Information Science and Horizon Scanning Lead


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Details

Reference number

303916

Salary

£50,829
National: £50829 London: £54655
A
Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Permanent
Fixed Term
Loan
Secondment

Length of employment

This role is being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options for 2 years will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to

Business area

DHSC – Office for Health Improvement and Disparities

Type of role

Other

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

Leeds, London

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.

 

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) drives the Government’s health improvement agenda. Under the professional leadership of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), OHID leads the development and delivery of the Government’s work to improve and level up health outcomes. This includes cross-government action on the wider determinants of health. Sitting at the heart of DHSC, the work of OHID will shift the focus of the Department, NHS and wider health system, and partners across local and national government and beyond, ensuring that public health, prevention, and health inequalities are prioritised.

 

OHID hosts the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) which is a formally constituted, independent, Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) which advises Ministers and the NHS in the four UK countries on all aspects of screening. It is currently chaired by Professor Sir Mike Richards.

 

The UK NSC uses research evidence, in service evaluations and economic evaluation to assess the evidence for screening programmes. This assessment is based upon a set of internationally recognised criteria. These criteria cover the condition, the test, the treatment options and the effectiveness and acceptability of screening programme. Assessing programmes in this evidence-based way helps to ensure they do more good than harm at affordable cost. The UK NSC is supported by a secretariat, which includes the Evidence Team. 

 

The Evidence Team provides a knowledge support service to inform the UK NSC’s decision making. It is responsible for managing the evidence review processes and plays a vital role in helping the UK NSC make sure its recommendations are always up to date and based on the best possible evidence. It achieves this by delivering a series of evidence product development projects.

 

The Committee’s remit and processes have recently undergone significant change. The Committee’s remit has been extended to include targeted screening and stratified screening, in addition to whole population screening.

 

In response to this expanded remit, the Evidence Team is expanding in size and developing four distinct sub teams with responsibility for supporting the Committee’s requirements in the following areas:

  1. Horizon scanning, prioritisation, and information science
  2. Modelling
  3. Research and methodology
  4. Targeted screening portfolio development, focusing on liaison work with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)

Length of employment. 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). 

Job description

This post is a key role in the newly expanded UK NSC Secretariat and will be primarily concerned with issues relating to the Committee’s horizon scanning and prioritisation processes.

The role will be focused on bringing together and leading and managing a team which will:

  • develop and support the UK NSC horizon scanning and prioritisation functions by delivering a horizon scanning workstream and identifying ongoing development needs
  • contribute to the delivery of the wider UK NSC Evidence Team programme of evidence product development projects 

The role requires:

  • specialist knowledge of screening and UK NSC processes
  • information science and knowledge management skills
  • excellent organisational and project management skills
  • a flexible approach and ability to work with minimal supervision within a rapidly evolving environment, which is frequently exposed to a high degree of public scrutiny

The role will have a significant impact on the efficiency, output quality and reputation of the UK NSC, and on the implementation of new and current screening programmes.

Communication and key working relationships

Internal

  • OHID screening team
  • OHID prevention division
  • UK NSC secretariat
  • UK NSC members and expert groups
  • Other OHID divisions/directorates
  • DHSC press team
  • DHSC communications team
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)

External

  • UK Departments of Health
  • 4 UK NHSs,
  • Professional bodies and other Government departments.
  • NICE and SIGN
  • Contracted companies and academic units
  • UK NSC stakeholders, including charitable organisations and industry

Person specification

Role responsibilities

 

Reporting to the Evidence Lead, the post holder is expected to:

