Working for DHSC
We offer a varied, exciting, challenging and rewarding working environment.
Previous experience in a government department is not essential: our staff have backgrounds in the voluntary, public and private sectors.
Jobs at the Department of Health and Social Care
We are currently recruiting to a variety of roles. Visit the Civil Service Jobs website for more details and to apply.
All Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) jobs are advertised on the Civil Service Jobs website. We also advertise in national and local media.
Vacancies on DHSC’s expert committees and other non-standard advisory roles are listed below. If there are no vacancies listed below, then we are not currently recruiting to any roles on our expert committees.
Vacancies on the boards of our arm’s length bodies are listed on the Public Appointments website.
DHSC values and promotes diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity for all.
Pay
We provide:
- a competitive salary that is reviewed annually
- the opportunity to earn performance awards
- an occupational pension when you join DHSC
Employee benefits and rewards
Employee benefits and rewards include:
- an employee discount scheme
- childcare vouchers or tax-free childcare scheme for eligible employees
- an employee assistance programme providing confidential advice, information and counselling
- the option to join a trade union
- an in-year award scheme for one-off exceptional personal or team achievements
- sick leave on full pay, followed by half pay, up to the maximum allowed by the relevant scheme
Flexibility
Flexibilities include:
- up to 30 days annual leave and 9 days public and privilege leave in a year (pro rata for part-time staff)
- time off to deal with emergencies, unexpected situations and certain other unplanned special circumstances
- paid time off for public service duties, for example if you are an armed forces reservist
- family-friendly policies, including flexible working patterns
- flexible working hours, subject to business needs
Family-friendly policies
Eligible employees are entitled to:
- maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
- paternity leave of up to 2 weeks full pay
Development and career opportunities
We offer:
- rewarding and challenging jobs to help you develop and reach your potential
- a comprehensive range of learning and development opportunities to help you develop your skills, knowledge and experience
Boards and committees
National Cancer Board - National Clinical Lead for Rare Cancers
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is looking to appoint a National Clinical Lead for Rare Cancers. The National Clinical Lead will have a clear mandate to speak up for rare cancers, and to provide clinical advice and support for the delivery of the actions in this chapter. They will sit on the reformed National Cancer Board (NCB) and will play an important advisory role in supporting and monitoring delivery commitments set out in the National Cancer Plan.
The National Cancer Plan for England (launched February 2026) is a 10-year strategy aiming to transform cancer survival rates to meet international standards by 2035. The National Cancer Plan has a significant number of delivery commitments agreed by ministers. One of the commitments is to give rare cancers real parity. The role of the National Clinical Lead for Rare Cancers will be to hold the department and partners accountable to the commitments on rare cancers, to marshal progress, and to build salience and profile.
As the National Clinical Lead for Rare Cancers, you will work with other members of the reformed NCB, providing robust challenge and overseeing the delivery of the commitments in the National Cancer Plan. Your role will also include engaging with the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR)’s Rare Cancer Research Delivery Network National Specialty Lead, on making increasing research into rare cancers a priority. You will be part of NHS England’s Clinical Advisory Priorities Group, led by the National Clinical Director for Cancer, Professor Peter Johnson.
You will be responsible for:
- speaking up for rare cancers, to ensure they have real parity with more common cancers
- providing clinical advice and support for the delivery of National Cancer Plan actions on rare and less common cancers
- providing active advice and support to the NCB, including monitoring and reviewing performance against delivery milestones
Person specification
DHSC and NHS England value and promote diversity. We encourage applications from individuals from all backgrounds.
To be considered, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the following qualities, skills and experience to meet all the essential criteria for the appointment:
- a deep understanding of rare cancers, with proven clinical expertise and experience in a relevant field
- the ability to influence and provide challenge across organisational boundaries
- a good understanding of how the healthcare system, research sector and NHS work, to be able to provide credible challenge and provide ministers with clear and practical advice
- confidence with data, including championing better data for smaller populations
- the ability to command confidence from clinicians, researchers, charities and patient groups
- pragmatism and a delivery focus, to guide the delivery of practical improvements in the short to medium term
It is desirable that you have good networks within relevant organisations across the health sector and cancer charities.
Time commitment and pay
It is anticipated that there will be 1 or 2 programmed activities per month, which is about 8 to 10 days over the next 12 months.
NCB meetings will be held quarterly.
The pay is £475 per day.
To apply, send a CV and supporting statement to ncb@dhsc.gov.uk.
The closing date for applications is 11:59pm on 31 May 2026.
Monitoring form
DHSC values and promotes diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community. The boards of public bodies should reflect the population they are there to serve. Boards also benefit from fresh perspectives, and we are always keen to encourage candidates new to public appointments to consider applying for our roles.
Complete the monitoring form as part of your application. You can complete it in Word or PDF.
Jobs in the NHS
If you’re interested in working for the NHS, see the NHS Jobs website.