Important

You can’t apply for this appointment

The application deadline has passed or the appointment has been closed for applications.

Appointment details

Health & Safety Executive - Non Exec Director x 2

Summary

• Organisation: Health and Safety Executive
• Sponsor department: Department for Work and Pensions
• Location: North West
• Sectors: Information and Communication
• Skills: Change Management, Communication, Technology / Digital, Regulation, Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 2
• Time commitment: 30 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £15100 per annum
• Length of term: Up to four years
• Application deadline: 7pm on 5 November 2023

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   4 October 2023

2. Application deadline

   7pm on 5 November 2023

3. Sifting date

   9 January 2024

4. Interviews expected to end on

   13 March 2024

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

DWP is seeking two Non-Executive Directors (NED) with a range of established skills/competence to join HSE’s Board. We are looking for candidates who can provide experience from other organisations with challenges on a similar scale to HSE.

Introduction from the Chair

Sarah Newton

I joined the HSE Board as its Chair in 2020, following a career in the business and voluntary sector, as well as serving for nine years as a Member of Parliament and a Non-Executive Director on an NHS Trust. I am passionate about building relationships to ensure that we work together to improve work related ill health and protect workers in their place of work.   

HSE has a world class reputation as an effective regulator working with a wide range of stakeholders to prevent death, serious injury and ill health to those in the workplace and those affected by work activities.    

Great Britain continues to be one of the safest places to work but there is still much more to do. In the current climate, it has shown the scale of challenge that HSE still faces in making Britain an even healthier and safer place to work – this is why we have a new strategy ‘Protecting People and Places’. 

The new strategy is designed to keep HSE focused on tackling both new and traditional risk, at the right time and in the right way. It has clear objectives and themes, to guide our future interventions and regulatory activities, such as HSE’s role as the Building Safety Regulator and in the chemical’s regime, post EU Exit.  

We must continually adapt our approach to work effectively and seek out new opportunities. We must continue to drive home the importance of managing risk as good proportionate risk management is essential for sustainable economic growth.   

Working with our broad range of stakeholders, both in the public and private sector, we are looking for two Board members who are committed, engaged and enthusiastic in working with others to protect people and places. We need people who will share our vision and future direction for HSE and are willing to help us face our challenges. There will be exciting prospects to help steer HSE through the next few years, which will be a great opportunity.   

I am personally committed to promoting greater diversity in HSE, which includes on the HSE Board, and I would warmly welcome applications from the widest possible field of candidates.   

If you have questions about the appointment process, you can contact.  

Qashaf Mahmood, DWP Public Appointments Team, on alb.publicappointments@DWP.gov.uk or by phone on 07741 599811.

Additional introductions

Permanent Secretary

I want DWP and our arm’s-length bodies to be places where everyone, whatever  their background, feels encouraged to achieve their potential. I believe attracting talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, including regional diversity and the  full range of socio- economic groups, will allow us to be better able to provide the  best possible support to those we serve.       DWP continues to support Cabinet Office in working towards 50% of all public appointees to be female and 14% of all public appointments to come from ethnic minority backgrounds. We value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone.     

If you are looking for an opportunity to use your talents to make a difference to the  lives of millions of your fellow citizens, we look forward to hearing from you. 

Appointment description

There are two available positions: one as an Employer Representative and the other as an Independent Representative.

The successful candidates will contribute to the Board’s role in leading HSE, with the opportunity to influence the future direction of health and safety in Great Britain.

Key responsibilities include:

• Helping lead the work of HSE by operating effectively as a Board Member and contributing to Board meetings and discussions;
• Chairing or participating in the activities of Board Committees;
• Building and maintaining effective working relationships with a broad range of networks and stakeholders;
• Representing HSE externally, acting collectively in representing its decisions to stakeholders and the general public;
• Acting as a critical friend to HSE’s senior staff, particularly in their area of expertise; and
• Demonstrating a commitment to the Seven Principles of Public life.

Organisation description

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a Crown Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).  

HSE is the national independent regulator for health and safety for those at work and those affected by work activities. Its wide range of activities includes overseeing major hazard safety regimes (including offshore oil and gas and onshore chemical processing), workplace inspections, accident investigations, policy development and publishing guidance and research. 

The HSE Board oversees all these activities and is responsible for delivering Government policy and advising Government on health and safety issues.  

HSE is a well-respected, world-class regulator but needs to tackle the future by developing innovative, modern strategic approaches to influence further improvements. HSE has published a new strategy that recognises and accommodates the impacts of the changing world of work, industrial and technological advance, the green economy, the role of HSE in post EU Exit chemicals regulation and the Building Safety Regulator. 

