Announcements (Archive)

Social Security Advisory Committee - Committee Members

Body
Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC)
Appointing Department
Department for Work and Pensions
Sectors
Charity & Public Sector, Regulation
Location
London. There are also occasional opportunities to visit other locations, for example to visit operational sites.(To meet covid-19 social distancing requirements, the Committee is meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams.)
Number of Vacancies
2
Remuneration
The daily fee payable is £256.80.
Time Requirements
The time commitment fluctuates throughout the year, but Members are required to commit to 2-3 days’ work per month. The flexibility to work more than this on occasion would be helpful

Campaign Timeline

  1. Competition Launched

    22/01/2021

  2. Closed for Applications

    19/02/2021 at 17:00

  3. Panel Sift

    TBC w/c 01 March 2021

  4. Final Interview Date

    TBC 20-21 April 2021

  5. Announcement

    19/07/2021 at 10:00

Announcement

An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.

Press release Appointment to the Social Security Advisory Committee: Matthew Doyle The Minister for Work and Pensions, the Baroness Deborah Stedman-Scott OBE DL, has appointed Matthew Doyle to the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC).

From: Social Security Advisory Committee and Baroness Deborah Stedman-Scott OBE DL Published 19 July 2021

Confirming the appointment, Baroness Stedman-Scott said:

I am delighted to appoint Matthew to the Social Security Advisory Committee. The Committee provides important scrutiny and advice to the government on social security matters, and Matthew’s wealth of expertise and experience will enable him to make a valuable contribution to that work.

Dr Stephen Brien, SSAC Chair, said:

At a time when post-pandemic opportunities and challenges emerge for the social security system, Matthew’s appointment is a very welcome addition to the Committee. He will bring excellent knowledge and insight to our work on a broad range of issues that affect many people in our society, including a strong understanding of the impact of the benefit system on workers.

About the Committee The Social Security Advisory Committee is an independent statutory body established in 1980. It provides advice to the Secretary of State on proposals for the amendment of secondary legislation and on general social security matters.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates all appointments made by the Secretary of State to SSAC. All such appointments are made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, and its eight principles of public appointments: ministerial responsibility; selflessness; integrity; merit; openness; diversity; assurance and fairness.

SSAC members receive a daily fee of £256.80, for a time commitment of 2 to 3 days a month.

Matthew Doyle Matthew Doyle is the Chairman of Money Matters Credit Union.

Matthew also holds the following voluntary roles:

Chair of The Adolescent and Children’s Trust Non-Executive Director of Pegasus Community Housing Trust He will take up his five-year appointment on 1 August 2021.

Date: 19/07/2021

Assessment Panel

Panel Member
Iain Walsh,
Added
22/01/2021
Panel Role
Panel Chair
Positions
DWP Director, International and Corporate
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Political Activity-
Notes-
Panel Member
Dr Stephen Brien,
Added
22/01/2021
Positions
SSAC Chair Representative of Organisation
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Political Activity-
Notes-
Panel Member
Olivia Grant
Added
22/01/2021
Positions
former OCPA appointed Public Appointments Assessor. Independent Member
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Political Activity-
Notes-

Vacancy Description

About the Social Security Advisory Committee

The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) is an independent statutory body, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It is the UK Government’s advisory body on social security matters. In addition to providing advice and assistance to the Secretary of State, it performs mandatory scrutiny of most secondary legislation laid before Parliament that underpin the welfare system. Thus, much of the Department’s policy and service delivery activity, including the welfare reform agenda, comes before the Committee.

In addition to the scrutiny of proposals for secondary legislation, the Committee’s general advisory functions are deployed to:

•inform the Committee’s work, improving members’ ability to scrutinise regulations and provide independent     advice to Ministers;

•add value to the debate on a topic that is of current interest to Government and stakeholders;

•stimulate debate of a specific topic within the Committee and amongst stakeholders.

