Strategy and Implementation Units Senior Strategy and Delivery Advisor
Department of Health and Social Care
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 10th November 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
London £58,542
Job grade
Contract type
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
Business area
Type of role
Policy
Strategy
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
In the Department of Health and Social Care, 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 would like to work in, we would love to hear from you.
The Department of Health and Social Care Implementation and Strategy Units support Ministers to deliver their top priorities for the health and social care system. They are central teams that sit within the Department’s Ministers, Accountability and Strategy Directorate. They play a key role in forming and delivering the Department’s strategic objectives across all aspects of health and care.
Job description
Would you like to work at the heart of the Department of Health and Social Care, thinking about the big strategy and delivery challenges facing the health and social care system now and in the future? We are recruiting to the Strategy Unit and the Implementation Unit which both play key roles in developing and delivering the Department’s top priorities.
The Strategy Unit works on the big strategic questions and challenges facing the health and social care system. We work jointly with policy teams on key strategic policy development and conduct our own projects in areas of ministerial priority. We also act as an “incubator” for new ideas and are externally focused maintaining close links with wider stakeholder groups, including think-tanks, the health and care sector and academics.
The Implementation Unit ensures delivery of the Secretary of State’s top priorities by investigating and intervening where problems emerge, and by making recommendations to Ministers on how to improve system performance. We work closely with policy teams to track and challenge delivery and with No10 and the Cabinet Office to deliver joined up solutions. We gather and analyse performance data and conduct our own deep dives to understand and unblock tough challenges, including by speaking directly with frontline staff.
Successful candidates for both teams will benefit from a wide overview of the Department’s work, proximity to Ministers and the senior leadership team of the Department, and direct involvement in the top priorities of the day. They will have the opportunity to learn and deploy a range of strategic, problem solving and delivery tools and techniques.
Diversity & Inclusivity
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 here.
The main responsibilities of the post are:
Strategy Unit: Support Ministers and the Department to set the direction and strategy for health and care.
- Develop and maintain a good overview of the strategic context, history and key developments in health and care reform, as well as the relevant evidence base.
- Make links with ALBs and other government departments, as well as external experts, academics, and thought leaders to maintain a cutting edge understanding of health and social care policy.
- Lead strategic projects to deliver high quality, evidence-based options and recommendations for Ministers and policy teams.
- Lead rapid responses to commissions where the policy question spans a number of policy areas.
- Use qualitative and quantitative strategic tools and techniques to answer medium- and long-term questions, including identification of emerging opportunities and challenges.
- Work in close partnership with policy teams to support progress against the key priorities agreed with Ministers and senior leadership.
Implementation Unit: Track and challenge delivery of the Secretary of State’s priorities and unblock barriers to delivery.
- Investigate and intervene to solve delivery challenges using ‘deep dives’ and other problem-solving techniques, enabling Ministers to understand progress on priorities, risks to delivery and how to address them.
- Work closely with No. 10, the Cabinet Office and health and care colleagues to deliver a shared approach to solutions.
- Report to No. 10 and the Cabinet Office on progress against top priorities.
- Lead ‘deep dive’ projects to unblock delivery challenges, including scoping issues and gathering evidence to better understand problems and recommend solutions.
- Oversee regular reporting to monitor progress against the Health Mission and other health and social care commitments.
Both teams: Support the development of strategic and delivery capability across the department.
- Contribute to the design and delivery of training on strategy and implementation tools and techniques.
- Encourage close working and build strong relationships with internal policy teams.
- Work closely with partners from the centre of government and the health and care family to deliver in your role, establishing strong relationships to drive progress.
- Actively foster an open and collaborative culture across the team and department.
Person specification
Person specification
The ideal candidates will be able to demonstrate:
- Excellent problem-solving skills: an ability to deconstruct complex issues quickly; see the big picture; take part in data-rich project work and challenge conventional thinking; utilise innovative data sources and provides constructive challenge to develop new approaches;
- Strong project management skills: an ability to deliver quality work at pace, including leading a project team and responding to changing working circumstances;
- Effective relationship management skills: an ability to build highly effective working relationships with a wide range of people, including policy teams across the Department, senior officials across government, and stakeholders across the health and social care system;
- Excellent communication skills: an ability to rapidly acquire broad knowledge of DHSC’s policy agenda and communicate (orally and in writing) complex information with impact to a range of audiences, including Ministers.
As we are a multi-disciplinary team, we welcome applications from a wide range of job backgrounds, with varied experience and skills. These posts would be appropriate for either generalists with strong problem solving skills, or analysts (e.g. an economist, statistician, operational researcher, social researcher) who are interested in developing their policy experience working on practical projects.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
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%
Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or Leeds. (delete/add as appropriate) 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.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Applications will be sifted W/C: 11/11/2024
Interview date: W/C 25/11/2024
Interview location: Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
Further details and interview slots will be released to candidates who are successful at sift.
Applications will be sifted on personal statement and behaviours.
An initial sift based on the personal statement 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.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a personal statement. In no more than 750 words, please use your personal statement to outline how you meet the four key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the person specification.
At interview candidates will be assessed on behaviours, strengths, and experience.
The behaviours will be:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
Candidates will be asked to give a presentation which will assess making effective decisions. Details of the presentation question will be issued to candidates with the release of the sift scores.
To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/departments/working-for-the-department-of-health-social-care/ and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service Careers Website https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/
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.
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 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 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
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 : Abigail Johnson
- Email : Abigail.Johnson@dhsc.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dhscrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/
