About the job

Job summary

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference to people’s lives?

Do you want to work in a government department where you can help to shape and deliver government’s objectives?

In Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), we are proud of our purpose which is 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. Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly its impactful. If this sounds like an environment you would like to work in, we’d love to hear from you.

The Adult Social Care (ASC) Group in DHSC leads on all matters relating to adult social care in the department. Putting social care on a sustainable footing, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, is one of the biggest challenges that our society faces. The role is in the Project Management Office (PMO) within the Data, Assurance and Support (DAS) Division, which oversees delivery of work to improve transparency and accountability in the ASC to drive improvements in quality and outcomes for people who draw on care and support.

You can find more information about this and the wider area of work in ‘Next Steps to put People at the Heart of Care’, and 'Care Data Matters'.

We are looking to recruit a Project Portfolio Management (PPM) professional to support governance across the division and to lead our response to a recent Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) report which looks specifically at arrangements and reporting for data projects.

Job description

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape and grip wide-ranging development and implementation of changes to governance and reporting arrangements to ensure they are robust and meet established best practice. This includes leading work to ensure (amongst other things) that programmes and projects are: suitably defined, including having proportionate and robust governance frameworks; have benefits and dependencies which are thoroughly mapped; have clear and deliverable roadmaps, project plans and critical paths; that progress against plans is effectively scrutinised and that risks and issues are effectively monitored and mitigated.

The post holder will therefore be expected to use their knowledge and experience to support setting the direction, and then communicate this effectively to mobilise colleagues behind shared goals and deadlines. You will also need to support colleagues to understand PPM/governance requirements, encourage them to prioritise these and support and collaborate with them to ensure high quality outputs are created. This is a priority area for SCS/SRO and you will be supported to have developmental exposure to senior figures when developing and agreeing plans and organising set-piece governance.

The role will suit somebody who is comfortable at working at pace and across boundaries to deliver required results.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. We also welcome applications from people with experience of working in the social care sector. We view flexible working and inclusive leadership as essential for all our employees. The Department of Health and Social Care is committed to equality of opportunity for all.

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

The post holder will be responsible for:

• Supporting delivery of our GIAA response action plan, ensuring that agreed responses to recommendations are delivered to specified deadlines and in a manner which leads to robust, coherent, and comprehensive governance and reporting arrangements for the Data Transformation.
• Support the improvement of existing governance and reporting arrangements for the DAS Programme, including working on a corresponding Governance Framework which takes account of the GIAA audit and reflects Government Functional Standards
• Scrutinising risk, dependency, and other reporting, working with colleagues at all levels to provide feedback and constructive challenge to ensure these are coherent, robust and take full account of required practice and required PPM methodologies.
• Briefing SCS, the Director and SRO on delivery, risks, issues, and stakeholder handling, including producing clear, succinct and well-thought through written briefings and contributing to and leading briefing meetings.
• Supporting teams and projects to iterate and improve their project documentation and to make links with wider projects and work streams
• Leading the Division’s work to respond to the full range of parliamentary and other commissions, working with colleagues to ensure requirements and deadlines are communicated and understood and supporting them to deliver high quality outputs/returns.
• Acting as PMO lead for a specific work programme within DAS, building relationships with teams and understanding of their work to support the PMO in delivering its core functions and responsibilities
• Acting as a champion for PPM within the Division, Directorate, and wider Social Care Group, sharing knowledge and best practice relating to governance and PPM requirements and enabling the upskilling of colleagues.
• Working closely with analytical, policy and project delivery functions within the Department and around government, building strong, credible relationships with stakeholders
• Making a full corporate contribution to the team by leading corporate initiatives with independence and drive, working to make the team an excellent place to work
• Upskilling colleagues within the team and wider division on PPM and governance best practice.
• Potential to undertake line manager duties.

Key Skills and Experience:

Essential criteria:

• Strong understanding of PPM methodologies and best practice, including how this can be implemented effectively within Programmes/projects at different stages of the life cycle
• Effective verbal, written and presentation communications skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely
• Ability to champion the value of governance, reporting and PPM and motivate colleagues to prioritise this
• Working to tight and often changing timescales.
• Adaptability, flexibility, and ability to cope with uncertainty, change in a busy environment.
• Demonstrable track record in influencing effectively (both verbal and written media) across teams, wider organisation and external partner communities.
• Effective team worker with the ability to work flexibly and collaboratively as part of a team and across organisations with people of all levels.
• Proficient in Power point and Excel
• Be self-motivated, quick to learn and flexible enough to manage a diverse and rapidly changing portfolio of activities, and work to deadlines
• Appropriate PPM qualification such as Prince II or the Association of Project Management Fundamentals/Practitioner qualification; and/or
• Experience working in a PPM capacity

Desirable criteria:

• Good understanding of policy and its development.

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 and Experience.

Sift date: W/C 27/05/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 10/06/2024 

Interview location: By Video

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

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

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 also include a list of your relevant qualifications. 

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. 

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and Experience Based Questions.

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. 

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.

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.