Overview

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.

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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. Position note: candidates requesting to work in Newcastle 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.

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DWP recruitment video (link is external)

Role context

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 DWP’s Finance Group and works closely with a wide range of colleagues including DWP Operations, Commercial, Finance, Strategy and contracted suppliers.

Qualifications

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) 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.

Responsibilities

• 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 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.