IMPORTANT NOTE:

Successful candidates for roles based in our 2 Marsham Street building must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check and the process can take up to 8 weeks to complete.

You are therefore required to complete the attached Annex A form (PART A ONLY) and either email the signed version directly to hrsharedservices@communities.gsi.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can post the completed form to MHCLG HR, Ground Floor, Rosebrae Court, Woodside Ferry Approach, Birkenhead, CH41 6DU. This will be processed in cases only where the candidate should be successful in applying for the post. The remainder will be securely destroyed.

Please note that successful candidates will need to pass the CTC security checks – this requires you to have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years. Please refer to the attached document “MHCLG Notes on Security Clearance” for further information on Counter Terrorism Clearance (CTC). Thank you.

Overview of the area of work:

The Local Government and Public Services Group in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for a diverse range of policy interests, chiefly in relation to local government, communities and integration, and emergencies and resilience.

We are looking for enthusiastic Policy Advisors for operational roles (HEOs) to help deliver our agenda in creating stronger local public services and more cohesive communities.

The group is responsible for the stewardship and funding of Local Government and supporting improvements in the effectiveness of the services they provide – working with other departments across Whitehall to help to ensure that local authorities have the funding, scrutiny and support to deliver effectively for their communities.

This includes:

• Meeting manifesto included commitments to deliver significant reforms to the system of Local Government finance;

• Response and recovery from a range of emergencies, including Grenfell recovery and resilience capability programme;

• The delivery of the Troubled Families programme;

• Integration and Faith to increase community cohesion; and

• The Group has shared policy responsibility for Adult Social Care, Victim Unit and Children’s Services.

We are an outward-looking group that works closely with cross Whitehall departments to help ensure that Government’s priorities for Local Government, Integration are delivered.

There are opportunities to work across the Group to take forward policy development on a range of ministerial priorities.

The roles are spread across the Group's five directorates:

• Local Government Policy and Troubled Families: Leads on the department’s policy towards the Local Government sector. We work to support the sector by ensuring its sustainability and to help it deliver more effectively, and oversee the Secretary of State’s interventions into particular local authorities . We also have responsibility for understanding the impacts that the UK’s departure from the EU will have on Local Government. The Troubled Families programme is working to take a holistic view of the needs of the most vulnerable families and help authorities design more joined up services to better meet their needs.

• Local Government Finance: Empower Local Authorities to deliver services and support local economies, through providing credible and stable systems that enable financial sustainability and accountability, providing value for the tax payer. This is based on policy responsibility for over £50b in locally collected tax, through business rates and council tax.

• Recovery and Resilience: Supports local areas in readiness, response and recovery from a range of emergencies. It includes the department’s Grenfell recovery programme, Grenfell public inquiry response team, and the Resilience and Emergencies Division (RED).

• Integration and Communities: The directorate unites all teams with an interest in integration, including migration and faith engagement.

These are exciting and challenging roles that will help shape the way that Local Public Services and operational resilience and emergencies activities are delivered.

The roles are likely to involve opportunities to work with Ministers and Senior Officials across Whitehall, Local Government, as well as working and engaging with a wide range of external strategic partners.

The roles will cover a range of policy areas, but core responsibilities may include:

• Leading on specific areas of work;

• Policy and strategy development and implementation through project and programme management;

• Cross-government brokerage to resolve key barriers to delivery;

• Demonstrating excellent communications and stakeholder management skills;

• Collaborating with other policy teams to identify policy impacts;

• Planning and managing a range of interconnected activities in order to independently research and draw conclusions on your policy areas;

• Providing accurate, concise and robust submissions and briefings to Ministers; and

• For resilience posts - take part in an on – call rota providing out of hours cover, including public and bank holidays (up to 4 weeks per year).

The work is high profile, fast-paced and requires working closely with the Department’s Board and Ministers, and with other Whitehall Departments, particularly No. 10, Cabinet Office and the Treasury.

We are looking for candidates with varied skill sets who want to be involved in leading, developing and delivering Local Government Policy. Successful candidates will be key members of their divisions; working to shape, support and deliver the government policy.

Selection Process Details:

At sift we will assess:

• Leading and communicating (lead competency)

• Making effective decisions

• Collaborating and partnering

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead competency 'leading and communicating' first, and only if you meet the required standard for that particular competency, we will sift against the other competencies.

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of competency and strength based questions.

All competencies listed will be tested at interview.