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Places for Growth and Social Mobility
As part of the governments Places for Growth Programme, we are committed to delivering a more geographically diverse Civil and Public Service that will better serve the public and ministers.
As part of this initiative, we are continuously reviewing how we recruit into each location listed.
This is a fantastic opportunity for health professionals to join the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). As the United Kingdoms (UK) largest public service department, we touch the lives of citizens the length and breadth of the country, operating on a scale that is almost unmatched anywhere in Europe. What we do really matters, and we need dedicated health professionals to help us succeed.
If you are a dedicated leader interested in helping improve services for our customers both now and in the future, including their experience with our contracted health assessment suppliers, Contract Management & Partner Delivery Directorate (CMPD), a corporate Team within DWP, could be the place for you.
Our contracted health assessment suppliers conduct around 2 million health assessments per year. We know the decisions coming from these assessments have a real impact on the lives of some of the most disadvantaged people in our society.
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As one of a growing number of expert health professionals within DWP you would play a vital role, leading a team of expert clinicians who will engage with our suppliers to deliver a range of quality assurance measures including clinical observations and audits. Through these you and your team will identify improvements and help ensure each individual customer has the right outcome and receives a quality service we can all be proud of. We know that as a dedicated health professional, your work will be really important to you, but youll want to know that, as a fulltime DWP employee, youd receive a competitive salary starting from National: £52,412 – £63,517, Inner London: £57,631 – £68,918. Youll also have access to a range of other great benefits including: Family friendly flexible working arrangements, which may include a combination of hybrid working, job sharing, term-time working, flexitime and compressed hours may be considered, alongside a genuine work life balance. Support for your continuing medical education through time provided for clinical study with ongoing Continuing Professional Development, including support with the validation process and reimbursement of the cost of revalidation / professional registration. An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join staff networks including Womens Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more; where people can be themselves and feel supported, empowered, respected, and always treated fairly. The opportunity to work for a progressive, inclusive employer ranked 10th in the Social Mobility Employer Index 2023. Its an incredibly exciting time to be a health professional working in CMPD. Remember, what we do matters and together we could be even better. |
Job description
You will be an active member of the Controls and Assurance Division (CAD) senior leadership team, contributing to the wider Divisional and corporate agenda, providing visible, accessible, and effective leadership, and taking a personal lead in the implementation of routine communication and leadership activities.
You will create and sustain effective working relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders, playing an influential role to develop and promote effective clinical governance across DWP, its operational benefit delivery arms and contracted health suppliers.
You will have a robust understanding of the WCA Assessment Criteria.
You will lead a team of clinicians delivering clinical audits and or observations, working to ensure the timely and accurate provision of feedback (verbally or in writing as is appropriate) constructively critiquing the delivery of health assessments and or resultant assessment reports, justifying with sound clinical judgement in potentially difficult situations.
You will enthusiastically input to the ongoing and continuous improvement of CMPDs clinical governance community, identifying and collaborating on policy and operational areas for improvement, contributing to the help support and embed a quality first approach in delivery as well as the development of training and supporting materials, building clinical capability to the highest standards.
You will personally and through your people, provide support to DWP Operations to help improve benefit administration from initial contact, decision making through to appeal and more broadly provide support and knowledge across other areas as required to help drive quality assessments now and in the future.
You will progress your personal and professional development, to meet professional requirements for revalidation and including adherence to the Clinical Governance and Quality Standards Framework.
You will, through your behaviour and ways of working, be instrumental in creating an environment that ensures DWP is an inclusive place where people can be their best.
You will work alongside other Work Capability Health Professional leaders to develop and maintain a team of WCA clinical experts who will provide consistent, accurate advice and feedback to improve the both the quality of assessment reports and an improved customer experience.
You will work in partnership with Observation Policy leads to ensure clinical resource is managed efficiently and effectively to optimism the delivery of the observation programme, along with the management and development of the individuals within your command
These posts may involve some travel and occasional overnight stays.
Person specification
The successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the following Key Criteria:
- Lead Criteria 1 Proven experience of utilising up-to-date knowledge of WCA assessment criteria to directly or through others objectively and accurately critique assessment reports covering a broad variety of relevant health conditions.
- Lead Criteria 2 Robust evidence of strong leadership, both personal and corporate, in changing circumstances, with experience of leading and motivating high performing teams. This will include actively promoting diversity and inclusion and supporting staff health and wellbeing.
- Ability to provide clear and unambiguous feedback (verbally or in writing), justifying sound clinical judgement in potentially difficult situations.
- Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach to working with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to secure agreement.
- You will be a self-starter who can work flexibly and adapt quickly to change, balancing priorities whilst meeting deadlines.
