Department for work and pensions (dwp)
Head of People Safety Delivery
Job Description
Details
Reference number
Salary
Outer London – £77,367 – £82,813
Inner London – £78,843 – £83,957
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Human Resources
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
We’re looking for a Head of People Safety Delivery to develop and enhance the culture, capability and application of People Safety within DWP.
You’ll inspire your team to buy into our vision and mission as you deliver through others, raising the standard of People Safety delivery to all colleagues.
You will empower your team and DWP colleagues across the UK with the capability to take action and make confident decisions which keep both our people safe and DWP compliant.
This is a strategic position, which sits separately from our business as usual operational delivery. You’ll be working closely with your immediate team, Senior Leadership, Executive Teams, Trade Unions and suppliers.
This opportunity isn’t only about your technical skills and knowledge. It’s about people and relationships.
You’ll build collaborative, respectful relationships to influence how DWP delivers People Safety. You’ll shape our performance, risk management, assurance, compliance and learning and development, using evidence and data to develop new initiatives and improved ways of working.
In time, you could aspire to be the designated Competent Person for the UK’s largest government department, with around 100,000 colleagues.
You’ll elevate Health and Safety strategy and culture in DWP, to effectively safeguard colleagues and customers, as we deliver essential services to some of the most vulnerable citizens in the UK, across an estate of over 800 UK locations.
Job description
- Lead the People Safety – Health and Safety Delivery team, including creation and delivery of annual planning; reporting; developing and maintaining H&S management arrangements; and responding to incidents.
- Create and promote a positive Health & Safety culture and environment across DWP, reflecting the changing needs arising out of Health & Safety legislation and best practice.
- Chair strategic health and safety meetings including calls with Departmental Trade Unions.
- You will be our People Safety subject matter expert providing specialist expertise, advice and challenge as required, and responding to the views and challenges of others.
- Where possible, discharging health and safety matters on behalf of the Deputy Director for People Safety, making decisions and taking action based on often complex and incomplete information. This includes providing assurance to the Deputy Director for People Safety that our legal responsibilities are being properly discharged.
- Working with the Senior Leadership to make sure roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, understood, and executed and that we have skilled resources available.
- Lead onsite investigation and root cause analysis of the most significant incidents and near misses.
- Lead People Safety Team consultations with Departmental Trade Unions.
- Oversee the Health and Safety Delivery Teams’ programme of internal auditing, including process and tools.
- Drive the language and culture of health and safety up and into the wider business. You’ll work with other Departmental health and safety subject matter experts to ensure a joined-up approach to protection of our business and our customers.
- Be a senior subject matter expert representing the Department when interacting with enforcing bodies (e.g. HSE).
Person specification
- Demonstrable experience of effectively influencing and appraising stakeholders at the highest level. This may include Government Ministers, Perm Secretary or C Suite/Executive level colleagues – LEAD CRITERIA.
- Significant experience of Health and Safety leadership of a team of H&S professionals within a large organisation.
- Demonstrable experience working in a people safety environment, including experience of investigating incidents of workplace violence and reporting to effectively manage risk.
- A thorough understanding of health and safety legislation, and a demonstrable track record of safety culture transformation, where employees feel valued and protected.
- Strives for continuous improvement, innovation, performance and efficiency, taking responsibility for managing and improving all relevant standards, policies, processes, and governance relating to the role.
Qualifications
Memberships
Benefits
Alongside your salary, the Department for Work and Pensions contributes 28.97% towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
- Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
- Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
- Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
- Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
- Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
- An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Written Sift – CV and Personal Statement
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.
The written sift will be conducted using evidence from your 1,250-word Personal Statement and this will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification.
In the event of a large number of applications we will use the Lead Criteria which is listed in the Person Specification.
To initially assess your application during the sift stage. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or directly to interview.
When completing your personal statement, please read and understand the Key Criteria thoroughly as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address each criterion separately; however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several key criteria. You may not be able to meet all the key criteria, but please ensure you evidence: the key personal requirements and what have you done that relates to the requirements. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why, what you can do and the skills you have that are transferable to the key requirements, and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role.
CV
The CV is an on-line tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobsite and there is no requirement to upload your personal CV. Our CV element is short, and allows an initial check of eligibility, so please put the main content of your evidence and skills in your Personal Statement.
Interview – Face to Face
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview. This will be a face-to-face interview with location to be confirmed. The interview panel will be a minimum of two people.
The interview will assess your Experience as listed in the Essential Criteria within the Person Specification.
You will be expected to perform a 5-minute presentation on one of the Essential Criteria listed in the Person Specification. Please note that you will not be permitted any visual aids. Further details will be given to candidates when they are invited to interview.
It may help to use the WHO or STAR model to explain:
What the task/ work was, How you approached the task/work/situation and what the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? Or What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Further Information
Find out more about Working for DWP.
Any move to DWP 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. Determine your eligibility at here
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 or Disclosure Scotland 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.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
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.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP’s terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.
Reasonable Adjustment
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via DWPrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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 you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
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 :
Recruitment team
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.