  • lead work to define and deliver a horizon scanning workstream addressing key methodological, resourcing and procedural issues
  • establish clear workstream objectives, deliverables and accountabilities
  • ensure that workstream governance arrangements and mechanisms for planning, monitoring and reporting on progress are in place and operate smoothly
  • develop documented processes and procedures for horizon scanning and prioritisation, and for other projects as part of the evolving UK NSC approach to the evaluation of evidence for population and targeted screening programmes
  • work with colleagues to identify and develop the internal and external relationships required for horizon scanning
  • work with colleagues to identify priority topics and develop questions related to a range of evidence and research methodologies
  • establish and lead a new team that will be responsible for the horizon scanning workstream, embedding organisational vision and values and creating a sense of common purpose within the team
  • lead on internal communications and promoting effective performance management within the team
  • lead the team in managing a programme of evidence map development projects, and other evidence product development projects, from specification and commissioning, through product development and progression to UK NSC recommendation, ensuring they are appropriately planned and delivered on time to high quality standards
  • identify opportunities to engage expert stakeholders and topic advisors in evidence product projects and use judgement to initiate the formation of advisory groups as necessary
  • contribute to oral and written dissemination of the UK NSC work, including peer review journal articles, participation in workshops and presenting at external meetings and conferences
  • work across the UK NSC Secretariat and OHID team to ensure the timely publication of the UK NSC’s outputs
  • provide a source of expert advice to a range of projects where information science input is required within the wider evidence team
  • provide a source of expert advice on horizon scanning work to the full range of Secretariat functions (for example, the annual call for topics, ministerial briefings and public communications) and to external stakeholders and organisations
  • look outwards to understand the wider UK NSC Secretariat and OHID structures within which horizon scanning and prioritisation work takes place, the processes to which it can contribute and the opportunities for cross division working which they can generate
  • provide management input to the UK NSC business planning
  • understand and respond to user needs whilst remaining proactive in defining and delivering high quality projects
  • work with the finance and business manager to ensure oversight of planning and financial management, including procurement strategies, costing mechanisms and analysis
  • implement quality assurance procedures in accordance with relevant DHSC requirements and recognised project methodology to ensure value for money and successful execution of projects, including recognition of user and stakeholder needs
  • develop a continuously improving service, evaluating the impact of work and striving for new and better ways to achieve its aims
  • manage scope of work and mitigate risk across multiple projects

 

 

Key skills and experience required for the role

 

Essential

 

  • information management experience
  • project management experience
  • experience of managing horizon scanning processes in a healthcare standard setting or policy making setting
  • experience of managing evidence-based decision-making projects (such as rapid and systematic reviews) in a healthcare policy making or standard setting context
  • managing external project teams undertaking evidence product development work as discrete projects and / or as part of a multi-project workstream
  • proven track record of developing and conducting a range of search strategies, and of analysing data and presenting results
  • experience in an appropriate library or research environment gained in a healthcare setting
  • experience of using and evaluating a range of printed and electronic information sources, including databases, software and internet resources related to healthcare
  • a firm conceptual grasp of screening as a practice in healthcare and the methodologies employed to evaluate the viability of screening programmes
  • ability to anticipate, identify and resolve potentially complex problems, as well as propose long-term improvement initiatives, for example relating to the UK NSC evidence review process
  • experience of designing and implementing processes and procedures relating to horizon scanning and prioritisation processes
  • good oral communication skills to present complex information verbally, both formally and informally, to experts and the public
  • good writing skills to articulate complex scientific concepts in a coherent and accessible manner for a range of audiences
  • good organisational skills to manage conflicting priorities, individual team members, external contractors, stakeholders and multiple projects efficiently and to a high standard
  • work across multi–professional teams and organisational boundaries

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Alongside your salary of £50,829, Department of Health and Social Care contributes
£9,134 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
  • 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%

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Sift date: expected W/C 24/08/2023

Interview date: expected W/C 11/09/2023

Interview location: By video

The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores.

Applications will be sifted on statement of suitability and Behaviours: Managing a Quality Service,
Communicating and Influencing, Changing and Improving.

Please use your statement of suitability to in no more than 750 words answering the following questions:

Do you have experience in working in a horizon scanning or information science setting?
The evaluation of this question will be based on the ability of the candidate to provide examples showing
their experience / involvement in horizon scanning and /or information science setting.

Do you have experience in contributing to projects within a policy making or standard setting
environment?
The evaluation of his question will be based on the ability of the candidate to show their experience in
contributing to projects within a policy making or standard setting environment.

Do you have experience in managing major pieces of work and projects, setting parameters for internal or
external staff/collaborators to deliver?

The evaluation of this question will be based on the ability of the candidate to provide examples of their
experience managing major pieces of work and setting parameters for internal or external
staff/collaborators to deliver.

An initial sift based on Statement of Suitability (750 words) 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: Managing a Quality Service, Communicating and
Influencing, Changing and Improving, Strengths and Experience.

Candidates will be questioned on:

  • Experience of working in a horizon scanning and / or information science setting
  • Experience in contributing to projects within a policy making or standard setting environment

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers
Website here and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service Careers Website
here

Further Information
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.

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.

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.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). 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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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).

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 Insert email address@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 an interview, or if you’re 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.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
  • relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available.
You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

  • Name : Joanne Harcombe
  • Email : Joanne.Harcombe@dhsc.gov.uk

Recruitment team

  • Email : dhscrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

“If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the DHSC Central Recruitment Team at DHSCrecruitment@dhsc.gov.uk

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/ “

Attachments

General Pay Principles on Recruitment Opens in new window (pdf, 72kB)
Team Leader – Information Science_Horizon Scanning (accessible advert) – Civil Service Jobs – GOV.UK Opens in new window (odt, 50kB)

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