Speechwriter to the Secretary of State

In the Department of Health and Social Care, 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.
This is a fast-paced and challenging role involves close engagement with the Secretary of State, other ministers, and special advisers, as well as a range of different teams and external stakeholders.
Speechwriting is a challenging and high-profile function. You must have very strong written and spoken communication skills and you will need to be flexible, able to work at pace and adapt your writing style to different voices.
You must also be able to take feedback and amendments on your work from multiple stakeholders and have the ability to pick out salient facts from a mass of information to suit the target audience.
Candidates who pass the sift will be invited to take a test to assess a technical skill relative to the role, details of this will be provided with the outcome of the sift.
Shortlisted candidates may have the opportunity to speak to the Secretary of State. Further details will be shared beforehand.
Due diligence checks, including social media, will also be undertaken for the successful candidate prior to appointment., The role of speechwriter sits in the Private Office, Intelligence and Parliamentary (PIP) team in DHSC, which comprises five private offices. It is part of the wider Ministers, Accountability and Strategy Directorate of 180 FTE, which sets the strategic direction of the health and care system, supports Ministers and provides effective internal governance and accountability
The role is varied, challenging and stimulating, working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment in the Secretary of State’s office. Key responsibilities include:
+ Writing national agenda-setting speeches for the Secretary of State.
+ Communicating the Secretary of State’s vision for health and social care to stakeholders, the media, and the wider public.
+ Working closely with the Secretary of State, and their advisers, to capture the Secretary of State’s voice and deliver their priorities.
+ Confidently provide ministers with clear advice on their speeches and produce clear, compelling, well-argued products and effectively evaluate their impact on audiences.
+ Be able to adapt your writing to capture different ministerial voices- confidently working with Private Office and Special Advisers to adapt messages to the best style.
+ Develop and maintain strong working relationships with ministers, private offices, special advisers, senior officials and ensure a streamlined speechwriting process.
+ Work effectively with the wider comms team, so that speechwriting plans are joined up with wider communications strategies. Integrate with media activity around speeches, and identify and drive appropriate tactics to boost this when appropriate.
+ Ensure speeches reach a wider audience through the department's full range of digital channels.
+ Understand departmental and ministerial briefs so you can communicate key messages clearly, accurately and creatively to the media., Opportunities for some working from home may be available; other flexible working options may be discussed with the hiring manager in line with individual circumstances and business need.
There are a limited number of DHSC colleagues who have existing agreed homeworking contracts resulting from Our Future Estate Programme 2023-2024. Colleagues covered by these arrangements are eligible to apply for this role whilst continuing their agreed existing home working arrangement. Occasional travel to DHSC offices or other locations may still be required according to business need. Travel and subsistence will be provided in line with the pre-agreed homeworker arrangements.

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Delivering at Pace

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Candidates who pass the sift will be invited to take a test to assess a technical skill relative to the role, details of this will be provided with the outcome of the sift., An initial sift based on Lead Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing, CV and Statement of Suitability 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 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
Candidates who pass the sift will be invited to take a test to assess a technical skill relative to the role, details of this will be provided with the outcome of the sift.
At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and Experience.
To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/departments/working-for-the-department-of-health-social-care/ and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service Careers Website https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/
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 CTC clearance.
For CTC clearance, candidates must have been a resident in the UK for the past 3 years.
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 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).
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
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.
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 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 National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter
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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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).

+ Demonstrable expertise in and experience of speechwriting or other written work, for senior figures, in the public or private sectors;
+ Clear and proven ability to deliver in fast paced environments, responding quickly and calmly as priorities change and as short deadlines are imposed;
+ A track record of sound judgement and political awareness;
+ Demonstrable ability to work effectively with and positively influence a range of colleagues and senior stakeholders, internal and external; and
+ Strong, provable ability to assimilate a wide range of information and knowledge quickly and to develop compelling content.
Desirable criteria:
+ Experience of working with the media;
+ Experience of parliamentary affairs;
+ Experience of working within a private office;
+ Strong, provable ability to assimilate a wide range of information and knowledge quickly and to develop compelling narratives.
Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace: London. Within DHSC we offer non-contractual hybrid working. The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time spent in the office, enabling in person interaction and collaboration, and enhancing team working, learning, and support.

Alongside your salary of £57,114, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £16,545 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%