About the job

Job summary

We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates   

At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.  

Equality and Diversity - Department for Education 

The Family Support Division is shaping the future of the system of early support for families through implementing Family Help policy and transformation, as well as delivering the Supporting Families Programme, and the Families First for Children Pathfinders. This is an ambitious, forward looking, and supportive division.

It is an exciting time to join us, with newly shaped portfolios introduced in November and colleagues working on the Supporting Families Programme in DLUHC transferring into the Division from April 2024.

We are looking for a skilled and passionate colleague to step into the Regional Relationship Manager role for the Supporting Families Programme. The programme is driving the improvement of services for families with multiple, high-cost needs and is a critical part of the government agenda for families.

As a Regional Relationship Manager, you will build relationships with local authorities and their partners to help them create more effective systems of support for families. You will be joining an experienced and energetic Delivery Team to cover two regions (most likely London and the South East). The Delivery Team works with local areas through one to one relationships, providing collaborative and dynamic support to areas, sharing of good practice though a programme of national blogs and webinars, and developing of positive regional networks. In addition, the team will also challenge those areas where performance is not at the expected level and are also responsible for a national assurance process.

The Delivery Team also work closely with colleagues in policy roles to help make sure national policies are shaped by local areas expertise and experience.

Job description

As the Regional Relationship Manager you will be the regional interface for the Supporting Families programme, making the key link between central government and local partnerships to communicate current guidance and future policy.

You will communicate confidently and clearly, in person and in writing, when engaging local colleagues from various organisations and a range of seniority.

You will develop a strong knowledge of the Supporting Families Programme and other government initiatives to be equipped to explain and advocate for them.

By gaining insights into the early help system across their region you will:

• Energise and encourage the region to move towards greater system maturity – you will inject ambition and energy into local partnerships, providing stretch even to areas with highly developed systems.
• Mitigate significant issues, directing targeted interventions as necessary – you will need to have hard conversations and maintain positive relationships whilst providing challenge. You will identify the support or interventions needed to have impact on local systems, drawing on the expertise of the wider team and across government. It’s not all about what you will do, but how you will bring other colleagues to bear. 
• Support the achievement of the region’s outcomes target – the Supporting Families Programme has ambitious targets for the number of families we aim to support and you will need work with areas to navigate the programme processes and fully capture the good work happening locally.

You will bring in-depth local knowledge back into policy making – the knowledge and insight you will gain from your engagement with local authorities and their partners is essential to the development of future policies and initiatives. You will need to work with policy colleagues to identify patterns and approaches that can provide the basis for future work.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• A collaborative relationship manager, working effectively with a diverse set of stakeholders to achieve outcomes.
• A clear and effective communicator, able to explain complex issues and deliver difficult messages.
• A confident and independent delivery lead, ensuring timely quality outcomes.
• An inclusive leader, enabling your team to deliver to a consistently high standard.

Desirable criteria:

• Previous experience of working with or in the early help system (including the Supporting Families programme)

Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision. 

Benefits

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK, with an average employer contribution of 27%.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King's Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role. 

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.  

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths and Experience.

Application

At the application stage, we will use your personal statement and CV to assess your Experience against the essential criteria.

To apply for this role, please provide a CV and a personal statement. The personal statement (maximum 1000 words) should demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria, listed in the person specification section of the advert.

If we receive high volumes of applications then we will complete an initial sift against the first essential criteria:

• A collaborative relationship manager, working effectively with a diverse set of stakeholders to achieve outcomes.         

Interview

At interview, we will ask questions to assess your Experience and Strengths. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview. Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams.

Desirable criteria will only be looked at in the event of a tie to make an informed decision.

Other Information 

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates. 

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas. 

The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.    

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe 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 circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated. 

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. 

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location. 

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. 

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs 

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum. 

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual. 

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information. 

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 Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk 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. 

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/ 

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.