The new strategy provides HSE with an enabling tool, direction, and principles through which HSE has the flexibility to innovate, reform and trial new ways of working to establish those with the greatest effect, whilst maintaining those that have been proven to have a positive effect and have stood the test of time. 

Further information about HSE can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/index.htm 

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

We are seeking two candidates with the right skills and abilities to complement the existing Board members. Successful candidates will need to demonstrate: 

• Ability to effectively contribute at Board level, think strategically and provide robust and reasoned challenge; 
• Ability to build positive, productive relationships, and communicate with a range of stakeholders;
• Ability to champion change and learning, while helping the Executive Committee think through the risks and mitigations; and 
• Ability to exercise sound judgement in what can be a sensitive and pressured area and be able to confidently defend those decisions under scrutiny.

Candidates for either the employer or independent role must also have at least one of:

• Experience of using digital systems and artificial intelligence (AI) in industry, OR:
• An understanding of the regulatory framework that ensures the safe management of chemicals.

For the Employer Representative post only, there is an additional essential criterion seeking evidence of:

• An ability to represent employer issues or evidence of existing connections with groups that represent the interests of employers.

For the Independent Representative post only, there is an additional essential criterion seeking evidence of:

• An ability to represent on general matters affecting health, safety, and welfare at work. 

Desirable criteria

The following criteria are desirable, Candidates would not need to demonstrate all necessary of these below:

• Experience of leading or monitoring organisational transformation;
• Willingness to develop knowledge of the environment within which the public sector operates including a good understanding of parliament; and
• On-going connections with relevant stakeholders in Scotland. 

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:

1. A  Curriculum Vitae (Maximum 2 pages font size 12) - which provides your contact details, details of your education and qualifications, employment history, directorships, membership of professional bodies and details of any relevant publications or awards;

2. A supporting statement (Maximum 2 pages 2 font size 12) - setting out how you meet the criteria for appointment, as set out in the person specification for the role;

3. Information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues;

4. Diversity monitoring - information. This allows us to see if there are any unfair barriers to becoming a public appointee and whether there are any changes that we could make to encourage a more diverse field to apply. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be used as part of the selection process and will not be seen by the interview panel;

5. Disability Confident - please state if you want to be considered for the disability confident scheme; The Disability Confident scheme has replaced the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. The Department for Work and Pensions, and its arms-length bodies, are accredited users of the Disability Confident symbol, which signifies organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled applicants. All Disability Confident Employers will offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum requirements for a job or role. If you wish to apply for consideration under this scheme, please complete the declaration in the Diversity Monitoring Form provided. It is not necessary to state the nature of your disability. Whether you choose to apply under the Disability Confident scheme or not, you can still ask for adjustments when attending an interview. You can also contact us if you want to discuss the criteria for the role or have questions regarding your application.

6. Reasonable adjustments - requests for reasonable adjustments that you would like to the application process (if applicable).

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

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.

Please note that due diligence checks will be carried out on all candidates shortlisted for interview.  The result of the checks will be shared with the panel and with ministers who make the final decision following the results of the interview.  The search will include, but may not be limited to:

• Google search – publicly available information
• Social Media search – Twitter, Facebook
• Individual insolvency search
• Removed trustee register search. 
• Financial Services Prohibited Individuals Register
• Disqualified Director Register
• Personal Information Form declarations
• References

ID verification

For candidates that reach interview stage, when attending the interview, you will be asked to provide ID. This can be either a valid passport or photo card driving licence.   

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)

Panel Chair – Jackie Oatway, DWP Deputy Director, Head of Arm’s-Length Bodies

Panel Member – Sarah Newton, Chair of HSE

Panel Member – Daisy McGregor, DESNZ, Deputy Director at the Office for AI

Panel Member –  Rachel Irving, DEFRA Deputy Director Chemicals, Pesticides & Hazardous Waste

Independent 

Panel Member – Mark Addison 

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.

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  alb.publicappointments@dwp.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 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2. These are:

1. SELFLESSNESS - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends;
2. INTEGRITY - Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties;
3. OBJECTIVITY - In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit;
4. ACCOUNTABILITY - Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office;
5. OPENNESS - Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands;
6. HONESTY - Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest;
7. LEADERSHIP - Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

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

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact the DWP ALB Public Appointments Team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at alb.publicappointments@dwp.gov.uk 

They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

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.uk.Further 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.

Contact details

If you have questions about the appointment process, you can contact  

Qashaf Mahmood, DWP Public Appointments Team, on alb.publicappointments@DWP.gov.uk or by phone on 07741 599811.