The committee responds to the Department’s public consultation exercises where appropriate, and Ministers may also seek views on specific issues. The Committee may also select issues itself which it wishes to research and report upon. The Chair and Committee members meet regularly with Ministers and senior officials to discuss topical issues and also meet front-line staff and customers in the course of their visits to operational sites.

The Committee is independent of Government, the Department and sectional interests. It has a strong track record in offering informed, expert advice. Members come from a variety of backgrounds, but collectively they have a considerable depth of knowledge and expertise in social security policy, law and the wider social policy agenda.

Further information about the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/social-security-advisory-committee

The Role of a Committee Member

Members are expected to:

•Maintain and continuously develop an understanding of complex social security and welfare reform issues, taking into account Government policies, the financing of the welfare system and the broader economic social context;

•Fully prepare for all meetings by reading papers in advance and carrying out any other necessary preparatory work;

•Attend Committee meetings and make an effective personal contribution;

•Work constructively and collaboratively with the Chair and members of the Committee on all aspects of the Committee’s work; including its independent work programme and broader activities;

•Represent the Committee at external events on occasion.

Meetings

SSAC meets ten times every year at Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA. Members also have an opportunity to visit other locations, for example visits to operational sites.

Currently, to meet Covid-19 social distancing guidance, the Committee is meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

There are two posts available.

Candidates should demonstrate the following skills and experience regardless of the post they are applying for:

•knowledge, understanding and experience of working with governments and political stakeholders;

•understanding of the political and financial context in which the social security system operates and of the Committee’s role in advising Government;

•understanding of the impact of social security regulations and implementation on a diverse range of different groups of claimants, especially those who may face particular disadvantage;

•the ability to work effectively as part of a team, and to operate constructively and collaboratively with a diverse range of colleagues;

◦an ability to understand and analyse the details of complex proposals and evaluate and advise objectively on  the basis of that analysis;

•the ability to deal appropriately with confidential material shared with the Committee, and manage potential conflicts of interest (or perceived conflicts of interest) in a responsible manner.

Additionally, candidates must demonstrate one or more of the following areas of experience:

POST 1: Representative of workers: a good understanding of the impact of the benefit system on workers – including low paid workers, those with different forms of contract, the self-employed and those in fluctuating work. Candidates to demonstrate that they would be able to represent – with authority – a wide range of these perspectives, for example by having a network already in place or the ability to develop and maintain a credible and effective network.

POST 2: Detailed knowledge of social security and tax credit laws, including the connections and interactions between them: primary legislation, regulations and implications for implementation.

If you have experience relating to both of the above posts, that should be clearly evidenced in your application.

How to Apply

In order for us to progress your application please submit the following completed documentation:

1. A CV (maximum 2-3 pages) with your education and professional qualifications and full employment history.

2. An accompanying Supporting Letter (maximum 2 pages) – this is your opportunity to demonstrate how you meet each of the criteria set out on page 6/7. You should aim to provide specific examples that demonstrate how your knowledge and experience matches each of the criteria, and which describe what your role was in achieving a specific result. Please ensure your full name, the post for which you are applying and the corresponding reference number for the post are clearly noted at the top of your letter.

Please ensure your full name and the post for which you are applying is clearly stated at the top of your CV and Supporting Letter.

3. Personal Information Form Most of the information requested is not seen by the panel assessing your application (though the panel will consider any declaration of interests).

4. Diversity Monitoring Form. Collecting and analysing candidate data will help us improve our diversity strategy. It will allow us to run more successful recruitment exercises in the future and ensure that competitions are fair for all. This form is not part of the selection process and will be treated in strictest confidence. It will be kept separate from your application and not be seen by the selection panel.

Please email your application to: alb.publicappointments@dwp.gov.uk.

The Vacancy closes at 17:00 on Friday 19th February 2021

If you have any difficulty in sending your application or need the application pack in an alternative format (e.g. Braille, large print, audio CD, tape or e-text), please contact the ALB Public Appointments Team on alb.publicappointments@dwp.gov.uk.