Health Ethics (Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority) Sponsorship and Assisted Conception - Policy Manager
The Quality, Safety and Investigations Directorate is responsible for assuring the quality, safety and effectiveness of NHS services and supporting improvements. The directorate is made up of around 100 FTE, of which c. 20 work on Inquiries at arm's length to the department. There are four Deputy Director (DD) led teams in the directorate: Quality, Safety and Investigation (QSI) Analytical Team; Death Certification, Clinical Negligence and Indemnity; Quality, Patient Safety and Investigations; and Health Ethics.
This role, Health Ethics Policy Manager, sits within the Health Ethics team, who are responsible for Blood, Organs and Human Tissue, Ethics of Consent, Rare Diseases and emerging technologies associated with human genetics, sponsorship of three Arm's Length Bodies (NHS Blood and Transplant and the Human Tissue Authority and the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority), Sponsorship of the David Fuller Inquiry and the Infected Blood response to the Health recommendations.
This exciting role offers the opportunity to join a small team in a really interesting area of DHSC policy around human fertilisation and embryology, wider assisted conception issues and flexibility to work on wider Health Ethics issues as they arise. The Health Ethics team consists of around 20 FTE and the immediate team working on human fertilisation and embryology currently consists of a Grade 7 and SEO. The team broadly covers Arm’s Length Body (ALB) sponsorship, related policy delivery and guardianship of the underpinning legislation. You will use your skills to develop a close and trusted relationship with colleagues at all levels in the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA), at a time of change.
You will work with DHSC colleagues in policy and sponsor roles and with other Government Departments that have an interest and deliver through bodies such as NHS England to achieve your goals. You will proactively engage with a broad range of external stakeholders, including charities, researchers and industry and will need strong skills in handling often sensitive issues carefully whilst effectively representing departmental policy. You will ensure that the needs of patients are well understood and built into policy making.
Person specification
Motivated, self-starter with an ability to take initiative, work independently, design and drive forward projects and deliver through others. You will have strong attention to detail, an ability to work effectively with lawyers and subject matter experts to carefully build an evidence base, policy options and case for change. You will combine this with an ability to engage across a wide range of stakeholders to build consensus and make system wide improvements.
You will be flexible and agile to supporting the wider Health Ethics team if required and there is opportunity to get involved in wider work of the team if desired.
You will
Ensure effective sponsorship of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, providing the secretariat function for the department.
Work closely with lawyers to ensure that the current legislation is defended against legal challenge, dealing effectively with often sensitive topics.
Take forward policy development work on key topics such as law reform and access to fertility services.
Lead on a large volume of reactive work, Parliamentary business, legal challenges and communication requests in a high-profile area of interest for the media are effectively responded to.
Essential:
Motivated, self-starter with an ability to design and drive forward projects, and deliver through others
Proven project management skills and an ability to transform a vision into a pragmatic, time-bound and deliverable workplan
Excellent communication skills (written and oral) with a proven ability to persuade and influence others and the ability to effectively build professional networks and work with a wide range of stakeholders across organisational and geographical boundaries.
Strong abilities to respond rapidly to provide briefing across a range of technical areas for different, non-specialist audiences.
Robust analytical skills with an ability to take information and evidence from a variety of sources and to make policy recommendations on the basis of a range of complex evidence and data.
A good understanding of the health and care environment
Flexible and adaptable to change.
Desirable:
Track record of working with lawyers and developing legislation
Experience of arm’s length body sponsorship
History of working with NHS England to deliver improvements to services
Interest in assisted conception and fertility.
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