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Appointment details

Lead Non-Executive Director of the DHSC Departmental Board

Summary

• Organisation: DHSC Departmental Board
• Sponsor department: Department of Health and Social Care
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Health and Social Care
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 2 day(s) per month
• Remuneration: £20000 per annum
• Length of term: Ministers will determine the length of the appointment, which will be up to 3 years.
• Application deadline: 11:59am on 26 September 2023

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   4 August 2023

2. Application deadline

   11:59am on 26 September 2023

3. Sifting date

   6 November 2023

4. Interviews expected to end on

   29 November 2023

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

Ministers are seeking to make 3 Non-Executive Director (NED) appointments to the board of DHSC.

The information in this pack is for the Lead NED role. 

For information and to apply for the ARC Chair and/or Social Care NED (VAC-7625), please visit Non-Executive Director of the DHSC Departmental Board – Apply for a public appointment – GOV.UK (apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk)

Appointment description

Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) provide independent advice and expertise to inform the Department's strategy, performance and governance.   

They attend the Departmental Board which meets quarterly and is chaired by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and attended by the Department’s most senior officials. 

The Board’s role is to bring independent advice, support and challenge to the Executive Team to help shape the Department’s work, particularly in terms of delivery.

All Non-Executives are also expected to contribute to the work of the Department in the following areas:

• Independence: provide an independent perspective and assurance, including in advising the Permanent Secretary on the capability of the Department

• Strategy: constructively challenge and contribute to the development of the Department’s strategy and business plan, including the setting and development of key objectives and targets  

• Performance: scrutinise the performance of the Department in meeting agreed goals and objectives, including financial targets, and work with senior officials to continue to improve Departmental performance

• People: offer mentoring, support and guidance to senior leaders in the department, and support delivery of the Department’s wider People strategy 

• Governance: ensure governance, internal control and risk management systems are effective, and deliver relevant, accurate and timely management and financial information to the Board

• Support the Board to help it engage with strategic issues in ways which have practical resonance  

• Connect the Board to people and organisations who can provide different perspectives and expertise to help the Department deliver its responsibilities  

• Expertise: bring expertise and experience in key areas of work, to support and supplement skills and experience brought by fellow non-executives.  

In addition to the responsibilities of all NEDs, the Lead non-executive will also be expected to:

• support the Secretary of State in his role as Chair of the Board

• meet regularly with other non-executives to ensure their views are understood and that the Secretary of State is made aware of any concerns 

• liaise with the Government-wide Lead non-executive

• provide appraisals for senior officials

• provide a written statement for the DHSC Annual Report and Accounts

• attend various sub-committees and programme boards as necessary

For more information on Departmental boards and government non-executives please see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-executive-directors

Organisation description

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is a ministerial department at the heart of delivering the Government’s priorities and supporting Ministers to enable everyone to live more independent, heathier lives for longer. The Secretary of State has clear priorities for the operational performance of the health and social care system, alongside the NHS Long Term Plan and Government Manifesto commitments. As of July 2023, the department employs 3,574 full-time equivalent employees, who work in locations across the country. 

Our responsibilities 

We are responsible for: 

• Supporting and advising our ministers: we help them shape and deliver policy that delivers the government’s objectives 

• Setting direction: we anticipate the future and lead debate ensuring we protect and improve global and domestic health 

• Accountability: we make sure the department and our arm’s length bodies deliver on our agreed plans and commitments 

• Acting as guardians of the health and care framework: we make sure the legislative, financial, administrative and policy frameworks are fit for purpose and work together 

• Troubleshooting: in the last resort, the public and Parliament expect us to take the action needed to resolve crucial and complex issues 

Our priorities 

Our priorities are: 

• Reducing waiting lists 

• Improving local access to doctors, dentists and pharmacies 

• Investing in professionals and facilities 

• Improving A&E performance and reducing ambulance delays 

• Adapting the latest innovation and technology 

• Joining up services to reduce bureaucracy  

Who we are 

DHSC is supported by a number of agencies and partner organisations. 

We work closely with our partners in the health and care system, our ALBs, agencies, local authorities, across government, and with both patients and the public, ensuring that we are all working with one focus – the people who use our services.  

Agencies and partner organisations, including contact information 

To find out more about the department’s agencies and partner organisations, also known as arm’s length bodies, visit: The Department of Health and Social Care's agencies and partner organisations - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Board composition

Board meetings are held at 39 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0EU. 

The Departmental Board meets on a quarterly basis.

Our governance - Department of Health and Social Care

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

To be considered, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the qualities, skills and experience to meet all the essential criteria for appointment.

• Board level senior leadership experience, and a track record of achievement, which demonstrates an ability lead the Department’s non-executive team to deliver direction and challenge 

• An understanding of corporate governance, and delivering robust governance and accountability

• Strong strategic skills, with a bias towards effective delivery and implementation

• Exceptional communication skills, able to work as part of a team and collaborate effectively with others to drive change in a large, complex system

• Sound judgement, with the ability to consider and provide challenge on complex issues from an impartial and balanced viewpoint

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a supporting statement
• equality information
• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.

2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.

3. At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.

4. Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.

5. The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.

6. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.

7. Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

8. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned. AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.•    Sir Chris Wormald, DHSC Permanent Secretary, panel chair•    Michael Jary, Government Lead Non-Executive Director, panel member•    Libby Watkins, Former Public Appointments Assessor as the Independent Panel Member

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact Daniel.Clemence@dhsc.gov.uk

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. 

As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘minimum criteria,’ we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

Holders of public office are expected to adhere to and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life. These are:

1. Selflessness - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
2. Integrity - Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
3. Objectivity - Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
4. Accountability - Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
5. Openness - Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
6. Honesty - Holders of public office should be truthful.
7. Leadership - Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or serve in any one post for more than ten years

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid. 

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

The Department of Health and Social Care will aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy. If you have any complaints about the way your application has been handled, please contact Steve Howell by emailing Steve.Howell@dhsc.gov.uk 

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.ukFurther information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

The DHSC privacy notice can be found at DHSC privacy notice - GOV.UK.

Contact details

For further information regarding the role of the DHSC and the role of a NED please contact:

Rhonna Spindley 

Email: NEDs@dhsc.gov.uk

For any queries about your application status or the selection process, please contact Daniel Clemence in DHSC’s Honours and ALB Public Appointments Unit: 

Email: Appointments.Team@dhsc.gov.uk