Appointment details

National Data Guardian

Summary

• Organisation: National Data Guardian
• Sponsor department: Department of Health and Social Care
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Health and Social Care
• Skills: Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 4 day(s) per week
• Remuneration: £63,000 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 1 September 2026

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   16 July 2026

2. Application deadline

   11:59am on 1 September 2026

3. Sifting date

   29 September 2026

4. Interviews expected to end on

   2 November 2026

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction from the Chair

Introduction from Dr Nicola Byrne, National Data Guardian

Serving in the role of National Data Guardian has been a great honour. It’s been a privilege working with and learning from such a knowledgeable and committed office team, my endlessly wise and insightful advisory panel, and the deep system knowledge of the UK Caldicott Guardian Council. I’ve also enjoyed working with a diverse range of people and organisations from across the health and care system, including patient advocacy groups, charities, regulators, the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England. 

The breadth of this role, engaging with perspectives from patients and clinicians on the frontline, right through to decision makers nationally, has been endlessly fascinating. And often challenging, as you’d expect! But the vision to use data better to improve people’s health and care, whilst maintaining trust in a confidential health and care system, is one that matters a lot - and if anything, increasingly so, as our health technology develops. Being given the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Dame Fiona Caldicott, and to build on and evolve the National Data Guardian’s body of work, is something I will remain forever grateful for, and would highly recommend to anyone interested in applying to take on the role next. 

Appointment description

Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social care and Minister Gill are seeking to appoint a new National Data Guardian.

The purpose of the National Data Guardian (NDG) role is to make sure that people’s information is kept safe and confidential, and that it is shared when appropriate to achieve better outcomes for patients. The NDG does so by offering advice, guidance and encouragement to the health and care system. 

The role of NDG was created in November 2014, to be an independent champion for patients and the public when it comes to matters of their confidential health and care information.  

In December 2018, the Health and Social Care (National Data Guardian) Act 2018 was passed. The law placed the NDG role on a statutory footing and granted it the power to issue official guidance about the processing of health and adult social care data in England. 

Public bodies such as hospitals, GPs, care homes, planners and commissioners of services, and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, must have regard to such guidance that is relevant to them, as must organisations such as private companies or charities which are delivering services for the NHS or publicly funded adult social care.  

The NDG must produce an annual report as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of a financial year and send it to the Secretary of State before the end of the following June. 

Making better use of data is increasingly relevant to how the NHS and social care meets patients’ needs; with new technology and AI changing the data landscape the NDG has a major role to play in helping to ensure best practice and maintaining public trust.

Organisation description

The National Data Guardian (NDG) advises and challenges the health and care system to help ensure that citizens’ confidential information is safeguarded securely and used properly.

The National Data Guardian (NDG) role was created in November 2014 to be an independent champion for patients and the public when it comes to matters of their confidential health and care information. The purpose of the role is to make sure that people’s information is kept safe and confidential, and that it is shared when appropriate to achieve better outcomes for patients. The NDG does so by offering advice, guidance and encouragement to the health and care system. 

In December 2018 the Health and Social Care (National Data Guardian) Act 2018 was passed. The law placed the NDG role on a statutory footing and granted it the power to issue official guidance about the processing of health and adult social care data in England. 

The NDG wants to build trust in the use of data across health and social care and is guided by these 3 main principles:

• encouraging clinicians and other members of care teams to share information to enable joined-up care, better diagnosis and treatment; 
• ensuring there are no surprises to the citizen about how their health and care data is being used and that they are given a choice about this; 
• building a dialogue with the public about how we all wish information to be used, to include a range of voices including commercial companies providing drugs and services to the NHS, researchers discovering new connections that transform treatments, and those managing the services.

Although sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care, the NDG operates independently, representing the interests of patients and the public. The NDG also appoints an independent group of experts – the NDG Panel – to advise and support this work. 

There is more information about the backgrounds and experience of NDG Panel members in NDG Panel biographies. 

The UK Caldicott Guardian Council (UKCGC) is a sub-group of the National Data Guardian Panel. The chair of the council sits on the NDG Panel. 

The council is the national body for Caldicott Guardians, who are responsible for protecting the confidentiality of people’s health and care information and making sure it is used properly. All NHS organisations and local authorities that provide social services must have a Caldicott Guardian.

In 2027, the NDG will want to: 

• advise on plans for transfer of NHS England's data functions in the merger with DHSC to ensure public and professional trust is maintained around safeguards, inc. regarding decisions around access and use;
• provide advice, support and appropriate challenge for national data policies and the delivery of new data-related programmes such as the Single Patient Record.