- You will be able to analyse data to identify trends, identifying any concerns, providing feedback, and addressing these appropriately
The successful candidate must demonstrate within their CV the following requirements:
- Evidence of clinical experience as an approved Health Professional post registration, with current registration validated and up to date Continuous Professional Development.
Licences
Memberships
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Candidates meeting the agreed minimum standard will be invited to interview where they will be asked to deliver a presentation covering aspects of the required Technical Skills. Details and preparation time will be given on the date of the interview.
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 over 26%
- A wide variety of corporate discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out.
- A generous annual leave entitlement of 25 days for new entrants rising to 30 days, (based on your working pattern).
Hybrid working
This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home.
This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account.
If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement (maximum 1,250 words), demonstrating how you have met the key criteria. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
The successful candidate must demonstrate within their CV the following requirements:
Evidence of clinical experience as an approved Health Professional post registration, with current registration validated and up to date Continuous Professional Development. Only include relevant experience to the role within the CV section.
The Department needs to secure leaders providing a mix of knowledge and experience of the WCA assessment criteria. Candidates must clearly state how they meet these criteria within the CV and Personal Statement.
Successful applicants will, in merit order, be offered a role leading a team comprising either observers, auditors or both. We expect the mix between these two key functions will gradually shift as our clinical teams transform into a new and exciting multidisciplinary clinical team encompassing individuals with both auditor and observer roles.
You will be unable to submit your application if you do not possess the following:
A qualified occupational therapist, nurse, physiotherapist, or doctor and fully registered with the relevant regulatory body (doctors must have a license to practice)
Full registration (GMC, NMC, HCPC or EEA equivalent) with no sanctions attached to your registration (unless they relate to disability).
Evidence of previous experience of clinical quality assurance (audit) and quality improvement, in a WCA context.
Selection Process
During the selection process we will assess you against, Behaviours, Experience, Strengths and Technical Skills.
Candidates are asked to complete a Personal Statement (maximum 1,250 words), demonstrating how they have met the key criteria.
Sift
All applications will be sifted according to the key criteria within the person specification section of the advert, using the information you provide on the Personal Statement template supplied in the application process.
When completing your personal statement, please read and understand the Key Criteria thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted against the Lead Criteria:
- Lead Criteria 1 Proven experience of utilising up-to-date knowledge of WCA assessment criteria to directly or through others objectively and accurately critique assessment reports covering a broad variety of relevant health conditions.
- Lead Criteria 2 Robust evidence of strong leadership, both personal and corporate, in changing circumstances, with experience of leading and motivating high performing teams. This will include actively promoting diversity and inclusion and supporting staff health and wellbeing.
Candidates meeting the agreed minimum standard will then proceed to full sift against the remaining criteria.
Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed.
Interview
Candidates meeting the agreed minimum standard will be invited to a video interview where they will be asked to deliver a presentation covering aspects of the required Technical Skills. Details and preparation time will be given on the date of the interview.
Candidates will be asked to present evidence of the following Behaviours:
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Developing Self and Others
We anticipate a continued need to assure the quality of assessments undertaken by our contracted suppliers in line with the expectation that the phasing out WCAs will be starting in 2026/27.
Postings
Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences and the geographical requirements of the business.
You will be asked for your preferences for up to 3 locations, these will tell us where you would prefer to work if you are successful. Please do not select a location unless you are prepared to accept a role in that location.
Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles here. Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences, where appropriate, and the geographical requirements of the business. Dependent on your position on the merit list, if none of your location preferences remain at the point we make a job offer DWP may offer you a role at an alternative advertised location. If we are unable to offer you a role in any of your preferred locations, and you are unable to accept a role at an alternative advertised location, we will add you to the reserve list if one is being held.
The roles available will be based in:
- Blackpool Peel Park, Brunel Way, Blackpool FY4 5ES
- Birmingham, 3 Arena Central, Bridge Street, Birmingham B1 2AX
- Manchester, 2 St Peters Square, Manchester, M2 3AA
- Leeds, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7UA.
- Newcastle Benton Park View, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE98 1BA.
- Sheffield Hartshead Square, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2FD.
- Treforest, Ty Taf, Main Avenue, Treforest Pontypridd,CF37 5YN
- Glasgow Atlantic Quay, Glasgow G2 8SP
- London, Caxton House, 6-12 Tothill Street, London, SW1V 9NA
Some travel may be required. For jobs located in Wales the ability to speak Welsh is desirable.
Further Information
Find out more about Working for DWP
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to DWP 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 or Disclosure Scotland 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.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk.
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 applicants 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.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP’s terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Reasonable Adjustment
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via DWPrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the Reasonable Adjustments 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 youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
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.
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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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : fg.cmpdresourcingandrecruitment@dwp.gov.uk
- Email : fg.cmpdresourcingandrecruitment@dwp.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dwprecruitment.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. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.
