Vacancy -- Deputy Director Tackling Poverty and Supporting Families Division

Recruitment Principles

The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

Vacancy Details

Education, Social Justice and Welsh Language Group
Senior Civil Service 1
circa £73,000
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Permanent
Pan Wales

Closing Date

12/12/2022, 23:55

Purpose of Post

The Deputy Director Tackling Poverty and Supporting Families Division is a key role in delivering the Welsh Government’s ambitious agenda to maximise fairness for all and eliminate inequality at every level of society. The role focuses on important policy areas which can make a difference to people and communities in Wales.
This is a significant leadership role, leading a team of around 50 people, and working with stakeholders across the public and third sectors in Wales, with counterparts in other UK Governments. The post holder would also work in partnership with a number devolved and non-devolved public bodies.
The role covers the following main policy areas:
• Tackling poverty - including leading cross-government policy and delivery to mitigate the impacts of poverty in the here and now; and in the medium to longer term reduce the number of people in Wales experiencing poverty and build future resilience
• Cost of living - leading the policy response, identifying and developing mitigations with colleagues across Welsh Government and partner organisations
• Children’s rights - including implementation of the Children's Rights Measure and sponsorship of the Children's Commissioner
• Children's Plan - implementation of cross-Government Children's Plan
• Basic income pilot - influencing, shaping and providing strategic leadership and oversight of the implementation of the Basic Income pilot for care leavers
• Financial inclusion - including working closely with Money and Pension Service and other key stakeholders to develop and deliver measures that will build the financial wellbeing of people in Wales.
• Digital inclusion - leading across Welsh Government policy and delivery on digital inclusion as one of the major strands of the Welsh Government Digital Strategy
• Social welfare advice - leading on implementing the Welsh Government's Information and Advice Action Plan in partnership with the National Advice Network
• Families First - programme delivery and policy development of this multi-million early intervention and prevention programme, supporting the Families First co-ordinators network
• Children Wales Act - monitoring of the Act post commencement (leading to two post implementation reports at three and five years); working with a wide range of stakeholders including the police, police and crime commissioners, the CPS and Local Authorities; supporting parents and leading a high-profile communications campaign
• Parenting - building on progress to date, develop a long-term plan for universal parenting support, which embed an anti-racist approach; consider approaches to support parents in conflict (pre-court); develop Parenting: Give it time information, support and advice

DWP policy - providing the strategic lead for managing relationships and interaction with UK Government Department for Work and pensions and leading work to raise awareness and promote the take-up of welfare benefits, both devolved and non-devolved. Also includes consideration of the case for devolution of the administration of the benefits system


• Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) - cross-Welsh Government development of ACEs policy and implementation of the ACEs plan, ongoing support for the ACEs Support Hub and trauma informed ways of working
• Baby bundles - rollout of provision of baby bundles to families in Wales


Equality and Diversity

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.

Disability Confident

Welsh Government accepts the social definition of disability, in which it is recognised that barriers in society act to disable people who have impairments or health conditions or who use British Sign Language. We are committed to removing barriers so that all (or potential new staff) can perform at their best. The Equality Act 2010 uses the medical definition of disability (“a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term impact on a person’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities”).

We guarantee to interview anyone who is disabled whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post. By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that you must provide us with evidence in your application which demonstrates that you generally meet the level of competence for the role and any qualifications, skills or experience defined as essential. We are committed to the employment and career development of disabled people.

If you have an impairment or health condition, or use British Sign Language and need to discuss reasonable adjustments for any part of this recruitment process, or wish to discuss how we will support you if you were to be successful, please email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales as soon as possible and a member of the team will contact you to discuss your requirements and any questions you may have.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

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

Welsh Language Requirements

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.

Desirable
Can read some basic words and phrases with understanding
Can hold a basic conversation in Welsh
Can understand parts of a basic conversation
Can write basic messages on everyday topics

Social Partnership

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.

Assessment Process

Online Psychometric Tests - these will include numerical and verbal reasoning and a discussion with a psychologist. You will receive a link to these on-line tests within 10 working days from the shortlisting meeting.
If you have completed the online psychometric test in the last two years, for a post at the same grade, it will not be necessary for you to take these tests again for this particular recruitment exercise.
• Staff Engagement Exercise – these will take place 9 January 2023. Further details will follow.
• Panel Interviews & Presentation – these are scheduled for 17 and 19 January. These will also take place virtually via Microsoft Teams. Interviews will last around 45 minutes. The Panel will receive feedback on your psychometric tests and staff engagement exercise before you are interviewed. Your interview will consider how your skills and experience as outlined in your CV and personal statement meet the requirements of the role. Candidates will be given at least one week’s notice of the presentation topic. Please note that presentations are to be delivered without the use of hand-outs or electronic devices unless as part of a reasonable adjustment, however, you are welcome to use prompt cards.

How to apply

Completed application form, an up to date CV, together with a personal statement of suitability for the post should be submitted by the closing date.  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 SCSrecruitment@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format or if you need 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 Senior Civil Service recruitment process within the Welsh Government, please see the SCS Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link). Further guidance on Preparing Your Personal Statement (link) is also available.

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

Other information about the vacancy

17th and 19th of Jan, 2023
SCSRecruitment@gov.wales

This vacancy is closed to applications.