Strategic Engagement Adviser and Programme Policy Adviser

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.
The New Hospital Programme (NHP) is the programme team set up with NHS England to deliver new hospitals. As a major priority for government and ministers, the Programme’s new and innovative approach to hospital design, construction and delivery is changing the way health infrastructure is delivered for the NHS.
The Strategic Engagement, Policy, and Funding Team within the NHP plays a key role in supporting the Programme to build new hospitals by ensuring that the approach to delivery reflects and continues to deliver against ministerial, departmental, and wider government strategy. The team also actively supports delivery by seeking opportunities to create value and support for the Programme amongst stakeholders and beyond., In the Strategic Engagement Adviser role, you will take a strategic overarching view of NHP policy and act as a bridge between the NHP, DHSC, the delivery team in NHS England, and the wider Department. You will be central in representing the Programme and its strategic ambitions and provide quality advice to senior leadership in the NHP, DHSC and Ministers. You will work on a variety of core business, such as parliamentary business, briefings and correspondence, and also have the opportunity to work on cross-cutting workstreams and bespoke strategic projects that will seek to address barriers and opportunities to help the Programme deliver new hospitals for future generations.
In the Programme Policy Adviser role, you will become a subject matter expert on hospital schemes within your portfolio working closely with DHSC and cross-government colleagues and NHS England on core Programme themes. You will be central in representing the Programme and providing quality advice to senior leadership in the NHP, DHSC and Ministers on specific schemes in the Programme. You will work on a variety of core business, such as parliamentary business, briefings and correspondence whilst supporting on scheme-specific policy work to ensure key stakeholders are fully engaged and updated on progress. You will also have the opportunity to lead on policy development for individual schemes or issues that span across more than one to deliver new hospitals for future generations.
These roles could be for you if you like to see high-level discussions on a newly developing major government programme, solve complex problems to deliver key Ministerial priorities and enjoy seeing the wider context in which the Programme operates. This is an exciting time to be joining the Programme as it develops its plans, matures, and progresses to deliver hospital schemes across the country.
You will be confident in developing advice and briefings, thinking critically, and helping set direction for your work. You will also be skilled at working with others, within the team and more widely.

Person specification
The successful candidate will lead on work to create support for delivery through:
+ Supporting the delivery of the NHP through providing quality advice to senior leadership in the Programme, including the NHS England Delivery team, DHSC, and Ministers.
+ Working with the wider team to support Ministerial priorities and other reactive work of the team.
+ The Programme Policy Advisor role will be required to draft lines to take, replies to Parliamentary Questions, official correspondence and correspondence from external stakeholders and the public on specific schemes in the Programme.
+ Building relationships and working collaboratively with stakeholders within the NHP, wider Departmental colleagues and other stakeholders within government.
+ Working on cross-cutting workstreams and projects to address barriers, leverage progress, and ensure alignment with wider departmental and government policy.
+ Supporting the Programme’s engagement to ensure that learning from various stakeholders is embedded to support wider DHSC objectives and NHP strategic objectives.
There are two HEO vacancies. Successful candidates will be matched to roles based on their suitability and experience. Please note that roles are subject to change as the programme evolves, so candidates should be flexible to match business needs as well as the needs of the Programme.
+ We are looking for someone with experience of policy development and strategy:
+
o Policy Skills: this position will allow you to develop policy skills as the team regularly updates Ministers and works across Government on shared priorities.
o Strategy Skills: this position will provide opportunities to develop your strategic and big picture and critical thinking through work alongside a variety of workstreams within the Programme, as well as across Government.
+ The successful candidate will be able to show evidence of being creative and curious to help overcome challenges and solve problems, building relationships, seeking out new methods and helping to create ways to think about challenges, both for themselves and others. They will be able to coach others in these skills.
+ The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the skills and understanding to manage their work, and help others deliver on a high-profile and varied work programme.
+ They will be able to show how they can think across the big picture, including the political, economic, and social environment of an emerging policy area in developing proposals and advice. They will be experienced in using evidence and analysis to develop solutions in different situations, supporting others to do the same.
+ They will be good oral communicators and have strong written skills and be adept at conveying complex information clearly and succinctly.
+ They will be able to demonstrate their desire to learn new skills and understand new policy areas, and to support the learning and development of others in proactive and inclusive ways.

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Working Together
+ Seeing the Big Picture
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Making Effective Decisions, 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.
Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.
Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.
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).

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%
Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or Leeds. 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.
You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.
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.