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.

Under the leadership of the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, teams of staff work together across DHSC as the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) to drive forward a range of policy and delivery areas focused on improving health and tackling disparities in access, experience and outcomes.

This role is based in the Health Improvement, Population Health, Resilience and System Support (HIPRSS) Team in OHID London Regional office. OHID London supports the delivery of national and regional priorities for prevention and health inequalities, ensuring a joined-up approach to public health, building strong interfaces with different teams and areas of public health, across the regional system.

Job description

Our team primarily supports local authorities and ICBs to deliver improvements in health and reduce inequalities in health and wellbeing outcomes. We work closely with a range of partners, including the GLA to use evidence-based practice to target the major causes of morbidity and mortality.  Our current work programme includes health improvement, health and work, climate change and health, healthy places and asylum health, and general support for effective public health system working and resilience.   We promote parity of esteem between mental health and physical health.

Our team's function is to work in an integrated way to ensure a major focus on health inequalities and the social determinants of health within and throughout OHID Regions and across the wider system.

The public health support officer is responsible for supporting the smooth running of health and wellbeing programmes and projects, which are designed to support regional and local partners transform the health of their populations.

The job purpose is to undertake a range of project support activities that deliver public health programmes and to facilitate the delivery of projects and the business plan.  This post holder will be expected to work flexibly, collaboratively and in an integrated way within OHID and with partner organisations.

Role responsibilities

The postholder is responsible for supporting the smooth running of health and wellbeing programmes and projects which are designed to support local government and transform the health of their populations.

The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal, and external to OHID London.

In addition:

1. To undertake a range of project and programme support activities that deliver public health programmes and to facilitate the delivery of projects and the business plan.
2. Manage the administration of health and wellbeing programmes and general support to team members.  Support the management of a risk and issues tracking mechanism and its proactive resolution and escalation processes.
3. In agreement with line manager, may undertake line management duties subject to local arrangements.
4. Prepare reports and correspondence, produce research, and develop project papers and presentational material.
5. Undertake and present appropriate data and information analysis for reporting on a wide range of public health topics for internal and external use, with support from analysts in the Knowledge and Intelligence Team.
6. Contribute to the development of key performance indicators and quality initiatives for work stream success.
7. Contribute to and/or devise improvements to management information, analysing, reporting and suggesting procedures to enhance process flow and decision making processes.
8. Develop and implement data review systems that will provide the team with accurate and timely data, as well as up to date analysis and narrative.
9. Work flexibly, collaboratively and in an integrated way within OHID and with partner organizations.
10. Support the coordination of and participate in relevant internal and external working groups and provide project advice and support where requested.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the OHID London Region.

Person specification

Key skills and experience required for this role

• Training or experience in project management or supporting change management processes
• Experience and understanding of working in, evaluating and measuring operational processes in statutory services
• Experience of gathering, analysing and presenting data and information on a wide range of topics for internal and external use, to inform decision making
• Experience in communications and stakeholder management
• An understanding of planning and experience in supporting delivery of efficient and effective projects and programmes to time, quality standards and budget
• Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales
• Knowledge of public health principles, approaches and ways of working

Desirable:

• Educated to degree level in a health/public health related subject, or have equivalent experience. 
• Training or experience in project management, financial management or supporting change management processes.

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.

Applications will be sifted on a 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 Statement of Suitability and the lead behaviour of Working Together 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. 

Sift and Interview dates

Sift date: expected W/C 15/04/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 29/04/2024

Interview location: By video 

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

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.

Flexible working location requirements

Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, in London.  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.    

Further Information

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. 

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

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.

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.

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.