Candidate Information Pack Contents Strategy About us MHCLG

Candidate Information Pack

Contents Strategy About us MHCLG

Welcome Strategy About us MHCLG Our mission We aim to help be the coordinating ‘glue’ that helps councils to develop the common digital ‘plumbing’ or foundations that require central stimulus and political support to become a reality. ● We will highlight the common digital standards, patterns and components that are under development and that councils should be implementing; ● We will lead on the delivery of some of these collaborative digital products, developing the collaboration methodology and infrastructure that supports this; ● We will help councils to break the hold of legacy IT suppliers on their service architecture and data, enable them to work more flexibly, safely and securely with new companies, partners and community groups; ● We’ll partner with our local council partners to deliver inclusive, user-centric and ‘end-to-end digital’ services that offer value for money and positive social and environmental impact.

Welcome Strategy About us MHCLG Our programme The foundations of our programme will be based on the following deliverables; ● Convening a business to business campaign to re-energise the Local Digital agenda ● Building an overview of which collaborative projects aim to produce open standards, patterns and common components for local public services; ● Providing opportunities to meet up and identify opportunities for collaboration ● Delivering some exemplar standards projects, curating the methodology according to which councils can develop common tools and standards ● Advocating for better data-sharing and reporting agreements and API infrastructure with key central government departments.

Welcome Strategy About us MHCLG Our Department MHCLG is a dynamic, professional and diverse Government Department If you are interested in truly making a difference you are looking in the right place! It’s an exciting time to be joining MHCLG on our journey

Welcome Strategy About us MHCLG Our Department Melanie Dawes is our Permanent Secretary and is: Head of the Department, responsible for its overall leadership and effective day-to-day running Chief Policy Adviser to the Secretary of State and the ministerial team, supporting them to develop and achieve their priorities Principal Accounting Officer, responsible and accountable to Parliament for the stewardship of the department’s budget and for ensuring value for money. Our Single Department Plan provides a clear focus on what MHCLG aims to deliver over the course of this parliament. People are our biggest asset - the expertise and professionalism demonstrated by our people is impressive. In 2016, we launched our new People Plan which sets out our new core curriculum, a great career offer, and our plans to further improve diversity and inclusion.

Welcome Strategy About us MHCLG Our Department Key areas of delivery Responsible for delivering key elements of MHCLG’s Single Department Plan: • • • Local Government and Public Services (LGPS) Housing Decentralisation and Growth Enabling functions These areas provide the support so that the areas above can function effectively: • • • Strategy, Communications and Private Office (SCPO) People, Capability and Change (PC&C) Finance, Information, Records, Shared Services and Technology (FIRST)

Welcome Strategy About us MHCLG Our offer to you MHCLG People Plan and You Originally launched in 2016, our People Plan ensured MHCLG has skilled, talent, committed diverse and high-performing people supported by effective leaders. Through the People Plan we have made some important choices about the things that will really make a difference to the way we work. We have chosen to: • Become a more flexible organisation • Become a more permeable organisation with increased loans and secondments in and out • Tailor our learning and development to the needs of MHCLG • Place a specific focus on diversity and inclusion • Continue to support our people to grow their careers and maximise their achievements.

Welcome Strategy About us MHCLG Our offer to you Core Curriculum - Building Capability and Professional Development The MHCLG Core Curriculum groups and connects the broad learning and development offers available across the Civil Service with the needs of MHCLG – through learning that we design and deliver ourselves. With the contents set-out in one easy to access space, over 600 learning and development opportunities have been delivered so far through the Core Curriculum. Opportunities through the Core Curriculum include: • Profession-based learning such as, Policy, Finance and Project Management • Health, Wellbeing and Resilience training • IT Software and Tool-based learning • Talks from a diverse group of people on various topics, such as leadership, wellbeing, politics, historic and current events. The Core Curriculum is designed to complement the vast array of additional resources available through the Civil Service Learning Curriculum which includes: • A self-assessment tool to help identify training needs • Opportunities to participate in coaching and/or mentoring • Support (including up to 6 days leave per year) to participate in volunteering opportunities • Opportunities to attend professional learning courses MHCLG supports everyone to achieve their ambitions at every stage of their working life. We provide learning, development and experiences to give people rewarding jobs. There is an offer for everyone to develop their experience and career in MHCLG.

Welcome Strategy About us MHCLG Our offer to you What else can we offer? As part of MHCLG, you will have access to many other benefits including: ● Access to flexible working options (please note these are offered subject to business need). MHCLG offers a range of flexible working options. One of these is the Flexi time scheme which allows employees to work flexible hours around business needs. Our technology enables home and remote working options too. Many employees work for us on a part-time or job-share basis. ● Access to season ticket loans allowing employees to pay for season tickets in more affordable instalments. ● Two childcare vouchers schemes; Salary Plus where MHCLG will contribute towards childcare costs and Salary Sacrifice which enables employees to purchase childcare vouchers through their salaries pre tax and NI deductions. ● Salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme ● Access to a rental deposit scheme (which is a loan to help employees pay for their rental deposits in instalments). ● Access to the Civil Service Pension Schemes ● Access to a benefits scheme with a variety of discounts and special offers available. *Please note that varied eligibility criteria applies to each benefit offered in accordance with MHCLG terms and policies.

Welcome Strategy About us MHCLG Equal Opportunities Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government values equality and diversity in employment. We are committed to being an organisation in which fairness and equality of opportunity is central to the approach in business and working relationships and where the organisational culture reflects and supports these values. MHLG operates the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) which sees all GIS applicants meeting the minimum standard invited to interview. If applicants who consider themselves as having a disability meet the minimum criteria for the post, they get an interview automatically. In MHCLG you have the right to a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation regardless of race, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, working hours, trade union membership or trade union activity. Complaints If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact recruitment@communities. gsi. gov. uk

Welcome Strategy About us MHCLG Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles Civil Service Code Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. The Civil Service Commission has two primary functions: As a Civil Servant, you are appointed on merit on the basis of fair and open competition and are expected to carry out your role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service and its core values. For more information on the Civil Service please visit the website here • Providing assurance that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. • Hearing and determining appeals made by Civil Servants under the Civil Service Code which sets out the Civil Service values – Honesty, Integrity, Impartiality and Objectivity. • More detailed information can be found at the Civil Service Commission website Official Secrets Act The post is covered by the Official Secrets Act. Candidates must exercise care in the use of official information acquired in the course of official duties, and not disclose information which is held in confidence.

Welcome Strategy About us MHCLG Conflicts of Interest • Candidates must declare any interests they may have that might cause questions to be raised about their approach to the business of the Department. • They are required to declare any relevant business interests, shareholdings, positions of authority, retainers, consultancy arrangements or other connections with commercial, public or voluntary bodies, both for themselves and for their spouses/partners. • The successful candidate will be required to give up any conflicting interests and his/her other business and financial interests may be published.