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 sits within the Health Improvement directorate and is part of the Better Outcomes Through Linked Data (BOLD) Programme.  The goal of this programme is to deliver better evidenced, joined-up and more effective cross-govt. interventions to support vulnerable adults at specific touchpoints in their interactions with government services, supported by timely linked data and evidence.  The programme will be led by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and supported by 5 other government departments.  

The project consists of a central enabling data infrastructure programme to build the linked dataset, and 4 demonstrator-pilots that will use the linked dataset to improve the connectedness of government data. This will enable policy-makers and those working on the frontline of UK public services to have better quality evidence on what works in supporting victims, reducing homelessness, identifying substance misuse and helping offenders turn their backs on crime. 

Job description

The role sits within the Substance Misuse Pilot England team in DHSC in a multi-disciplinary team with a small team of analysts that work closely with policy colleagues and the DHSC Data Science team to help deliver our linkage and analysis projects. We work on an innovative cross-govt programme which requires flexibility and adaptability and means members of the team may need to work on a wider range of tasks than those specified, but also offers experience in a dynamic work environment, contributing to pioneering cross-government data linking projects that makes an impact at the highest levels of policy and has strong ministerial interest. You will need to form links with teams both in DHSC, MoJ and other government departments. It will also involve communicating and working with a wide range of stakeholders on a range of projects and across different data sets and be able to explain technical concepts to non-experts (in both written and oral communication).

The Programme Support Officer role will involve proactively managing the meetings of the team and note actions. Working to keeping the programme and project records up to date, such as reporting templates, action and decision logs. You would be a key member of our team and help devise new processes to streamline the ingress of priority datasets held across government.

A key part of this role is ensuring internal reporting deadlines are met by the programme and issuing and coordinating the communications across the team to ensure all stakeholders are updated with this progress. There will be a need to set up programme or project workshops or meetings, including room bookings and managing external visitors. It will require liaising with stakeholder both internal and external to the Department. 

Person specification

Role responsibilities

• To support the coordination of the BOLD programme, and additional high priority projects as they emerge.
• To undertake administrative activities, including preparation of documents and presentations for internal and external audiences, using word processing, databases, spreadsheets and presentation packages.
• To assist in collating and maintaining comprehensive and up-to-date policy information
• To work closely with communications and information colleagues to ensure that messages to staff, engagement with stakeholders, and external responses are all aligned with Departmental policy and consistent with evidence.
• To maintain effective partnerships with policy colleagues in government departments and key stakeholder organisations in order to promote activities and messages.
• To organise travel and accommodation arrangements within budgetary requirements for meetings, visits, and other events.
• To lead on aspects of project work as required under the direction of the project lead.
• Any other duties that the organisation may require in order to achieve the purpose of the business.

Key skills and experience required for the role

• Experience of project management and working to support the delivery of a complex programme
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent attention to detail with an ability to deliver written material and presentations that that deliver clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
• Independent thinker with demonstrated good judgement, problem-solving and analytical skills
• Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where they may be a number of courses of action
• Able to demonstrate a sound understanding of equality and diversity and able to articulate the practical implications
• Proficient in Microsoft packages included advanced excel, PowerPoint and Visio.

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 and Experience.

Sift date: W/C 19/02/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 04/03/2024 

Interview location: By video

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

Applications will be sifted on 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.