

• Excellent engagement, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to demonstrate credibility with internal and external stakeholders.
• Close attention to detail with the ability to produce high quality and accurate written papers, submissions, briefings, correspondence responses and reporting.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced and delivery-focused environment, such as a major project or programme.
• Confident self-starter, able to work independently at times to achieve policy delivery outcomes and identify and assess ranges of options to reach robust and informed recommendation.
• Ability to achieve outcomes through effective planning of delivery and analysis to identify and mitigate potential risks to successful implementation.
• Ability to take the initiative to manage own workload and priorities in a fast-paced, and at times ambiguous delivery environment.
• Motivation and enthusiasm to learn and develop new skills and to apply project management standards to improve delivery

Desirable knowledge and experience

• Experience or knowledge of the social care sector

Working location expectations

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 £40,025, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £10,806 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: expected W/C 04/03/2024 

Interview date: expected W/C 18/03/2024

Interview location: By video

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

Applications will be sifted on Statement of Suitability and Behaviours

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.

An initial sift based on the lead behaviour of Delivering at Pace 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 

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.

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).

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.

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.