Vacancy -- Assistant Head of NHS Planning and Engagement

'Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location, but requests will be taken into consideration.

The team continuously strives to develop the Welsh NHS planning system, and to support the development of planning skills in NHS Wales. The purpose of the post is to support quality in everything we do, maintaining high standards, supporting the planning team and senior colleagues to deliver best practice in NHS planning and delivery.

Reporting to the Head of Operational and Strategic Planning, and accountable to the Planning Programme Director, the post holder will lead the programme management, implementation and evaluation of the NHS Wales Planning Academy.

Responsibilities will include: Programme management of the NHS Wales Planning Academi, supporting the successful delivery of Welsh Government planning processes and activities, the provision of Ministerial advice, liaison with external stakeholders and partners, and representation of the Welsh Government at meetings and events.

The context within which this post sits is that the NHS Finance (Wales) Act 2014 established planning as the bedrock of health services in Wales. A clear planning cycle is now in place, underpinned by legislation and backed up by strong Ministerial and NHS Wales processes and commitment. The arrangements have bedded in over the past four years, and progress made has been recognised in audit reports.

However, there has been increasing recognition of the need to develop and strengthen planning skills within NHS Wales to ensure a talent pipeline and to drive planning skills throughout NHS organisations. Funding has been obtained to support the implementation of a Planning Academy which will provide a post graduate diploma, master classes, conferences, and will continue to support bi-annual learning events, which are now an established part of the NHS Wales planning community’s timetable.

The Assistant Head of Planning and Engagement will work closely with the Planning Programme Director and the Head of Operational and Strategic Planning within Welsh Government to:

• Develop a programme of work to further strengthen the planning system;
• Engage with Directors and Assistant Directors of Planning to develop schemes, activities and events under the brand of the Planning Academy;
• Design and deliver a calendar of planning skills events for NHS Wales organisations, and their partners where appropriate;
• Lead the tendering process to select an academic provider for the post graduate diploma in health planning
• Work closely with the chosen provider and the NHS planning community to implement the post graduate diploma in health planning
• Lead a process to ensure robust monitoring and evaluation of the post graduate diploma
• Make regular reports to Directors of Planning and Welsh Government (including the Cabinet Secretary) on progress with implementation
• Support the development and issuing of the annual NHS Planning Framework, which provides guidance on Integrated Medium Term Plans.
• Support the Welsh Government assessment, approval and monitoring processes for Integrated Medium Terms Plans, providing updates and advice to Ministers and senior Welsh Government officials, including Executive Director Team and Planning Board as appropriate.
• Support understanding of NHS planning across the Group and updating officials on planning skills developments.
• Ensure planning work adopts the sustainable development principles set out in the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (WbFGA).
• Engagement with NHS organisations, and other external stakeholders as appropriate, to inform the further development and maturity of the Integrated Medium Term Planning cycle.

This is a challenging and high profile post working closely with senior colleagues in Welsh Government and the NHS.

• Lead a comprehensive programme of work focused on strengthen planning skills and capacity across NHS Wales, working with the Planning Programme Director, Directors and Assistant Directors of Planning, the wider NHS, Finance Academy, WEDS, Academi Wales and other key partners;
• Lead the tendering process, developing and agreeing specification, measures of success and selection criteria with Directors of Planning and the Planning Programme Director;
• Lead the implementation of the post graduate diploma in health planning, working closely with the NHS planning community, the Planning Programme Director, and the chosen provider for the training course;
• Support the Planning Academy working group, chairing meetings, recording actions and ensuring progress;
• Make regular reports to the Directors of Planning on progress with the Planning Academi
• Further develop and strengthen engagement with Directors and Assistant Directors of Planning, to embed the Planning Academy;
• Develop a programme of events, master classes and conferences in conjunction with Welsh Government, Delivery Unit and NHS Wales planning community
• Ensure recommendations for master classes and conferences are within budget;
• Ensure that work to develop the planning academy is inclusive and engages with key stakeholders both within Welsh Government and within the NHS in Wales.
• Develop and lead a programme of communication and engagement activities to underpin the planning academy programme, including development of websites, social media and joint working with finance and workforce colleagues;
• Develop and oversee proposals to participate in the All Wales Public Sector Graduate pilot scheme, including line management of the Graduate during their placement in the Welsh Government Planning Team and providing support throughout their training;
• Contribute to the development of the annual NHS Planning Framework;
• Engage in and contribute to the assessment process of LHB and Trust Medium Term Plans, identifying opportunities to address gaps in planning skills.
• Utilise the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act sustainable development principles (five ways of working) to exploit NHS planning opportunities.

• Experience of working in a fast moving and cross cutting policy area within Health & Social Services Group in Welsh Government.
• Opportunity to engage and influence at Executive Director, and Assistant Director level in NHS Wales.
• Opportunity to engage with senior colleagues within Welsh Government.
• Opportunity to further develop leadership, communication and influencing skills and experience.
• Opportunity to gain understanding of legislation and policy development within Welsh Government.
• Opportunity to share knowledge and expertise about NHS Wales and planning within Welsh Government.

08/08/2018, 16:00

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

• UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

• Nationality rules – GOV.UK

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

• Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
• Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
• For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
• Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have a disability which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to a disability in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.