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 Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is one of the most senior positions within the department, and a member of the DHSC’s Executive Committee. The CSA is responsible for the DHSC research and development budget of over £1.2billion in domestic and international health though the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). They have responsibility or analysis within the Department, with the Chief Economist/Analyst reporting to them. The CSA also provided science advice to Ministers across the range of health, and are involved in cross-government science policy, as part of the CSA network. The post holder will work across many of these areas. 

Job description

This role will be one of five members of a small, effective team, the CSA Private Office, who support the CSA in a role that is varied, challenging, and frequently fast paced. The Private Office provides a bridge between the CSA, her directorates and policy officials in the department.

The successful applicant will need excellent organisational skills, the ability to read between the lines, prioritise efficiently and keep track of and monitor progress on a wide range of issues to ensure work is prioritised and deadlines are met. They will also need a flexible approach to managing conflicting priorities and an ability to establish strong relationships with a wide range of people across DHSC, the NIHR and external partners.

This is a fantastic opportunity to drive forward scientific and public health research priorities for DHSC. This role will play an important role acting as the interface between the CSA, officials, the CMO office and the ministerial team, working with all sides to provide policy and scientific advice. This includes developing and managing important relationships across the grade spectrum and gaining and maintaining a full understanding of the priorities for both the directorate, the Department and across Whitehall.

Person specification

• Be a key part a high-performing team to effectively support the CSA and Department.
• Deliver quality advice to the CSA on your portfolio areas. Provide clear commissions and steers to relevant colleagues in advance of meetings and events and obtain contributions from all appropriate stakeholders, representing the CSA’s views.
• Effectively manage the time of the CSA, ensuring that it is used appropriately through arranging meetings, requesting briefing and overseeing logistical arrangements. The PS will also have responsibility for managing the inbox of the CSA.
• Be aware of ministerial priorities and anticipate the impact on the Group.
• Work closely with colleagues to understand the breadth of work going on across the Group, and be able to interpret trends, anticipate future needs and consider the longer-term impact of this work, finding innovative solutions to a broad range of complex issues.
• Identify and oversee cross-cutting and strategic policy and scientific advice. Keep up to date with policy developments across DHSC.  Be mindful of the potential impact of policy developments on other DGs’ portfolios and other government departments.
• Act as a conduit between the CSA and the Group’s directorates, Ministerial and Chief Medical Officer private offices, the wider Department, ALBs and other Government Departments. Take responsibility for communicating CSA’s views within and outside the Group, advising how best to brief on or progress difficult and complex issues.
• You will also have the opportunity to be involved in a number of ad-hoc projects and programmes that the CSA is involved in.
• Act as an internal challenge to the thinking of the CSA.
• Line management of the CSA diary manager (EO).
• Deputise for the Head of Office when necessary. 

Key skills and experience required for the role:

• Experience of working in a busy private office.
• Ability to identify and manage the differing business needs of stakeholders, and develop productive relationships with stakeholders, both internal and external.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a larger team.
• Ability to analyse complex information and identify the key points and risks.
• Ability to prioritise time effectively, and show flexibility in pace and ways of working.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,043, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £11,891 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 and Experience.

Sift date: expected W/C 08/01/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 22/01/2024

Interview location: By video 

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 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.  

Please complete a statement on the specified Behaviour (250 word max)

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

An initial sift based on you 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. 

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 

Further Information

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. 

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.

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.