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.

DHSC works with 13 Public Bodies including the UK Health Security Agency and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority, which deliver services on behalf of the Department. 

The Public Bodies Oversight and Review Team, sits at the centre of the Department within the Ministers, Accountability and Strategy Directorate and manages a number of crosscutting areas spanning departmental policy and sponsorship of our Public Bodies, including delivery of the Public Bodies Review Programme, Public Bodies accountability, sponsorship capability, as well as the Public Sector Equality Duty and Smarter Regulation. The unit is made up of the Public Bodies Review Team and the Public Bodies Oversight team.

We are a friendly and inclusive team and no two days are the same. There will be opportunities to learn and develop your skills, as well as gain experience working with senior officials and diverse teams, within and across DHSC and wider Government. 

Job description

As a Senior Policy Advisor in Public Bodies Reviews, you will play a crucial role in supporting the delivery of DHSC's programme of public bodies reviews in line with Cabinet Office guidance. This will involve collaborating closely with senior stakeholders, public bodies and DHSC sponsorship teams to conduct rigorous reviews and evaluate the performance of DHSC's public bodies, collating and analysing information from a variety of sources to draw conclusions, and identifying recommendations to ensure each of DHSC's public bodies is efficient, effective and accountable. You will also work with Cabinet Office to develop a prioritisation plan for upcoming reviews.

The Public Bodies Review Programme, led by Cabinet Office, is designed to meet the Government’s vision of ensuring that public bodies have appropriate governance and accountability arrangements in place, and are effective and efficient.

This is an exciting opportunity to work directly with our public bodies and will suit those with strong written and verbal communication skills, and an ability to engage and build relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including senior stakeholders. You will be required to draft reports, present findings and recommendations and manage competing pressures and interests. The post-holder will be comfortable working with external stakeholders and confident in managing large volumes of information.

We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds and we actively encourage applications from people who work part-time or as part of job-sharing arrangements. 

We make a strong commitment to the personal development and career of all our colleagues and you will receive training in line with your responsibilities and work in a team where you will be supported to develop wider skills that will help you progress in your career, not just in this role.

Person specification

The key responsibilities for this role are:

• Leading on analysing and collating information from a range of sources for the Public Bodies Reviews team, to draw conclusions and identify actionable recommendations to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of DHSC's public bodies.
• Supporting the appointment of lead reviewers for each review;
• Engaging actively with ALBs and relevant leads in DHSC, including DHSC’s sponsorship team, to provide evidence for the reviews. This will involve collaborating closely with senior stakeholders, public bodies, and DHSC sponsorship teams to conduct rigorous reviews;
• Leading on drafting sections of the Review report and presenting findings and recommendations to a variety of stakeholders.
• Supporting the overall delivery of DHSC’s Public Bodies Review Programme, ensuring alignment with Cabinet Office guidance;
• Contributing to the overall planning and oversight of the DHSC review programme, including managing the key deliverables on time;
• Supporting the Head of Public Bodies Reviews to draft the review’s findings;
• Drafting informative and succinct submissions to senior leaders and ministers.
• Supporting the wider mission of the ALB Oversight and Review function to deliver results and continue to make it a great place to work.

Key skills and experience required for the role

Essential criteria

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, to communicate complex information and analysis clearly and concisely to a variety of audiences, including non-specialists.
• Ability to work as part of a team, and independently to adapt to changing priorities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to engage with diverse stakeholders, with a proven ability to foster effective working relationships within and across teams.
• Strong analytical skills to summarise large volumes of information and data, to distil key findings and recommendations.
• Strong planning and organisational skills, and an ability to prioritise competing tasks to meet deadlines.
• The ability to work at pace. 

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience of working with sponsor teams or public bodies is desirable but not essential.

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.  

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 15/04/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 06/05/2024

Interview location: By video

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

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

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. 

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.