Board composition

The National Data Guardian hosts bimonthly panel meetings. 

In addition, the NDG attends a range of stakeholder group meetings throughout the year where NDG representation is required:

• Health and Care Information Governance Policy Group 
• Federated Data Platform Check and Challenge Group 
• The Federated Data Platform Information Governance group
• Data Strategy Advisory Panel 
• NHS England’s Large-Scale Public Engagement Steering Group – now Public and Staff Engagement
• Patient Safety Commissioner Advisory Group

NDG meetings are typically held virtually, in addition, the team holds monthly in-person team days at the Leeds office, and at least one panel meeting each year is conducted face-to-face in London. 

The location of the main office is: 

Office of the National Data Guardian (c/o NHS England) 6th Floor, 

7 and 8 Wellington Place 

Leeds 

West Yorkshire 

LS1 4AP

ndgoffice@nhs.net

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

The Department of Health and Social Care values and promotes 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.

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.

• Extensive experience in the secure and ethical use of sensitive health data and the evolving technology that underpins it, and of building data sharing within and using data to improve organisations

• A strong career track record of significant delivery and leadership at a senior level and delivering impact in complex environments within the private, public or voluntary sectors

• Sound judgement, impartiality and independence with an ability to critically analyse information, identify and manage risk, and make evidence-based, strategic decisions that protect and support the well-being of the public

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to relate to members of the public and collaborate effectively with others, including government and those in the health and social care system, and provide challenge when needed

• A strong commitment to the seven principles of public life, and the importance of the well-being of citizens.

The time commitment for this role will be three and a half days per week.

Application and selection process

How to apply

Thank you for your interest in the appointment of the National Data Guardian. 

The Department of Health and Social Care’s Public Appointments Team is managing this recruitment campaign.

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in on the “Apply for a public appointment” website. This is a central, online recruitment platform managed by the Cabinet Office, which candidates use to apply for public appointments with any government department or a body which they sponsor.

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:

• equality information
• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues
• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a supporting statement
• a short professional biography (150 words)

Guidance on what to include in your CV/supporting statement and tips for applying can be found in the corresponding sections below and on the public appointment website: Public appointments - GOV.UK

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

In line with Cabinet Office guidance, AI must not be used to provide misleading information. While technology can be used in your application, for example to assist with structure, we value authenticity, and your statement setting out your suitability for the role should be made personally by you. If you are offered an interview, you should be prepared for the advisory assessment panel to discuss your statement and career history with you in detail.

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

You will also be required to make any declarations related to standards in public life and ensuring public confidence in your supporting statement. Further information on this can be found in the relevant section within the candidate information pack.

If you are unable to create an account and apply online, or if you have any problems submitting your application online, please contact karen.dinsdale@dhsc.gov.uk

Applications must be received by midday on Tuesday 1st September.

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements you have been asked to provide, and which are listed above, and that the applications are received before the published deadline.

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)

Felix Greaves – Departmental Official

Director for Digital, Data & Innovation Strategy and DHSC senior sponsor for the NDG as Panel Chair

Felix Greaves has no political activity to declare.

Jacob Lant – Additional Panel Member

Chief Executive of National Voices, as Panel Member

Jacob Lant has no political activity to declare.

Olivia Grant – Independent Panel Member

Chair TDR Trust as Senior Independent Panel Member

Olivia Grant has no political activity to declare.

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 karen.dinsdale@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.

The Department of Health and Social Care also requires all those appointed by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to public appointments, to be a fit and proper person, comparable with the requirements placed on board members in the NHS. As such, the successful candidate will be required to undertake security checks to ensure that you meet these requirements. For more information see the Candidate information pack. 

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.

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 ‘essential 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, for example large print
• making adaptations to interview locations including hybrid arrangements
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way 
• giving additional detailed information on the assessment process to allow candidates time to prepare themselves
• allowing support workers to attend interviews, for example British Sign Language interpreters
• making provision for support animals to attend interviews.

When you complete your application online, you will be given the opportunity to tick a box to request reasonable adjustment(s) to the application process at the “check your answers before sending your application” stage.

Principles of public life

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

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 ten years in any one post. 

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 public appointments team in the first instance. If you would like to make a complaint regarding your application, please contact Ben.Jones1@dhsc.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.

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

Attachments

• NDG Candidate Information Pack

Contact details

For further information regarding the role of the National Data Guardian please contact:

Name: Ebrahim Jogee

Tel: 0113 2545725

Email: ebrahim.jogee@nhs.net