JOB SUMMARY

Working towards sustainable futures. Championing diversity in the workplace. At the Department for Work and Pensions, it’s all in a day’s work. From HR to Finance, Policy to Communications, this is work that sustains and supports, where everyone’s voice is heard, and our customers are at the heart of everything we do. For a career packed with possibility, a comprehensive benefits package, where we live by our values and have the opportunity to improve the lives of people across the UK, look no further.
Supporting people who need it most. That’s our purpose. Start your own career today. Find out more and apply here.
DWP is looking to fill 1 roles in Contract Management and Partner Delivery directorate. The role available will be based in,
Birmingham 3 Arena Central, Bridge Street, Birmingham B1 2AX
Blackpool Peel Park, Brunel Way, Blackpool FY4 5ES
Glasgow Atlantic Quay, Glasgow G2 8SP
Leeds Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UA
Manchester 2 St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 3AA
Newcastle Benton Park View, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE98 1BA. (Please note: candidates requesting to work in Newcastle, this role will be based at Benton Park View from September 2025, and at 1 Pilgrim Place in Newcastle city centre by the end of 2027)
Sheffield Hartshead Square, Sheffield, S1 2FD.
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
DWP recruitment video (link is external)
Contract Management and Partner Delivery (CMPD) is a Corporate Team within DWP. It’s an incredibly exciting time to be working in CMPD. The role of CMPD is to ensure that our contracted employment and health assessment suppliers deliver the outcomes that the customer needs and play a vital part in shaping the future of contracted employment, Health and European Social Fund (ESF) payments and provisions.
The Directorate sits within DWPs Finance Group and works closely with a wide range of colleagues including DWP Operations, Commercial, Finance, Strategy and contracted suppliers.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Are you a health professional with experience of Work Capability Assessments (WCA) and Personal Independent Payment (PIP) health assessments and auditing assessment reports against agreed assessment criteria? Would you love the opportunity to join a team committed to the successful delivery of specialist services for some of the most vulnerable customers in the UK?
DWP are looking for a health professional to fill the role of Joint Head of Clinical Audit and Observations, in Contract Management and Partner Delivery Directorate (CMPD) Controls and Assurance Division (CAD).
CAD is responsible for the control’s environment for DWP’s suite of nationally contracted health assessment and employment support contracts working to ensure these contracts deliver value for money and protect the public purse, and great customer service.

The successful candidate will: -

• Be an active member of the CMPD senior leadership community, communicating a clear and compelling vision to teams, partners and suppliers, supporting delivery of CMPD and DWP aims and objectives and role modelling a culture that strives for excellence.
• Provide inspirational and visible leadership to a large team of health professionals, including DWP employees, secondees and contracted Health Care Professionals (HCPs), whilst actively promoting diversity and inclusion, and supporting staff health and wellbeing.
• Directly manage a team of PIP or WCA Lead Auditors supporting them to deliver a programme of Clinical audit and Clinical observations.
• Work with the Joint Head of Clinical Audit and Observations to develop and oversee the delivery of a clinical continuous professional development programme for Controls and Assurance Division (CAD) Health Professionals in order develop highly skilled Health Professionals and to ensure maintenance of registration with relevant accreditation bodies.
• Use robust knowledge and understanding of PIP and or WCA Health Assessments to provide expert clinical advice to support team members and wider DWP stakeholders.
• To maintain, develop and champion effective controls for DWP’s health assessment contracts including managing the delivery of audits and ensuring appropriate feedback is given to the Assessment suppliers with a keen focus on quality and delivery.
• Effectively work in partnership with other DWP teams and support a matrix management model to ensure the effective delivery of Clinical Observations.
• Develop and maintain robust processes to support the quality and consistency of clinical audits to support high standards of clinical practice.
• Embed the DWP Clinical Governance Quality and Standards to continuously improve the quality and consistency of the clinical audits delivered by CAD.

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL BE POSTED IN MERIT ORDER BASED ON YOUR LOCATION PREFERENCES AND THE GEOGRAPHICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE BUSINESS.

If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards
You will be asked for your preferences for up to 2 locations, these will tell us where you would prefer to work if you are successful. Please do not select a location unless you are prepared to accept a role in that location.
Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles here.

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)
• 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

Health Professionals