Public Inquiry Lead

DWP as a government department touches on a wide range of policy and public services. With a growing number of inquiries having relevance to the department, DWP established a Public Inquires team in Summer 2022 as a direct response to the Covid Inquiry. The team has provided comprehensive evidence of DWP’s response and supported relevant witnesses in evidence sessions. As the inquiry shifts its focus on to the Governments economic response the focus on DWP will grow and leading DWP though this period is the main focus of this role.

In establishing the team, we have identified a range of other inquiries where DWP has an interest and have brought our approach to these together under this role and team. This is a high-profile role with considerable engagement with ministers and our most senior officials. You will have to represent the whole department, so an understanding of its business is critical. All while leading a team, implementing an IT project and managing the contract with our legal team.

Find out more about DWP from our colleagues.

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Key responsibilities are:

• Lead and co-ordinate the delivery of DWP’s obligations to Public Inquiries, with initial focus on the Covid and Horizon Inquiries
• Act as the primary advisor and subject matter expert for the Secretary of State, Permanent Secretary and Non-Executive Directors on all Public Inquiry matters
• Engage with senior colleagues across Government to ensure common issues are identified and rectified, and appropriate resource shared
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders to identify and safeguard evidence relevant to the Inquiry, ensuring that supporting technology is effective
• Support stakeholders and witnesses, including Ministers and senior stakeholders, to prepare evidence and statements for inquiries
• Work closely with legal colleagues, including DWP’s King’s Counsel and the Government Legal Department, to ensure that legal obligations are met and risks managed
• Work with DWP subject matter experts to interpret large amounts of evidence to maintain a coherent narrative across DWP’s response to the pandemic
• Act as the primary interface between DWP, Ministers and Legal colleagues to promote a co-ordinated approach;
• Ensure that emerging findings and lessons learned are shared with relevant parts of DWP and acted upon to drive increased resilience;
• Lead the DWP Inquiry response team, including supporting development and maintaining a focus on wellbeing and inclusion
• Ensure resources are effectively deployed with allocated budget (£5million) spend achieving value for money