Summary

DHSC is seeking to fill a major analytical post that leads the evidence, modelling and analysis for social care policy. We are looking for a highly capable senior analyst, with ability to lead a substantial multi-disciplinary team of analysts, and good skills in the use of economic thinking to construct an effective case for social policy. While the post is open to any of the analytical professions, it is particularly important that the candidate can provide intellectual leadership to the Group, and can call on an economic perspective to support and steer senior leaders in tackling the considerable challenges facing social care.

The post reports to the Director of Strategy and Reform in Social Care Group, and provides analytical support to the whole Group. It is also part of the DHSC analytical community, and able to play an active leadership role there as well, with a soft reporting line to the Director of Analysis.

The main focus for the post-holder is on support for and close working with the policy teams across the Group. The post-holder also has responsibility for longer term development of the economic and research evidence base, for the critical models used for guiding policy, and for the statistical description of the population with care needs and the system that supports them. There is a second DD analyst in the Group who leads work on data development for social care, the regular statistical reporting, and policy support on oversight including Covid response and Winter pressure. The two Deputy Director analysts work very closely to ensure the Group has the analytical function it needs.

Job description

Designing and delivering an adult social care system that is fit for the future is a top priority for the government. You will play a central role in achieving this ambition.

The adult social care system is under intense pressure, with more people living longer with ever more complex needs. These pressures are not felt uniformly in all parts of the country. You will provide the analytical leadership required to tackle huge challenges; challenges which have only increased during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Social Care Evidence division supports a wide range of policy requirements using a full breadth analytical approaches – from analysis of future pressures for Spending Reviews and charging reform options to evidence on impact of policy change, analysis of the latest research evidence and assessment of the social care provider market, where competition and pricing become important. In the current crisis the main pressures are in developing new monitoring data, modelling demand for care, and overseeing the supply of care.

The Group operates very much like a full department of state, making Spending Review bids to HMT, setting legislation, monitoring performance, overseeing quality through an inspectorate, and setting guidance for good practice. The division supports all these activities, is highly regarded – by policy teams and across government – and has a substantial impact on policy.

You will be providing advice to ministers, No.10 and senior colleagues, using networks and leading analysis across the Health and Social Care system.

Particular challenges in the coming period include:

• Social Care Workforce, skills and vacancies: analysis of turnover, and pay, and provision of advice on risk mitigation

• Implementation of social care reform:

• Overseeing the monitoring and evaluation, linking with initiatives by ONS and Cabinet Office

• Evaluation of trailblazers and early roll-out

• Leadership of complex models on the cap of care costs, using microsimulation and parametric techniques in R software

• Annual review of level of cap on care costs and related matters: analytical advice on options for uprating and implications

• Risks to the supply of care: analysis of the care market to support good oversight; and support operational response in the event of substantial failure of care provision

• Annual funding agreements: modelling to inform national and local decisions on funding required, savings, and policy development

• Close working with health: to support policy on integration, patient flows, new models of care and Continuing Health Care

• Policy development on Assurance, Quality, Access, Informal Care, Housing, Funded Nursing Care: working with policy colleagues to prioritise analytical requirements and then deliver on those

• Development and implementation of plan for research and evidence for social care.

You will be leading a highly talented team of analysts, who work in a fast-paced, supportive way, currently arranged in three Grade 6 led Units.

Responsibilities

• Deputy Director for a multi-profession analysis division of around 40 analysts, leading work for social policy requirements

• Supporting and advising ministers and senior officials on evidence and analysis for policy decision making

• Developing the strategic evidence and analysis for Social Care.

• Deliver fit for purpose and timely analysis for government’s top policy priorities on social care reform and oversight

• Developing strategic analytical, academic, local government and social care networks.

• Member of DHSC Analytical Leadership team, providing professional leadership and support across the wider analyst community

Person Specification

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:

• Strong professional background and leadership experience in economics and analytical work.

