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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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Loan
Secondment
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Project Delivery
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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 youd like to work in, wed love to hear from you.
The Start for Life Unit is part of the Early Years, Children and Families Directorate within DHSC. In March 2021, the Early Years Healthy Development Review chaired by Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP published an ambitious Vision to ensure every baby in England is given the best start for life: The best start for life: a vision for the 1,001 critical days – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The Start for Life Unit is charged with implementing this ambitious vision by putting words into action.
Following on from the Review, the Chancellor announced approx. £300m for the transformation of Family Hubs and improvement of Start for Life services including funding for parent-infant mental health and breastfeeding services, the publication of Start for Life offers, and the establishment of Parent and Carer Panels in 75 upper tier local authorities. The Unit has been now working closely with officials in the Department for Education (responsible for the family hubs element of the package); DHSC Ministers and the Governments Early Years Healthy Development Advisor to deliver the funding package.
We published a progress report in February 2023 detailing the success of the Programme thus far and our wider work to develop and implement the commitments in the original Vision: The best start for life: a progress report on delivering the vision – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The Start for Life Unit is a friendly, supportive and positive place to work, and we are open to discussions about how flexible working patterns could support you as well as the business. We would actively welcome applications from black and minority ethnic colleagues, colleagues with a disability, and other groups who are currently underrepresented in the Civil Service.
Job description
We are advertising an exciting HEO programme assurance officer role working on the Start for Life and Family Hubs Programme.
We are looking for a project delivery professional, with a high degree of personal autonomy, to work with stakeholders across DHSC, DfE and the 75 local authorities to support the assurance and delivery of the programme.
Working closely with programme stakeholders the postholder will support the development and design of programme processes to assure local authority delivery progress, understand and anticipate delivery problems and solve issues as they arise.
In partnership with the Programme Assurance Manager the postholder will be responsible for keeping seniors updated on the delivery confidence of the programme through written and verbal updates, as well as providing input to the wider programme governance. They will organise meetings and prepare updates to inform decisions about the prioritisation of delivery support to local authorities.
This is an exciting role for a project delivery professional to work in a fast-paced team, delivering the Governments vision to deliver a step-change in outcomes for babies, children, parents and carers in England.
Person specification
- Assisting in the development and implementation of reporting and assurance processes of the programme
- Working with our excellent analytical team to help identify where further support to local authorities is required and provide insight to delivery questions;
- Input into programme commissions in relation to delivery confidence and assurance
- Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders across the programme, within the department, in other government departments and externally
- Identify and monitor delivery risks, issues and dependencies, working in close partnership with the programme management team and escalating as appropriate
- Evaluate the effectiveness of key processes and provide advice to senior stakeholders on improvements, including through developing options
- Provide secretariat support for assurance governance meetings: setting up meetings, commissioning papers, producing agendas and minute taking
- Undertake any additional tasks commensurate with the grade of the role
Key skills and experience required for the role
- Knowledge of project management methodologies and ability to apply them to real-world projects
- Experience of working with project teams, providing guidance, and fostering a collaborative work environment
- Experience of changing and improving techniques and of implementing the use of new or different approaches where necessary
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels
- Clear and effective written and verbal communication
- Ability to work collaboratively across organisational boundaries
- Experience of analysing complex and/or incomplete information to weigh up options and make recommendations
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
Benefits
£10,806 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 08/01/2024
Interview date: expected W/C 15/01/2024 and/or 22/01/2024
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.
Applications will be sifted on Statement of Suitability and Behaviours.
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.
Please complete a statement on the specified Behaviour (250 word max)
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
An initial sift based on Lead Behaviour, Managing a Quality Service, 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 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.
Qualifications required for the role will be checked and verified by the vacancy holder as part of the onboarding process. You may also be asked to provide evidence that any qualifications obtained overseas are equivalent to those advertised.
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 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.
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 : Charlene Simon
- Email : charlene.simon@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/
