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.

These roles offer an exciting opportunity to deliver on the aims of the UK’s first Medtech Strategy, focusing on streamlining the innovation pathway so that impactful new products reach those in need as quickly as possible.

The posts sit within the Medical Technology (MedTech) Strategy, Policy and Regulation Team. The team are responsible for setting the UK priorities for medical technology and ensuring their successful implementation and delivery. The posts directly link to the Government’s priorities, specifically investment in technology, a critical aspect of the life sciences sector and health system. You will play a key role in enhancing the performance of medtech that can drastically improve patient outcomes.

DHSC’s MedTech Directorate works closely with leaders across the health and care system to drive innovation, adopt high-quality products and achieve value for tax-payer money. The team also fulfils DHSC’s regulatory policy role for medical devices, supporting the regulator to design a framework that supports innovation within the life sciences sector and improve patient access to innovative medical devices, while protecting patient safety.

Job description

The first ever government MedTech Strategy launched in February 2023, with a vision to get the right products, into the right place, for the right price. A year into delivery, medtech and innovation remains a priority to drive excellent patient outcomes and improve the attractiveness of the UK as a global life sciences hub.   

This is a prominent area with a lot of interest from No 10, DHSC Ministers, and public stakeholders, so proactivity and attention to detail are essential for timely delivery. These are a stretching and rewarding roles, ideally suited for individuals looking to further develop skills in policy development and delivery in a fast-paced and high-interest area. 

Due to its high-profile nature, the posts involve frequent engagement with leaders within the Department and across government, as well as the Devolved Administrations. It also offers the holder opportunity to work closely with stakeholders at all levels across the health system, such as NHS England, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), patient groups, and the medtech industry. This is a complex policy area with multiple moving parts. There are internal and external stakeholders accountable for delivery to DHSC, with progress reporting to ministers monthly and with a quarterly programme boards.

Senior Policy Advisor, Strategy and Policy

The postholder will play a key role in establishing the strategic direction and maintaining momentum behind MedTech Strategy initiatives. In particular, the initiatives focused on improving the adoption of medtech with the greatest potential to help patients and the NHS. This includes high-profile work championed by Number 10 to streamline the medtech innovation pathway to enable groundbreaking technology to reach patients faster. 

The postholder will also play a leading role in maintaining the framework within which the MedTech Strategy Programme can successfully deliver. This includes overseeing a HEO to develop tools and techniques to standardise methodologies and realise efficiency potential. It includes delivering advice and recommendations at pace on how projects can expand to help more patients have faster access to technologies that would transform their care. The role will involve working closely with the Initiative Leads and Analytical Leads to develop implementation plans for medtech adoption initiatives. The post holder will lead work in mapping and assessing programme benefits to create evidence-based investment cases for the upcoming Spending Review. 

Senior Policy Advisor, Regulatory Policy

The postholder will support the development of the future regulations for medical devices, finding solutions to strike the balance between innovation and patient safety. This includes providing evidence-based analysis and recommendations for seniors, ensuring ministerial and cross-government priorities are reflected in policy development, and creatively considering mitigations to the challenges faced by the sector. The postholder will lead and contribute to cross-departmental and external initiatives or reports impacting medical devices regulations.

The postholder will also help to shape the Government position on the reporting of industry payments to the healthcare sector, exploring a recommendation from the "First Do No Harm" report published by the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review. This includes working across DHSC and Whitehall, as well as with industry and patient groups, to develop policies that work for the whole MedTech sector. They will ensure alignment of the team’s work with ministerial priorities and engage collaboratively on the team’s work with counterparts in the Devolved Administrations.

Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or 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.    

Person specification

Senior Policy Advisor, Strategy and Policy

The role will play a key part in delivering the MedTech Strategy.

Responsibilities will include:   

- Thinking strategically to advance policy goals around improving medtech adoption, considering the wider policy environment across the MedTech Strategy, department and government with regular stakeholder touchpoints and progress tracking.  

- Critically assessing options for medtech adoption plans and priority areas, working closely with NHS system and clinical leaders to ensure plans align with local needs. This includes engaging with commercial teams on how to identify impactful technology to scale at pace, in a fair and competitive way that secures value for the NHS and encourages innovative suppliers to engage with the UK market.

 - Collaborating with analytical and policy colleagues to map benefits across programmes, and use this evidence to develop convincing investment cases for the upcoming Spending Review.

- Supporting the programme manager and wider programme management function to deliver effective programme management, which drives programme delivery of programme goals.

- Delivering advice and recommendations at pace to initiative leads on how projects can expand.

- Overseeing the work of the HEO to strengthen and evolve the key programme tools and techniques including risk and issue management and planning approaches across the programme.

- Contributing to a team approach responding to PQs, correspondence and briefing requests.  

- Supporting and leading where appropriate the drafting of policy documents including submissions and briefings.  

- Problem solving at pace, as much of the work looks to develop pilots into sustainable programmes, so unforeseen challenges are common. A timely resolution is crucial to maintaining delivery confidence.  

Senior Policy Advisor, Regulatory Policy

Responsibilities will include:

- Contributing to and coordinating the MedTech Directorate’s input into the MHRA’s development of a future regulatory framework for medical devices, and subsequent regulations, ensuring alignment with emerging ministerial and departmental priorities.

- Contributing to and coordinating on areas for further regulatory reform to ensure the UK remains an attractive place for innovation while maintaining high standards of patient safety. This includes engaging with stakeholder engagement leads to understand industry views and horizon scanning the sector.

- Drafting and providing contributions to medical device related issues, including international engagement. This includes working with other departments, arm’s-length bodies or international organisations.

- Supporting and leading on certain areas relating to the disclosure of industry payments to the healthcare sector. This includes analysis of evidence to recommend a Government position, preparation of public documents to outline the Government’s intentions, and leading engagement with the Devolved Administrations.

- Liaising with other government departments with regulatory responsibility for the regulation of other ‘new approach’ goods, including with DBT colleagues on manufactured goods related regulation. Monitoring the landscape and approaches taken for regulating other ‘new approach goods’, presenting the medical devices position and reporting on issues or potential conflicts.

- Running the Four Nations Medical Devices Working Group, supporting the G7 and G6 as Chairs with preparation of materials. Developing the agenda and tracking outcomes and actions.

- Developing accurate, high-quality advice, briefings and submissions to ministers and senior officials for your policy area of responsibility, often at pace.

- Drafting responses or contributions to PQs, ministerial correspondence and ad hoc Government advice.

Both roles will equally have access to great L&D opportunities and be able to take advantage of opportunities offered within the Directorate, such as front-line visits to see technology deployed.

 

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: W/C 20/05/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 03/06/2024

Interview location: By Video

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

Applications will be sifted on Behaviours and CV.

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.

An initial sift based on the Lead Behaviour, Seeing the Big Picture, and the CV, 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 

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.

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).

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. 

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 

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

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.