• Proven team leadership and the ability to empower and deliver through diverse teams, promoting an open inclusive culture

• Ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels and build effective relationships across organisational boundaries.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to present complex and technical issues simply and effectively.

• Ability to work flexibly at pace and to make sound decisions in a complex, fast-moving environment.

The post is open to anyone with the required expertise and knowledge. You are likely to be joining – or if in government, already a member of – the Government Economic Service, or at least one of the analytical professions, but that is not a requirement for application.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Developing Self and Others
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Developing Self and Others

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Use and Application of Professional analytical skills
• Communicating analysis with impact

Benefits

Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career with the department and wider Civil Service. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead, and you’ll benefit from regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Civil Service employee, you’ll be entitled to a large range of benefits. This includes:

• 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service. This is in addition to 8 public holidays;

• one further day paid privilege entitlement to mark the Queen’s Birthday;

• a competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire;

• flexible working patterns including part- time or time-term working and access to Flexible Working Schemes allowing you to vary your working day as long as you work your total hours;

• generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers;

• interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket or a new bicycle;

• the opportunity to use onsite facilities including fitness centres and staff canteens (where applicable);

• occupational sick pay.

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application form no later than 23:55 on 3rd January 2022. The application will include:

• A CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant to the person specification for this role, including details where applicable of numbers of people managed, relevant achievements in recent posts, together with reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

• A Personal Statement (no more than 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the 'person specification'.

• We will also assess you on the â€˜Developing Self and Others’ behaviour at application stage.

Failure to complete all sections of the form (CV and Statement of Suitability and the behaviour example) will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application.

Please note that we are unable to provide feedback to those candidates who are not shortlisted for interview. Written feedback will be made available (on request) to those candidates who attend interview.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with us on dhsc-scs1recruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

A panel, including the hiring manager, will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

If you are shortlisted, you will then be asked to attend a staff engagement exercise.

Staff Engagement Exercise (SEE)

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to prepare and present a 5-minute presentation or focus group to a group of staff of varying grades, representative of the business area/organisation where the role will be based. The staff will then ask questions and have a discussion with the applicant for 30 minutes.

The interaction will be witnessed and recorded by an observer who will provide feedback and observations in a written report provided to the final interview panel.

You will need to be flexible about setting aside time in your diary to do this. The topic will be provided to shortlisted candidates.

The staff engagement will not lead to a pass or fail decision; rather, it is intended to highlight areas of strength and possible concerns which the panel can probe at interview.

Please note that this assessment will be held via a video call.

You will then be invited to an interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence.

Interview

The Success profile Framework and the Government Analysis Career Framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate.

Shortlisted candidates may be asked to prepare a 5 minute presentation at interview. Please note we may use the presentation topic to assess one or more of the behaviours and/or technical elements listed below.

The presentation does not need to include visual aids. If a presentation is required, details of the topic will be provided prior to interview.

The following behaviours will be used at interview stage:

• Leadership

• Seeing the Big Picture

• Making Effective Decisions

The following Technical skills will be assessed at interview stage:

• Use and Application of Professional analytical skills

• Communicating analysis with impact

In terms of technical competencies for this role, candidates should refer to the role profile for Analytical Deputy Director in the Government Analysis Career Framework Government Analysis Career Framework, as well as demonstrating skills and knowledge related to their specific area of professional expertise (e.g. economist; statistician). Given the nature of the role, all candidates will be expected to demonstrate competency in economics.

The interview will be held via video call.

Further Information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

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.

External applicants will start on the pay band minimum for the role appointed to (£71,000), unless they can prove they have exceptional skills in line with the requirements of the role.

Staff applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum (£71,000) or within 10% of existing salary.

Individuals appointed on level transfer will retain their existing salary. Standard pay rules apply for existing civil servants.

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.

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.

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 dhsc-scs1recruitment.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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

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.

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the DHSC Central Recruitment Team at DHSCSCSRecruitment@dhsc.gov.uk . 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/

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