Working for DHSC
We offer a varied, exciting, challenging and rewarding working environment.
Previous experience in a government department is not essential: our staff have backgrounds in the voluntary, public and private sectors.
Jobs at the Department of Health and Social Care
We are currently recruiting to a variety of roles. Visit the Civil Service Jobs website for more details and to apply.
All Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) jobs are advertised on the Civil Service Jobs website. We also advertise in national and local media.
Vacancies on DHSC’s expert committees and other non-standard advisory roles are listed below. If there are no vacancies listed below, then we are not currently recruiting to any roles on our expert committees.
Vacancies on the boards of our arm’s length bodies are listed on the Public Appointments website.
DHSC values and promotes diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity for all.
Pay
We provide:
- a competitive salary that is reviewed annually
- the opportunity to earn performance awards
- an occupational pension when you join DHSC
Employee benefits and rewards
Employee benefits and rewards include:
- an employee discount scheme
- childcare vouchers or tax-free childcare scheme for eligible employees
- an employee assistance programme providing confidential advice, information and counselling
- the option to join a trade union
- an in-year award scheme for one-off exceptional personal or team achievements
- sick leave on full pay, followed by half pay, up to the maximum allowed by the relevant scheme
Flexibility
Flexibilities include:
- up to 30 days annual leave and 9 days public and privilege leave in a year (pro rata for part-time staff)
- time off to deal with emergencies, unexpected situations and certain other unplanned special circumstances
- paid time off for public service duties, for example if you are an armed forces reservist
- family-friendly policies, including flexible working patterns
- flexible working hours, subject to business needs
Family-friendly policies
Eligible employees are entitled to:
- maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
- paternity leave of up to 2 weeks full pay
Development and career opportunities
We offer:
- rewarding and challenging jobs to help you develop and reach your potential
- a comprehensive range of learning and development opportunities to help you develop your skills, knowledge and experience
Roles
Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) - chair
DHSC is looking to appoint a chair to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The successful candidate will initially be appointed as a JCVI member with a view to taking over from the current chair when he finishes his term at the end of September 2025.
JCVI is an expert scientific advisory committee at the heart of informing policy making on new vaccines and changes to existing vaccine programmes. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the public’s interest in the work of JCVI has increased significantly. The committee provides advice and recommendations for all UK health departments based on consideration of scientific and other evidence and is used by the government to inform policy making.
As chair you will have a critical role in maintaining JCVI as an internationally recognised leading body in the field of immunisation. You must provide leadership and direction to the committee and sub-committees to ensure they carry out their functions effectively, fulfilling the role outlined in the JCVI code of practice (PDF, 226 KB). In addition, you must be prepared to lead on matters of JCVI business and attend sub-committee meetings regularly engaging with any associated action plans.
Candidates must have significant experience of successfully leading a complex, high-profile committee and possess a commitment to evidence-based advice, maintaining independent integrity and the values of accountability and probity.
You should be influential in the area of public health and able to commit time to the work of JCVI. You should be capable of dealing sensitively and authoritatively with committee members, key stakeholders and senior government officials. It would be an advantage if you have experience of working at the interface between science and public health policy making.
In addition, candidates must be able to demonstrate the following:
- strong leadership acumen and significant experience at senior level
- the ability to absorb and analyse complex information and scientific and medical data
- excellent communication skills
- experience as a renowned expert in their field, in any of the following:
- infectious diseases
- immunology
- bacteriology
- virology
- epidemiology
- mathematical modelling
- general practice
- public health
- paediatrics
- the ability to work with and advise government
A full list of responsibilities and requirements can be found in the candidate information pack (see below).
The role is not remunerated and has a time commitment of approximately 9 to 12 days per year. The senior responsible officer determines the length of appointment, which may be a maximum of 3 years per term, with a potential maximum of 3 terms.
If you require the candidate information pack in an alternative format, please call Ralph Cabrega on 0113 254 5481 quoting the reference VAC-EC1856.
The closing date for applications is midday on Wednesday 4 December 2024.
Monitoring form
DHSC values and promotes diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community.
Complete the monitoring form as part of your application. You can complete it in Word or PDF.
Jobs in the NHS
If you’re interested in working for the NHS, see the NHS Jobs website.