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.

This role is in the Programme Management Office (PMO) of the Better Care Fund (BCF) and Hospital Discharge Programme. 

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 aims to increase the appropriate and timely discharge of patients from acute beds to improve hospital flow and support the optimal patient outcome. It is made up of Four Workstreams:
-    Discharge Funding & Capacity Building  
-    Improving Discharge Processes
-    System Support and Oversight
-    Data and Metrics.

The Discharge Programme is jointly governed with NHS England, one of the departments arm’s length bodies.

The Better Care Fund (BCF) is a key driver of health and social care integration in England, providing a mechanism for joint health, housing and social care planning and commissioning. The BCF Programme supports local systems to successfully deliver the integration of health and social care in a way that supports person-centred care, sustainability and better outcomes for people and carers. It represents a unique collaboration between: DHSC; Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC); NHS England, and; The Local Government Association. The four partners work closely together to help local areas plan and implement integrated health and social care services across England. 

Job description

You will lead the Programme Management Office (PMO) of the BCF and Discharge Programme, playing a fundamental role in setting the PMO up for success and facilitating achievement of Programme objectives. You will also act as the Programme Management expert in the Directorate, championing Project and Programme Management (PPM) standards and practices. The role is varied and provides opportunity to lead on diverse Programme Management areas as well as exposure to a wide range of stakeholders across professional and organisational boundaries.

Person specification

Role responsibilities

• Developing, embedding and maintaining effective PPM controls across the Programme and its Workstreams.
• Facilitating translation of strategic policy priorities into a Programme Plan. Proactively monitoring and reporting on the progress against the Plan through the governance framework.
• Maintaining the overall integrity and coherence of the Programme Governance and Management framework, building and managing effective relationships with stakeholders across DHSC, NHS, DLUHC, HMT, No10.
• Leading on Programme Assurance activities. Ensuring that recommendations from external assurance reviews are acted upon.
• Leading on the processes and standards for identifying, managing, escalating and communicating Risks and Issues across the Programme and its Workstreams.
• Establishing and implementing Change Management protocols for the Programme and its Workstreams.
• Mapping Programme Dependencies and building Dependency Management into the Programme Governance cycle.
• Developing and maintaining a Benefits Management Plan.
• Proactively identifying opportunities for linking up and sharing of methods and ensuring learning from experience is disseminated across the Directorate.
• Supporting in the identification, recruitment, development, deployment and management of Resources for the Programme throughout its lifecycle.
• Championing the use of appropriate PPM standards and processes, providing advice and guidance on practical application of PPM methodologies to junior and senior colleagues in the Directorate.
• Leading the PMO team, coaching and supporting your team to achieve their work and development objectives.

Key skills and experience required for this role

Essential:

• Experience of managing complex or high-risk projects or programmes within agreed time, cost and quality constraints.
• Knowledge of PPM frameworks and methodologies:
  • Ability to confidently advise others on how to tailor and apply them in practice
• Experience of developing and maintaining PPM standards and controls within a cross-functional team, including development, tailoring and application of proportionate project /programme management practices, tools and techniques.
• A good communicator and doer who can establish trust with colleagues, seniors and external partners at all levels to achieve the desired outcomes.
• Credible in dealing with a broad range of people, confident to deliver clear and authoritative advice and recommendations to colleagues and senior officials.
• Able to take the initiative, operate with a high degree of autonomy to keep the project /programme on track and constructively challenge and influence others while maintaining positive relationships.
• Excellent facilitation skills.

Candidates are required to hold at least one of the below qualifications:

• APM Project Management Qualification
• Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner
• Management of Risk Practitioner
• Project Leadership Programme
• Or an equivalent recognised Project Management Qualification.

Flexible working location requirements

Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, in 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 £14,354 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 29/07/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 12/08 and 19/08/2024

Interview location: By video

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

Applications will be sifted on Behaviours, 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 also include a list of your relevant qualifications. 

Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 250 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for this 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 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. 

Qualifications required for the role will be checked and verified by the vacancy holder as part of the onboarding process. You may also be asked to provide evidence that any qualifications obtained overseas are equivalent to those advertised.

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 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 cabinetofficerecruitment.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.