1612 Chief Medical Officer
Welsh Government
Apply before 4:00 pm on Wednesday 9th October 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
The Welsh Government is determined to improve health and reduce health inequalities and committed to driving up the quality of healthcare services on a sustainable basis. There is also a strong commitment to ensuring health and care policy and delivery is informed by robust scientific evidence, data, and advice.
The Chief Medical Officer post (which incorporates the Medical Director NHS Wales role) will be at the heart of this work and the post holder will work directly at the highest levels of Government, with Cabinet Secretaries and across the UK through the network of Chief Medical Officer. The postholder will be the Welsh Government’s principal medical adviser and the professional head for the medical profession in NHS Wales and Welsh Government. The CMO provides public health and clinical advice to Health Cabinet Secretary and across government to make a positive impact on population health, quality and safety, research and evidence, and the development of confident, forward looking medical and public health professions across Wales. Successful progress in these areas will require effective clinical and professional leadership.
Job description
Provide independent professional advice and guidance to the Welsh Government’s Cabinet, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and supporting Cabinet Secretaries and their officials on matters relating to health strategy and improving public health outcomes, all domains of public health, healthcare quality, science, evidence and research relating to health and care and other relevant matters.
Work with other UK Chief Medical Officers, government departments and key partners, to share good practice, engage in the delivery of policy and planned initiatives and to develop the profile of Wales. This will involve, where necessary directing key partners.
Accountable for delivery to the Director General and working closely with other key individuals in the HSC&EY Group, provide highly visible and impactful clinical leadership for the NHS in Wales, supporting clinical engagement in the service to develop service improvement and transformation across clinical pathways, with a particular focus on ensuring prevention activity features prominently in the work of the NHS in Wales and the wider public health system.
Play a prominent role in supporting the Welsh Government’s response to public health emergencies. Alongside Cabinet Secretaries, the CMO is responsible for keeping the public informed on health issues of high public concern and explaining the Government’s response. The role will also involve working with the HSC&EY Group, Public Health Wales and NHS Wales to convert scientific and technical advice from groups and committees into a policy response.
Provide professional leadership at the national level and within Welsh Government for the medical profession, including Medical Directors of NHS organisations. Also act as the interface between the government and medical researchers and clinical professionals.
Develop medical workforce policy, in partnership with the Workforce and OD Team, including regulation, education and training, and performance and support implementation.
Act as Responsible Officer for all doctors delivering medical services for, or on behalf of, the Welsh Government. Act as higher-level RO for all doctors in Wales. Ensure that quality and professional standards are set for, and achieved by, all doctors and health care professionals employed by, or on behalf of, the Welsh Government.
Foster strong relationships with key national and local organisations including General Medical Council, Royal Medical Colleges, professional bodies, public health organisations and professional staff associations.
Play an active role in public and stakeholder engagement and communication processes relating to public health including public health emergencies.
Publish a CMO annual report each year for the Government, on the health of the population containing recommendations on priorities to improve health.
Be an active member of the Health, Social Care and Early Years Group’s Executive Director Team, providing corporate leadership to the Group and to the NHS in Wales.
Provide leadership to the Chief Medical Officer’s Directorate, incorporating science, research and evidence functions relating to health and care.
Person specification
- Personal leadership with immediate credibility – a personal and professional approach to compassionate leadership that builds trust, motivates and empowers people and will command the confidence of a range of stakeholders including Cabinet Secretaries, senior officials and medical leaders across the NHS Wales and the UK.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills - with clear confidence around sharing difficult, unexpected, or challenging messages to the most senior Welsh Government and NHS colleagues and external stakeholders. This must include the use of research, evidence and data to underpin all strategies.
- A willing exchange of expertise, know-how and skills – listening and working inclusively to continuously explore the best solutions for Government and the NHS, operating effectively across the system to bring multidisciplinary teams together.
An ability to fully engage with senior leaders from across government and the NHS to support strategic decision making. The role requires the ability and appetite to shape the role and purpose of both the HSC&EY Group and NHS Wales in delivering priorities which are in the national interest and meet the diverse needs of all stakeholders.
An ability to give unbiased evidence-led advice to Cabinet Secretaries and other senior colleagues based on extensive robust analysis, translating strategic objectives into practical interventions that improve performance, while ensuring alignment to broader commitments. This must involve early involvement and partnership working with the right stakeholders when making recommendations or decisions.
A medical practitioner with a medical degree and full registration with the UK General Medical Council, a postgraduate qualification demonstrating expertise in medical specialist qualifications and professional experience at a national level; publication of original articles on medical or scientific topics as principal author or co-author in scientific and/or medical literature, preferably in peer-reviewed journals; experience of working in clinical or public health practice with a clear understanding of the independent advisory nature of the post;
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Overview
The Recruitment Team via the Welsh Government system will acknowledge your application and when appropriate you will be advised about the outcome of the shortlist meeting which will be held on 24th October.
Assessments for Shortlisted Candidates Only
The below activities will form part of the overall assessment required for this recruitment exercise:
- On Line Psychometric Tests - these will include numerical and verbal reasoning and a discussion with a psychologist. You will receive a link to these on-line tests within 10 working days from the shortlisting meeting.
If you have completed the online psychometric test in the last 2 years, for a post at the same grade, it will not be necessary for you to take these tests again for this particular recruitment exercise.
- Stakeholder Engagement Exercise – these will take place in the week commencing 11th November 2024. Further details will follow.
- Informal Chat - Shortlisted candidates will take part in a Cabinet Secretary ‘informal chat’. These are scheduled during the week commencing 18th November 2024. Further details will follow.
- Media test - Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a Media test. These are scheduled for the week commencing 18th Further details will follow.
- Panel Interviews & Presentation – these are scheduled on 25th November 2024. These will also take place virtually via Microsoft Teams. Interviews will last around 45 minutes. The Panel will receive feedback on your psychometric tests and staff/stakeholder engagement exercise before you are interviewed. Your interview will consider how your skills and experience as outlined in your CV and personal statement meet the requirements of the role. Candidates will be given at least one week’s notice of the presentation topic. Please note that presentations are to be delivered without the use of hand-outs or electronic devices unless as part of a reasonable adjustment, however, you are welcome to use prompt cards.
Please note, recruitment adjustments can be made at any part of the recruitment process for candidates with an impairment or health condition, who are neuro-divergent or who use British Sign Language. Please get in touch with SCSRecruitment@gov.wales to discuss adjustments for any part of the process.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SCSrecruitment@gov.wales
- Email : SCSrecruitment@gov.wales
Recruitment team
- Email : SCSrecruitment@gov.wales
Further information
