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
Chairs of the independent advisory panels for Part IX of the Drug Tariff
DHSC is looking to appoint 2 chairs to independent advisory panels (IAPs) for wave 1 renewals of Part IX of the Drug Tariff listings:
- chair of the Point of Care Testing and Hypodermic Equipment (POCT) panel, who would need specialist knowledge in medical devices used by people with diabetes
- chair of the Oral, Dental, Eye, Ear and Nasal Products (ODEEN) panel, who would need specialist knowledge in medical devices in either ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialty or ophthalmology
To date, medical devices for prescribing outside of hospitals have been listed indefinitely on Part IX of the Drug Tariff. DHSC is introducing renewals of listings and an enhanced assessment framework for products listed on Part IX of the Drug Tariff. As part of this enhanced assessment framework, DHSC is establishing IAPs. The role of IAPs is to review the quality of medical devices listed and to verify the placement of products in the recategorisation on the NHS Drug Tariff.
As the chair of an IAP, you will oversee the independent assessment of medical devices in line with the enhanced assessment framework and play a key role in establishing the advisory panel, in collaboration with DHSC. You will chair virtual moderation meetings with the panel members, ensuring consistency of approach, appropriate rationale for product scores and full consideration of patient input. The chair will also ensure minutes, provided by the secretariat, accurately reflect discussions.
To be considered, applicants need to demonstrate they have the qualities, skills and experience to meet all the essential criteria for appointment, including:
- experience reviewing clinical evidence
- the ability to chair meetings effectively, in particular with a number of experts with knowledge and experience in different complementary fields, to facilitate discussion among members relevant to the overall purpose of the discussion and to summarise the discussion accurately and succinctly
- the ability to work as an individual and as part of a team, with a positive and constructive style and good communication skills
- the ability to consider complex issues in the required clinical area and exercise sound judgement
- the applicant should not be tied to a commercial company in their primary professional function
The term of appointment will be up to 4 years (to assess new applications). Remuneration will be £400 per day for an estimated time commitment of around 40 days per year, but the majority of the hours are across a 2 month period for the renewal of existing listings. Due to the time commitment required, there may be an option to recruit 2 co-chairs for each of the panels. This time commitment is an estimate and may differ depending on the preferences of the chair in the running of the panel.
For further information see the candidate information pack below.
To apply, email your CV, supporting statement and completed monitoring form to appointments.team@dhsc.gov.uk.
If you require an alternative format call Daniel Clemence on 0113 254 5335 or Ben Jones on 0113 254 6557, quoting the reference EC1866.
The closing date for applications is midday on 23 September 2025.
Health Data Research Service - chair
The Health Data Research Service (HDRS) was announced by the Prime Minister in April 2025. It will be a new government-owned company set up to deliver a world-class service that will transform access to the UK’s health data. This is an ambitious and unprecedented initiative backed by up to £600 million of funding from the UK government and the Wellcome Trust, which will seek to make the UK’s health data assets interoperable and securely available to researchers to support innovations in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. We’re now beginning recruitment for senior positions to ensure the successful introduction of the service.
The chair will oversee the appointment of a board and chief executive, and the set-up, development and early implementation phase of the HDRS, ensuring that this pioneering organisation is set up for success. The chair will bring strategic oversight and experience in corporate governance, and will steer the early direction of the organisation, ensuring strong board leadership.
The role requires a combination of commercial awareness and financial discipline, data policy and sound governance, to deliver a step change in the UK’s provision of health data for research, driving a revolution in data-driven discovery and innovation.
The role is part-time (approximately 77 days a year) and paid at £50,000 a year plus expenses. The appointment will run from autumn 2025 to autumn 2028. The chair will report to the Department of Health and Social Care Permanent Secretary, so this role is accountable to ministers.
Green Park is managing the recruitment process for this role. See the application pack for details of how to apply. If you require further assistance when making this application, email Laura Blight (laura.blight@green-park.co.uk) and/or Darcie Stumpf (darcie.stumpf@green-park.co.uk) from our executive search partners, Green Park.
If you require an alternative format, email dhscscsrecruitment@dhsc.gov.uk.
The closing date for applications is 11:59pm on 21 September 2025.
Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC) - chair
The Department of Health and Social Care is looking to appoint a new chair to the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC).
The COC is an expert advisory committee that provides independent scientific advice to government departments and agencies on matters concerning carcinogenicity risks to humans and advises on whether substances are likely to cause cancer.
As chair of COC you will provide leadership to the committee to ensure that it works to achieve COC’s objectives in a way that reflects the most recent clinical and scientific advice while maintaining the highest standards in public life.
All applicants must be recognised scientific or medical experts with a track record of national or international achievement relevant to risk assessment for carcinogenicity and chemicals in the environment or food, which may be through an expertise in one of the following:
- cancer or medical toxicology
- environmental epidemiology relating to cancer
- risk assessment of potential carcinogenicity
In addition to the above, all applications must demonstrate:
- the ability to chair effective meetings, in particular with a number of experts with knowledge and experience in different complimentary fields, to facilitate discussion among members relevant to the overall purpose of the discussion and to sum up the discussion accurately and succinctly
- excellent communication skills, including to a number of audiences and being able to present consensus views on committee consideration
- sound judgment and sensitivity, together with a strong team approach
- excellent analytical skills and the ability to articulate scientific issues and information clearly, comprehensively and concisely
- a commitment to public health issues and public service values
The term of appointment will be 3 years with a time commitment of around 3 meetings per year with additional time for reading and preparation when required. There is no remuneration for this post but expenses will be paid in line with DHSC policy.
For further information please see the candidate information pack below. To apply please email your CV, supporting statement and completed monitoring form to appointments.team@dhsc.gov.uk.
If you require an alternative format, please call Karen Dinsdale on 0113 254 5625 quoting the reference ‘VAC - EC1864’.
The closing date for applications is midday on 16 September 2025.
Monitoring form
DHSC values and promotes diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community.
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.