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.

Job description

We are looking for a Photographer / Videographer to join the Department of Health and Social Care’s Social Media team, to create social first visuals that tell a story.

It’s a role that is both creative and rewarding, requiring someone with exceptional creative and organisational skills that can be used to engage audiences across the full spectrum of DHSC’s policy priorities. You are motivated, ambitious, positive and work as well independently as you do in a team.

Your work will directly help our Department in its responsibilities to promote the work around cutting waiting lists – a key Prime Minister priority – as well as health priorities including the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, the Women’s Health Strategy and the government’s Smokefree Generation policy.

You will capture and deliver integrated social media content (photo and video) to support all DHSC comms, ranging from high-profile announcements and organic campaigns to localised behind-the-scenes stories. You will offer creative advice around social media handling, attend shoots across the UK as needed, lead on production logistics, maintain equipment and advise as to technical support and innovations our Department should be aware of to keep us ahead of the curve digitally.

We are a happy unit and pride ourselves on having a great team culture and a clear focus on innovation, storytelling and making a difference in people’s lives. We encourage big ideas and we support and empower people to do their very best work.

Your work may also involve upskilling colleagues and senior leaders in social media best practice.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to build a workforce that is more representative of the UK’s diverse communities and the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

You will report into the Deputy Head of Social Media – Head of Creative Content.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Working closely with DHSC comms colleagues to deliver high quality, engaging social media solutions including filming content (and ideally also editing), photography, graphics and animated GIFs.
• Working to agreed deadlines, following brand guidelines, industry design standards and accessibility guidelines.
• Providing DHSC colleagues with content advice and design/production support. You will have the opportunity to feed into longer-term creative strategies and support the team on asset management, maintaining brand standards and sharing creative best practice for social media content among the team.
• You'll be expected to be multi-skilled, able to deliver a range of projects at the same time, often with demanding deadlines. You must have excellent organisation, planning and time management skills.
• This is a fast-paced, high-profile role and you must work well under pressure and to tight deadlines, with an ability to adapt swiftly to changing circumstances.
• Managing multiple projects at once and allocating time effectively.
• Presenting ideas and concepts to colleagues and senior leaders, explaining clearly and confidently why the creative work will work for them, incorporating feedback amending designs accordingly.
• Working effectively as part of a team with other content creators and social media strategists.

Person specification

• You are an enthusiastic self-starter with excellent professional photography skills and strong video capture skills.
• You have a keen eye for design and solid experience in creating content for social media in a fast-paced environment.
• You are motivated to learn new software, techniques and disciplines and have a strong understanding or interest in branding and design principles and theory.
• You understand how social media plays a part in the broader communications and brand world and have a strong interest in digital trends and innovations.
• You are willing to go the ‘extra mile’ to capture that perfect shot in an often very fast paced on location environment or in a manicured setting – one that helps portray the heart of the story at a glance.
• Creative flair, originality and a strong visual sense.
• Excellent knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud Suite - Senior level Adobe suite (or equivalent) experience is essential. Video editing skills are a plus.
• Confident user of all major social media platforms.
• Experience of using and creating across all social platform formats – Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn etc.
• Experience of using social media to test and refine messages, scaling up what works.
• Experience of using camera equipment to film and capture content, edit and format for social media formats.
• Awareness of social media trends and new updates.
• Attention to detail.
• Proactive and outgoing with a positive attitude.
• Effective communicator.
• The ability to think independently and work well in a team.

It’s an advantage if you have:

• Social media copywriting, editing and publishing skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,043, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £11,892 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Sift date: expected TBC

Interview date: expected TBC

Interview location: The interview will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be released to candidates who are successful at sift. 

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

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, Statement of Suitability (500 word max) and three Behaviours statements (250 words max each).

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.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

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

Behaviours to be assessed at sift:

• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours, Strengths and Technical skills.

You will also be asked to present a five minute presentation at the start of your interview. Details of the task will be sent to successful candidates at sift. 

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 

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.

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

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 (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).

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. 

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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.