Vacancy -- Healthcare Inspector

'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.

To gather and use intelligence within the investigations team and respond to concerns / regulatory notifications to help ensure that HIW activities focus on patient safety and quality and drive improvement in healthcare services across Wales.

To support the delivery of a programme of inspection, reviews and/or regulatory activity in a timely manner and to a professional standard.

To manage and participate in teams (which could comprise HIW staff and/or external reviewers from a variety of backgrounds) to deliver inspections and investigations to a professional standard.

HIW Healthcare Inspectors will be expected to work flexibly across teams delivering inspection, reviews or regulatory activity and this is reflected in the range of tasks below. During their career they will be encouraged and supported to gain experience across the range of HIW functions. This may include rotation into the Partnerships, Intelligence and Methodology branch.

Post-specific tasks (the role will not necessarily include all of these tasks at the same time)

Intelligence gathering and use:

• To collaborate with the other inspection, regulation and review teams, and with other stakeholders as appropriate, in identifying and sharing information and developing the evidence base for HIW’s work.
• To work with the Intelligence and Methodology teams to develop and test the range of tools and products used as part of a HIW’s inspection and review work.
• Where appropriate, liaise with complainants directly and where necessary meet with them to discuss their concerns, so that the information they hold can be gathered and a judgement made as to whether their concerns give rise to safeguarding and/or immediate patient safety issues or provide evidence of systemic failure.
• On an on-going basis, use the information and intelligence gathered from various sources to undertake risk assessments of the systems and services operating at various levels across NHS Wales, within Health Boards and Trusts, Independent Healthcare Organisations and services to make recommendations for action by HIW.   Such action may include referral of concerns to another body that is better placed to address the matter or area of concern.

Planning and delivery

To support the overall management and co-ordination of the agreed annual programme of activity for the team which could include:

• Developing the scope and approach for inspections/reviews ensuring that there is the correct focus and best use of skills and resource
• Leading, organising and managing the delivery of individual inspections and reviews in line with agreed timescales and budgets.
• Scheduling activities and collecting the evidence required in line with the standards and procedures set by HIW
• Processing registrations, variations, queries and deregistration according to legislative requirements and HIW policies and guidance
• Leading, organising and undertaking, in conjunction with specialist reviewers where applicable, all necessary interviews, inspections and checks required in considering applications for registration and to prepare regulatory recommendations and decisions for approval by the Head of Independent Healthcare.

To undertake work as appropriate to respond to emerging healthcare issues and concerns during the year which could include:

• planning, designing, organising and leading reviews and inspections, including high profile pieces of work.
• ensuring that the evidence for any potential enforcement action is prepared in line with the relevant regulatory framework and HIW policies and procedures.
• To work as part of review team as required.

Reporting and follow-up

• To document and report on findings, and draft reports that are fit-for-purpose, of high quality and suitable for publication in the public domain. For many of HIW's reports easy read versions, or alternative formats that meet the specific needs of individuals may be required.
• To contribute to media and press events that communicate HIW’s inspection programme and findings.
• To collaborate with others to ensure that any shortcomings identified during reviews and inspections are followed-up appropriately.

Personal impact

• To ensure that there is effective communication with NHS and independent healthcare providers.
• To work with key stakeholders including colleagues within HIW, Welsh Government, Healthcare Providers, other Inspectorates and healthcare professions to share information and work together to improve healthcare services.

Common tasks

• To manage, support and appraise staff, through established WG processes.
• To work collaboratively with colleagues throughout HIW.
• To contribute and develop the corporate activities of HIW.
• To manage their own continuing professional development and the development of their team members
• To uphold HIW's mission, purpose, role and values

This post is part of the Healthcare Inspectors’ Profession. You will be expected to devise, maintain and follow an appropriate professional development plan and to undertake learning mandated by HIW.

30/11/2020, 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 an impairment 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 an impairment 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.