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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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Loan
Secondment
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Policy
Strategy
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About the job
Job summary
Would you like to work at the heart of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), helping to tackle the big questions and challenges facing the health and social care system today and in the future?
The Strategic Finance Team plays a key role in forming and delivering the Departments strategic objectives across all aspects of health and care. Our team works closely alongside and reports to the same Deputy Director as the Strategy and Implementation Units.
The team has two primary areas of focus:
- Leading the departments input to Spending Reviews and other fiscal events, and supporting oversight of the departments financial position, advising the Secretary of State, Ministers and Permanent Secretaries and negotiating with the Treasury. In preparation for the next Spending Review (likely in 2024), our work will increasingly focus on preparing the Departments priorities and proposals, involving close working with teams and senior leaders across the department and NHS England. We will also continue to support Ministers with funding new priorities and managing pressures such as inflation.
- Providing insights and recommendations on key strategic finance issues across the health and social care system. We work jointly with policy teams to carry out deep dive projects into strategic finance issues. We combine qualitative and quantitative evidence (including engaging with frontline health and care providers) to understand the drivers of spend, identify opportunities to spend money more effectively, and improve the quality of services.
Successful candidates will benefit from a wide overview of the Departments work, proximity to Ministers and the senior leadership team, and the top priorities of the day. They will have the opportunity to learn and deploy a range of strategic, problem solving and financial tools and techniques.
Diversity and Inclusivity
We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team, and our teams are friendly and supportive. This is reflected in our staff survey results for 2022, where we received a score of 90% for the category My Team, compared to the Civil Service benchmark of 84%.
The Department also has a variety of networks to support those from underrepresented groups.
We welcome applications from women, ethnic minority candidates, those with disabilities or caring responsibilities, and other underrepresented groups. If you are potentially interested but not sure if the role is for you, please do get in touch and a member of the team would be very happy to discuss with you.
Job description
The DHSC Strategic Finance team is recruiting two SEOs to support preparation for the next Spending Review and the delivery of our strategic finance projects.
The Strategic Finance team sits within the Ministers, Accountability and Strategy directorate and works with the whole Department, our arms-length bodies (ALBs) and across Government. This is a unique opportunity to work across a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, and set the future direction for the health and care systems. There is significant opportunity for working with colleagues across Whitehall and ALBs, including with the Treasury and OGDs.
We are a motivated, friendly and supportive team. Successful candidates will benefit from a wide overview of the Departments work, proximity to and frequent engagement with Ministers and the Executive Committee of the Department. The post holder will have the opportunity to work on the top spending priorities of the day, and to learn and deploy a range of financial, strategic, and analytical tools and techniques.
Depending on the strength of candidates, we may hold a reserve list of candidates to help to fill positions across the Strategy Unit, Implementation Unit and Strategic Finance teams. Our teams play a key role in forming and delivering the Departments strategic objectives across all aspects of health and care, and the key requirements for these roles are very similar. The accountabilities will vary, but the focus of the work – to bring together stakeholders to drive effective decision making and clear Ministerial advice are common across these teams.
Person specification
The main responsibilities for these roles are:
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Support the development of our financial strategy, including for the next Spending Review:
- Advising Ministers and senior leaders on funding priorities, helping them to make strategic decisions to manage the Departments budgets, reprioritising where necessary, and drive forward their policy agenda.
- Managing a policy portfolio: leading for the team on several high-profile policy areas, working closely with policy, finance and analytical leads for these policy areas to understand key issues with spending implications and help develop and provide strategic challenge on proposals on future spending and reform.
- Developing a strong understanding of future public spending scenarios, using this to provide clear and impactful advice on the implications of these scenarios for DHSC budgets and our negotiating position.
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Support the Department to respond to the most significant strategic challenges facing health and care by:
- Supporting or leading strategic projects to deliver high quality, evidence-based options and recommendations for Ministers and DHSC policy teams;
- Quickly grasping structured thinking techniques to break down complex problems;
- Synthesising meaningful conclusions from data, including financial data;
- Using qualitative and quantitative strategic tools and techniques to answer key medium and long-term questions, including identification of emerging opportunities and challenges.
- Using communication skills to translate complex qualitative and quantitative evidence and financial architecture into clear, relevant insights for senior officials, special advisers and Ministers.
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Support the development and embedding of strategic capability across the department by:
- Contributing to the design and delivery of training on strategy tools and techniques, informally or through departmental programmes;
- Sharing knowledge on what works and new policy ideas;
- Taking on corporate and leadership roles in the team when needed, such as through corporate projects within SISF, MAS or the department.
Key skills and experience required for the role
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:
- Excellent problem-solving skills: an ability to deconstruct complex issues quickly; see the big picture; take part in data-rich project work and challenge conventional thinking; utilise innovative data sources and provide constructive challenge to develop new approaches;
- Comfortable working with both qualitative and quantitative evidence;
- Strong project management capability to deliver quality work at pace, including leading a project team and responding to changing working circumstances;
- The ability to build highly effective working relationships with a wide range of people, including policy teams across the Department and stakeholders across the health and social care system;
- The ability to rapidly acquire broad knowledge of DHSCs strategy, financial flows and frameworks;
- Excellent communication skills (both oral and written), to be able to present findings with impact;
- That they prioritise their own personal development, including through a culture of honest and constructive feedback; and
- They uphold the values of DHSC and the wider Civil Service.
As we are a multi-disciplinary team, we welcome applications from a wide range of job backgrounds, with varied experience and skills. These posts would be appropriate for both generalists with strong problem solving and quantitative skills, and finance professionals or analysts (e.g. an economist, statistician, operational researcher, social researcher) who are interested in developing their policy experience.
Well be hosting a virtual drop-in session on if you have any questions about the role or recruitment process at 1pm on Thursday 7th September. Please join using the Microsoft Teams link here: Click here to join the meeting. If you cannot make this time but have questions, please do get in touch and we would be happy to discuss.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£10,292 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%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Sift date: expected W/C 18/09/2023
Interview date: expected W/C 02/10/2023
Interview location: By video. Further details will be released to candidates who are successful at sift.
The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a Statement of Suitability (500 word max) and evidence of the specified behaviours (250 word max per statement).
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 500 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 Making Effective Decisions 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.
Candidates will be asked a presentation which will assess a behaviour. The interview will include presenting and answering questions on a case study. Further details on this will be provided prior to interview.
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 clearance.
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 youre 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 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.
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 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 (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 DHSCs Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidates 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 DHSCs 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 Kings 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 DHSCs modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).
Existing DHSC staff, appointed on either level transfer or promotion
If DHSCs modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSCs pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSCs modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).
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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Laura Dunkling and Liz Ashcroft
- Email : Laura.dunkling@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/
