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About the job
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Location
About the job
Job summary
In DHSC, 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’d like to work in, we’d love to hear from you.
All three roles sit within the friendly and supportive Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy and Capacity Division, with the Adult Social Care Group.
The division is responsible for the broader mission to ensure the care sector can recruit and retain the workforce it needs. This includes policy areas such as: care worker pay, terms and conditions, regulation, progression, international and domestic recruitment pipelines, and volunteering. Workforce is a key component of a thriving care sector that can deliver high quality care and so our policy areas touch on several cross-cutting departmental priorities, meaning our work is frequently a ministerial priority, with read-across to numerous other policy teams in the department.
Job description
1. G7 – care worker capacity assurance and monitoring
This is an exciting opportunity to lead the team responsible for monitoring care worker capacity in the sector. The team leads work to support the sector to improve recruitment and retention of care workers, which we do through working across government, with sector partners, and through delivering through a National Recruitment Campaign. Workforce capacity and growth is essential to ensure the delivery of adequate levels of care (with knock on implications for key government priorities, such as hospital discharge). This is therefore a busy and critical function within the division, with key parliamentary interest.
2. G7 - international recruitment policy
This is an exciting opportunity to lead the ASC International Recruitment Policy team as it delivers one of the Secretary of States top priorities for the care sector. This is a fast paced and busy leadership role, supporting a team dedicated to enable the care sector to recruit ethically from overseas. The team is responsible for developing policy and guidance in relation to international recruitment, including work to address unethical practice in the sector. The post holder works extremely closely with Whitehall partners and stakeholders to ensure employers are given the support they need to understand the international recruitment process, and that care workers are properly welcomed and given every opportunity to flourish.
3. G7 Senior Policy Adviser Social Work
The Regulated Professions Team supports the recruitment and retention of regulated professions in adult Social Care. The team is compromised of two G7 teams - the Nurse team and Social Work team. Both work very closely with the Chief Nurse and Chief Social Workers offices to develop joined-up policy. The current priorities of the teams are to deliver the separate social work and nurse apprenticeship funds in the 23/24 and 24/25 FYs, evaluate those funds, and prepare for the next Spending Review.
This role will lead key contractual and commercial workstreams, to ensure that we are able to deliver the funds above, and will also lead policy development related to how the social worker workforce is supported and developed in future.
Person specification
Role responsibilities
1. G7 – care worker capacity assurance and monitoring
The successful candidate will manage 1xHEO and work closely with analysts to:
- monitor workforce capacity (ensuring senior officials and Ministers are well briefed on the live issues)
- identify and develop interventions to improve recruitment and retention of the Care Workforce.
- This role also manages a large volume of business of state activity – e.g. correspondence, briefing and PQs.
2. G7 - international recruitment policy
The successful candidate will lead a team of 2 (1xSEO and 1xHEO) to deliver a number of workstreams, including:
- Working with cross-Whitehall partners (and particularly the Home Office) and the NHS IR team to ensure adoption of ethical recruitment and stringent safeguarding practices at home and abroad
- Working with analysts to understand the impact ASC IR policy is having on care sector capacity
- Co-producing guidance and support offers for the sector to support engagement with the immigration system, and share best practice on issues such as accommodation and pastoral support
- Engaging with Home Office and other partners to ensure processes are streamlined and that improvements are made
You will also work closely with another G7 team overseeing a programme of support for local authorities. You will work closely with that team to take forward a strategic engagement plan with the sector, to ensure policy and guidance is developed with reference to the barriers and challenges they are facing.
3. G7 Senior Policy Adviser Social Work
- Lead on the administration and policy development of the social work apprenticeship fund
- Lead policy input to the evaluation of the social work apprenticeship fund
- Lead the re-procurement of the ASYE contract, as part of the Workforce Sector Support Review
- Lead the re-procurement of the Think Ahead contract
- Lead policy development of support for social workers in ASC through the next Spending Review
- Lead stakeholder engagement with key organisations, such as the Principal Social Workers Network, LGA and ADASS
- Line Management 1 SEO (potentially 1 HEO in addition)
Key skills and experience required for the role
The post holders will ideally have experience of:
- Successfully leading and managing teams, in particular teams with fast-paced and demanding portfolios;
- Working on politically sensitive policies, using political nous and judgement to navigate complex policy decisions.
- Developing impactful, VFM policy which aligns with wider objectives.
- Effective commissioning and use of data and evidence; and,
- Maintaining personal and team resilience and impact in a fast-paced environment.
Work on setting up or monitoring of a grant or fund would be useful, and so too would be the development of guidance, but neither are essential. Experience of working in adult Social Care (either nationally or at a local level) would be welcome.
Workinglocations
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.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
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 average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Sift date: W/C 18/03/2024
Interview date: expected W/C 01/04/2024
Interview location: The interview will take place by video or at 39 Victoria Street, Westminster, London, SW1H 0EU. Further details will be released to candidates who are successful at sift.
The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores.
Applications will be sifted on Behaviours, CV, and Statement of Suitability.
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 use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 250 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert.
An initial sift based on Statement of Suitability and the lead behaviour of Communicating and Influencing 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.
At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and Strengths.
To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here
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.
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 either level transfer or 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).
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.
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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
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/
