About the job

Job summary

This is an exciting analyst post in the Equality Hub’s award-winning Equality Data and Analysis Directorate (EDAD). You will be part of a team of researchers and other analysts developing high quality data and research on disabled people. Your main responsibility will be supporting data-related actions outlined in the government’s Disability Action Plan and National Disability Strategy and informing disability policy development across government.  There will also be opportunities to work on research and data analysis in other areas, such as ethnicity policy. This is an excellent opportunity to work at the heart of Government with significant interest from ministers, and to develop your skills in using evidence to drive policy development and service delivery.  You will work closely with policy teams in the Equality Hub Disability Unit, and policy teams and analysts in other government departments.

Job description

We are looking for an enthusiastic researcher who will lead on developing a body of evidence on the lived experience of disabled people that influences policymaking, and support its use across government departments.

We are a friendly and vibrant cross-disciplinary team of researchers and other analysts in the Equality Hub. We work in an integrated way across the teams, and maintain strong links with policy , digital and communications teams in the Equality Hub, and with analysts in other government departments.

You will be required to work flexibly across topics as needed. In addition you will take on project work and contribute to briefing, and have responsibility for one or more of the topics below, depending on interest and expertise:

• developing a robust evidence base on disabled people’s needs and experiences with lived experience at the heart of it, supporting important government actions in the Disability Action Plan and the National Disability Strategy
• Horizon scanning to ensure that our evidence base is up to date with the latest research and developments in the field
• contracting external research to improve the disability-related evidence base and managing these contracts
• working with researchers and other analysts in other government department to develop a collective drive to increase the quality and value of disability-related evidence and building joined ownership
• proactively seeking out opportunities to apply insights from the evidence into policy development and support policy colleagues
• drafting briefing for policy colleagues, building expertise in the evidence and knowledge of associated evidence, and acquiring knowledge of the drivers of key issues in these areas which can inform policy or service delivery
• improve the accessibility and visibility of lived experience evidence (including the development of dashboards and blogs) and to improve the quality of the evidence
• providing research or analytical support in other areas, such as ethnicity policy, or quantitative statistical analysis

Analysts joining the team will gain a wide understanding of Government use of evidence, gain experience of working across Whitehall departments and using evidence to drive policy.

Person specification

Essential

You will have strong, demonstrable experience in these areas: 

• A strong background in social research and qualitative analysis, with a particular emphasis on lived experience research
• Experience of commissioning, managing and quality-assuring research
• An ability to work to tight deadlines and adapt to changing priorities.
• Experience of assessing quality and robustness of both qualitative and quantitative data and evidence, reaching and defending conclusions from evidence or its analysis.
• Experience of working with colleagues from different specialisms, professions, or government departments.
• Experience of presenting and disseminating evidence: this includes written and oral communication, and presenting qualitative data to a variety of audiences.

Desirable experience

You may also have:

• Strong quantitative statistical skills - the role might also involve supporting statisticians with data analysis
• Experience in policy design and development
• A background in the field of disability including an understanding of disability-related evidence or policy issues

• Qualifications and memberships

  The candidate must either be a member of GSG, GSR, or GES to be eligible to apply, or have equivalent expertise in the analytical principles and practices common across these professions, and some experience in the areas outlined above.

  In your application, please state if you are a member of one of these professions:

  • Government Statistician Group (GSG):
  • Government Social Research Service (GSR)
  • Government Economic Service (GES)

  If you are not in one of these professions, then you will undertake an appropriate badging board at the interview. Further details on this will be provided if you are invited to interview.

  The candidate should have a minimum of a 2:1 degree in Statistics, Economics, Geography, Operational or Social research or other numerate discipline

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,850, Cabinet Office contributes £11,029 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

The application process requires:

• Examples for the behaviours : Managing a quality service, Delivering at Pace, Working Together
• A CV that will be assessed
• A Statement of Suitability detailing where you meet the essential/desirable criteria.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Managing a quality service. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview

Selection process

Applications will be sifted on the behaviours, CV and the Statement of Suitability.

The format of the interview will be on behaviours and technical skills.

There may be a presentation as part of the interview process.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date –  w/c 20/05/24
Expected interview date/s – w/c 10/06/24
Interview location - the interview will take place via google meet video conferencing

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.

Further information
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note that this role requires BPSS clearance, this may increase once in the role. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

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 /Disclosure Scotland 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. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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.

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.