About the job

Job summary

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) plays a vital role in leading the nation’s health and social care, to help people live more independent, healthier lives for longer. 

We are recruiting an SEO to join the Visiting and Health Protection Policy team. The team is responsible for visiting policy, pandemic preparedness, and infection, prevention and control (IPC) guidance in adult social care (ASC). The team works to ensure that policies continue to protect people most vulnerable to infectious diseases while maximising their wellbeing.

The role offers an excellent opportunity to gain policy experience whilst working in an interesting, varied and high-profile area that contributes to improving people’s lives. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work across the team’s policy areas, on priorities such as ensuring that the ASC sector’s needs are reflected across DHSC’s pandemic preparedness work, that the sector is prepared to implement visiting as a fundamental standard of care, and that IPC guidance for the sector is clear. The role will include engaging with internal and external stakeholders and independently leading on key work strands.

Diversity and inclusion are two of our biggest priorities and we aim to establish a workforce which reflects the society we serve, welcoming applications from all. We are especially interested to hear from gender diverse, disabled, LGBT+ candidates, and candidates from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds, including Black, Asian, mixed and other ethnic groups. We view flexible working and inclusive leadership as essential for all our employees. 

We welcome applications from people with experience of working in the social care sector.

Job description

The Visiting and Health Protection Policy team plays an important role in developing policy that protects people who access adult social care, both now and in the future. We are looking for an SEO to pick up and lead policies which deliver against ministerial objectives and support the sector. 

The team recently worked on laying regulations which will add ‘visiting’ as a fundamental standard of care in health and care settings, which will come into force in April 2024. The successful applicant will work closely with CQC and internal and external stakeholders to ensure that the change is communicated and embedded effectively in the sector.

It is expected that the successful applicant will be flexible in taking a lead on other work strands within the team, as ministerial and departmental priorities shift. This could include involvement with ongoing work on infection, prevention and control; future pandemic preparedness; and developing legislation. They will also be part of the team ‘briefing hub’, leading responses to briefing requests, PQs and correspondence for our policy areas.  

Person specification

• Engage regularly with CQC, lawyers and other internal and external stakeholders to develop guidance for the sector and ensure that it is communicated effectively
• Lead development of written and verbal briefing for senior officials and Ministers
• Utilise project management skills to ensure that key milestones are set out and delivered upon
• Support and lead on work strands across the team’s policy areas as required, which may include strategic thinking on future pandemic preparedness or policy development on infection, prevention and control
• Contribute to business of state functions of the team in terms of briefing ministers / writing PQ and correspondence replies

Key skills and experience required for the role

• Experience of working in a policy development role
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work confidently with a wide range of stakeholders
• Confident working across teams and functions to build evidence, assess options and  develop policy recommendations
• High attention to detail with the ability to produce high quality and accurate written papers, submissions and briefings
• Ability to confidently lead on work strands independently, identifying emerging issues and priorities
• Work effectively to deadlines, prioritising and managing deliverables, setting out key milestones and managing risks, issues and dependencies
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, supporting more junior members of staff and working effectively alongside team members of all grades, experience and backgrounds
• Be adaptable and flexible in supporting on key team priorities
• Experience of legislative/ parliamentary processes is desirable but not essential
• Knowledge or experience of the ASC sector is desirable but not essential

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,025, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £10,806 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: expected W/C 05/02/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 19/02/2024

Interview location: By video

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

Applications will be sifted on CV, Statement of Suitability, 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 750 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 the behaviour 'Making Effective Decisions' 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  

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.

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.