Section Head – NHS Capital Spending
Department of Health and Social Care
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 30th September 2024
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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’s Capital and Investment Directorate is responsible for the management of the NHS capital budget and delivery on a range of major capital programmes across the Department and NHS. The work of our directorate is to ensure the healthcare system makes better use of capital investment as part of enabling service changes and driving efficiencies, as well as being a key factor in maintaining services and meeting new service demands. In addition to delivering financial balance against the parliamentary controls set for capital, strategic and long-term planning, we also cover a wide range of areas of capital policy, such as the NHS estate and technology.
The Capital Finance Team is responsible for leading on the monitoring and reporting of overall capital spend through management of the in-year Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (CDEL) position for NHS providers, and forecasting future spend. The team also supports the Department’s strategic and long-term planning of financial systems, together with ensuring that financial systems operate effectively and support the wider financial sustainability of the NHS. A key element of this is meeting public accountability requirements, supporting ministers and ensuring clear reporting to stakeholders and the public.
This team comprises of three Grade 7 roles, each reporting to the Grade 6 lead for the team. This vacancy is for one of these Grade 7 roles, leading a team of two SEOs on reporting the in-year capital position and issuing funding directly to NHS providers. This role provides good exposure to senior leaders and forming close working relationships with NHS England colleagues and will suit someone who can both consider the wider strategic picture, whilst also ensuring accurate and robust financial control in the allocation of capital funds.
Job description
As Section Head for the NHS Capital Spending team, you will be responsible for leading on monitoring the in-year NHS CDEL and cash positions, reporting to HMT monthly and summarising for senior leadership and Ministers.
This will involve working closely with NHS England, DHSC Group Reporting colleagues, and capital programme leads, along with drawing on a wide range of information and data, including forecasts, arising risks and opportunities, and existing HMT conditions, in your support of senior leader decision-making on the in-year CDEL position.
As part of the role, you will lead on tracking conditions placed by HMT on NHS capital funding and reporting to senior leaders on progress against meeting these. You will also take a leading role on reporting to HMT quarterly on progress against the NHS capital portfolio.
In this role you will also support fiscal events, such as Supplementary Supply Estimates, and Spending Reviews, and monitoring and communicating any changes to the NHS CDEL budgetary position with stakeholders.
The NHS Capital Spending team also lead on the control and issuing of capital funds via Public Dividend Capital (PDC) to NHS trusts for nationally funded programmes. This requires robust processes for the control and issuing of funding to be in place, and adhered to, ensuring propriety of taxpayer funds. You will oversee this process to ensure that a smooth and efficient service continues to be delivered for programme teams and NHS providers.
This is a challenging role with key responsibilities including:
- Monitoring and reporting NHS provider in-year capital expenditure forecasts, evaluating potential pressures and risks, and summarising for senior management and HM Treasury.
- Providing accurate, definitive, and timely advice and insight on the capital position to inform decision making to ensure the NHS expenditure is contained within agreed spending limits.
- Lead the financial management of Public Dividend Capital award programmes, including the recording and issuing of financial agreements.
- Forecasting and monitoring progress of NHS providers’ in-year cash requirement.
- Provide expert technical advice on capital to policy and other finance colleagues, and other stakeholders including the NHS.
- Contribute to the delivery of the final capital outturn and reporting this in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts.
- Leading on production of quarterly updates to HMT on the overall NHS capital position.
- Tracking and reporting progress against HMT capital funding conditions.
- Analysing and interpreting both current and historical data to support forecast accuracy and intel.
- Overseeing team’s contribution to statutory documents including the Financial Assistance under Section 40 report, NHSE financial directions, and production of Control Resource Limit (CRL) letters.
- Line management of two SEOs, empowering, motivating, and coaching the team to enable effective delivery.
- Contribute to the running of the branch and where appropriate the cross-cutting business of the Capital and Finance Directorates and Department.
Person specification
Key skills and experience required for the role
Essential criteria:
- Experience of, or an ability to acquire a rapid understanding of, central government finance policies and protocols (for example Managing Public Money, and Consolidated Budgeting Guidance).
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with an ability to develop collaborative relationships with a range of stakeholders, across internal teams and NHS England colleagues.
- Good communication and written skills to be able to provide clear briefings to senior leaders. Able to communicate at all levels, with excellent presentation skills.
- Strong organisational skills with a consistent track record of delivering quality outputs to tight deadlines.
- Good data analysis skills – able to analyse and handle data for the purposes of producing evidence for advice. Ability to manipulate data and produce good financial reports and analysis.
- Demonstrate high levels of accuracy and excellent attention to detail.
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel.
- The postholder shall be either a qualified CCAB or CIMA accountant, or an analyst or economist with similar levels of financial experience.
Desirable criteria:
- Knowledge of NHS financial systems and/or capital funding.
- Experience of communicating financial performance and management information for decision makers and advising on associated opportunities and risks.
- Experience of successfully applying accounting principles and explaining them with clarity to non-financial colleagues.
- Experience of leading and motivating a team and working credibly and effectively with senior staff.
- Ability to work flexibly and adapt to changing priorities.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
Prior to your interview, we will contact you about a task that the interview panel would like you to complete as part of the assessment. The exact details will be communicated to you nearer the time.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Prior to your interview, we will contact you about this task that the interview panel would like you to complete as part of the assessment. The exact details will be communicated to you nearer the time.
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. 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 30/09/2024 (expected)
Interview date: W/C 14/10/2024 (expected)
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.
An initial sift based on lead behaviour managing a quality service, CV and 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.
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 personal statement to (in no more than 750 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for this role as set out in the job advert.
At interview candidates will be assessed on the behaviours listed previously, strengths and a technical skill via a task. Prior to your interview, we will contact you about this task that the interview panel would like you to complete as part of the assessment. The exact details will be communicated to you nearer the time.
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/
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.
Qualifications will be checked and verified by the vacancy holder as part of the onboarding process prior to the market pay supplement being applied. You may also be asked to provide evidence that any qualifications obtained overseas are equivalent to those advertised.
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).
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 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
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 : Andreea Bitiusca
- Email : andreea.bitiusca@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/
