Communications Officers

The DHSC team is an award-winning operation, recognised for its work on crisis communications, evaluation, insight, and partnership working.
We are looking for a media relations officer who is as comfortable briefing journalists on queries and writing press releases as they are planning and delivering high-profile campaigns and producing campaign content.
You’ll be someone who can hit the ground running as part of a high-performing team, in an exciting, fast paced communications environment.
Each day will bring new challenges and varied opportunities to develop your skills and a career at the heart of government. You will need an excellent news sense to respond to breaking news stories and challenge misreporting, as well as creativity to generate proactive media announcements, support campaigns and create engaging social media content.
We are also looking for a campaigns officer who will play an integral role in our multi-discipline comms teams, working with media and other campaign experts, focusing on planning, designing and delivering communications activity to support the health issues that matter to people.
Your role will include generating proactive communications announcements, helping to create innovative campaigns to land our messaging with key audiences and will have the opportunity to work with ministers, major stakeholders and influencers.
Applicants are required to have substantial, demonstrative experience working in either media, public relations, or other communications roles.
You will be supported to develop your career as part of a friendly, welcoming team where learning and development and wellbeing are integral parts of the offer.
Once you become a member of our team, we are not only interested in what you can bring to communications, but also our culture and values, including commitments to staff health and wellbeing, and our Diversity & Inclusion working group.
We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares the communications directorate's and wider department's commitment to diversity and inclusion, while ensuring candidates who apply through the Disability Confident Scheme requiring adjustments are supported during our recruitment process., Those working on our news desk will shape the news as it develops, responding directly to journalists, and monitoring media and social. You’ll ensure DHSC’s position is reflected in coverage, rebut inaccuracies, and update ministers and advisors with news as it breaks.
Campaigns and proactive media teams will focus on planning, designing, and delivering communications’ campaigns to support departmental priorities. You’ll be devising innovative audience-focused communications plans maximising all the channels at your disposal, including media, social, paid for and low cost no cost marketing.
You will also be required to:
+ advise senior officials and ministers on a range of communications issues on behalf of the department, including identifying potential reputational risks and proactive opportunities.
+ support ministers on communications on their policy brief, providing clear briefing on live media issues and accompanying them on interviews, visits, and events.
+ supporting the planning, designing and delivery of communications activity to support departmental priorities, across a range of channels and platforms, to key audiences.
+ provide a professional, responsive around the clock media service through participation in the out-of-hours and shift rotas, and working with our rebuttal team. Media relations officers will be expected to join the out-of-hours and shift rotas, for which an annual allowance of £5,000 per annum is available.
+ build close working relationships with counterparts in arms-length bodies and partner organisations, ensuring communications activity and messaging is coordinated and supports shared objectives.
+ work as part of a team to ensure all activity is planned and evaluated in line with Government Communications Service (GCS) standards, including the use of audience insight be given the chance to learn and enhance basic social media skills, including video content and photography, to support ministerial activity., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Working Together

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ GCS Communications Digital - Insight https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/publications/competency-framework/#Competency-1:-Insight
+ GCS Communications Digital – Ideas https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/publications/competency-framework/#Competency-2:-Ideas
+ GCS Communications Digital - Implementation https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/publications/competency-framework/#Competency-3:-Implementation
+ GCS Communications Digital - Impact https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/publications/competency-framework/#Competency-4:-Impact, An initial sift based on CV 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.
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 personal statement (in no more than 750 words) to outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert.
At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and Technical skills. Candidates will also be expected to complete a written exercise which will be presented to the panel. Further details will be provided to those successful at the sift stage.
Further details and interview slots will be released to candidates who are successful at sift.
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.
Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.
Candidates must ensure that all information provided in their application is detailed in their own words and is factually accurate. Any examples provided must be taken from personal experience. The Civil Service abides by honesty and integrity as part of its core values, if evidence of plagiarism or generating answers from other sources is found, applications may be withdrawn.
Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.
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
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.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
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.
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.
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 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).
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 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
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.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

+ substantial experience working in media, public relations, or other communications roles
+ experience of delivering audience-focused proactive and reactive communications
+ strong oral and written communications skills
+ ability to communicate effectively with different audiences including using insight
+ ability to remain calm under pressure, prioritise workload and deal with competing priorities
+ evidence of using evaluation to learn lessons and improve communications
+ ability to build and maintain networks with counterparts in other organisations
+ ability to develop and deliver creative campaigns to tackle issues and promote topics using audience insight

In the Department of Health and Social Care (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 would like to work in, we would love to hear from you.

Alongside your salary of £33,476, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £9,697 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 employer contribution of 28.97%