Salary
London: £60,445
Job grade
Contract type
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
Business area
Type of role
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About the job
Job summary
In the Department of Health and Social Care, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you would like to work in, we would love to hear from you.
The DHSC Digital Transformation team consists of 48 people. We work with the national health and care system to realise the benefits of digital, data and technology, and to deliver better end to end services for users. The users are often health and care staff. We are a flexible, friendly and diverse team based in Leeds and London. We don’t manage live services; our role is more strategic. We partner with DHSC policy and commissioning teams to act as a bridge between policy and digital delivery. We provide advice and expert support from digital and technology specialists, and digital training. We support the department and its arms-length bodies in a range of different ways - from building digital capability and providing short-term consultancy advice, to running full discovery and alpha stage projects, and embedding our team members or suppliers in wider delivery teams.
We support a variety of teams, and projects of many types, rather than focusing on one area or user group. We deliver in line with government standards, advocating for user centred design and accessibility in everything we do.
Job description
The user-centred design team at DHSC is small and consists of user researchers and service designers. We work with product managers, delivery managers and technical architects on projects and use suppliers to supplement our delivery teams. We also work closely with our assurance and capability teams to raise the standard of digital delivery within DHSC and its arms-length bodies.
You will deliver advice and user research for a variety of policy areas. This could look like running a workshop with policy colleagues to help them define a problem statement or joining a multi-disciplinary team to deliver comprehensive discovery research. You will also support our assurance team to assess digital services as a user research service standards assessor.
DHSC is going through a change programme and merging with NHS England. The Prime Minister and Secretary of State are committed to the 10 Year Health Plan which emphasises commitments to innovation and technology and a digitally enabled NHS.
This role is being offered on an 18-month fixed term appointment/loan/secondment basis but there may be an option for it to become permanent once the future shape of the department is clear. This role currently has no line management responsibilities, but in future this could be a possibility.
Person specification
Role responsibilities
- Use a wide range of user research methods, and help teams to adopt them to better understand user behaviour;
- Plan and deliver research for services with challenging user needs and complex user journeys while advocating for best practice;
- Understand and deliver a range of methods to analyse research data and synthesise findings, and engage colleagues in your analysis and synthesis;
- Help teams understand the diversity of users of our services, include those users in appropriate research activities and advocate inclusive practices for the team to ultimately deliver accessible services for all users;
- Align user research activities to inform strategic decision-making;
- Help inexperienced teams adopt user-centred practices and embed these practices into their work.
- Build long term strategic relationships with stakeholders, and encourage collaboration by, for example, running workshops.
Key skills and experience required for the role
Essential:
- Inclusive research – you have experience recruiting a diverse range of participants for research and selecting the right research methods for different users.
- Research management, leadership and assurance – you have experience evaluating the quality of research against accepted professional standards. You can explain what good user research involves and give constructive feedback.
- User research methods – you have experience in a wide range of research methods and can help teams to adopt them. You have experience planning and delivering research for services and products with complex user journeys and challenging user needs.
- User-centred practice and advocacy – you have experience of advocating for research with colleagues who may be sceptical or less knowledgeable about user-centred design.
- Stakeholder relationship management - you have experience building strong relationships with stakeholders. You can identify and resolve issues, influence stakeholders and manage relationships effectively.
Desirable:
Degree level qualification, training or equivalent work experience in research or design (for example, a design subject or a social science such as psychology or anthropology).
Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or Leeds. Within DHSC we offer non-contractual hybrid working. The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time spent in the office, enabling in person interaction and collaboration, and enhancing team working, learning, and support.
You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.
Opportunities for some working from home may be available; other flexible working options may be discussed with the hiring manager in line with individual circumstances and business need.
There are a limited number of DHSC colleagues who have existing agreed homeworking contracts resulting from Our Future Estate Programme 2023-2024. Colleagues covered by these arrangements are eligible to apply for this role whilst continuing their agreed existing home working arrangement. Occasional travel to DHSC offices or other locations may still be required according to business need. Travel and subsistence will be provided in line with the pre-agreed homeworker arrangements.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- We'll assess you against this technical skill as a task at the interview: User Research Methods (practitioner level). See the full list of technical skills: https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/skills
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Applications will be sifted: W/C 27/10/2025
Interview date: W/C 03/11/2025
Interview location: By video
Further details and interview slots will be released to candidates who are successful at sift.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Applications will be sifted on CV and Personal Statement.
An initial sift based on the CV may be held if a large number of applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the ‘key skills and experience required for the role’ section of the advert. Please also include a list of your relevant qualifications.
Please use your personal statement to (in no more than 1000 words) outline how you meet the essential and desirable criteria required for the role as set out in the job advert.
At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and a Technical Skill.
Candidates will be asked to give a presentation which will assess the Technical Skill - User Research Methods (practitioner level). Candidates invited to interview will be asked to do a short practical task just prior to the interview slot, and then to present it verbally for 5 minutes at the start of the interview.
See the full list of technical skills: https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/skills
To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service careers website https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/departments/working-for-the-department-of-health-social-care/ and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service careers website https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/
Applicants who are appointable but were not successful in appointment to this vacancy, may be held on a reserve list for up to 12 months, and contacted if similar vacancies become available.
Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate and to other locations in the UK.
Candidates must ensure that all information provided in their application is factually accurate. Any examples provided must be taken from personal experience. The Civil Service abides by honesty and integrity as part of its core values, if evidence of plagiarism is found, applications may be withdrawn.
Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.
Further Information
Any move to DHSC from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via dhscrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
Terms and Conditions
Candidates should note that DHSC’s Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful.
New Entrants to the Civil Service
New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions:
- Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff
- Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King’s birthday
- Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
- Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay
- Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
- Probation: 6 month probation period
Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion
All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).
Existing DHSC staff, appointed on promotion
If DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC’s pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Hayley Sorrell
- Email : digital.recruitment@dhsc.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dhscrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact
