1 year ago

194

One week ago, The United Kingdom Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) started advertising a job opening for a "Deputy Director, Delivery Lead - Covid Pass". See the advertisement here:
https://uk.linkedin.com/jobs/view/deputy-director-delivery-lead-covid-pass-at-department-of-health-and-social-care-3103198812

The advertisement mentions, "the Covid Pass Programme [is] a key strategic priority for DHSC and Her Majesty’s Government (HMG)".

Member of parliament Sir Desmond Swayne asked Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to explain this curious opening. Javid acknowledges, "the pass has stopped and there's absolutely no prospect I can see of ever it coming back into place".

So why are they still hiring someone? Javid's justification is completely unintelligible mumbo jumbo.

Desmond Swayne tweetet: "The Department of Health is advertising for a 'Deputy Director, Delivery Lead - Covid Pass.' I think Sajid was taken by surprise when I asked for an explanation…"
https://twitter.com/DesmondSwayne/status/1534525159763214338

In an update 2 hours later, Sayne tweeted: "I've just been told by @sajidjavid that the job advert has been pulled. Yipee!"
https://twitter.com/DesmondSwayne/status/1534567546745135104

It's highly unlikely that the job advert would have been pulled if Javid hadn't been caught red handed. There is absolutely no chance that this was an honest mistake, that the person responsible for hiring somehow had not received a memo that the COVID pass, a "key strategic priority", is dead and buried forever, and that, of course, all hiring for related positions should be stopped immediately.

NB: The advertisement mentions inclusivity twice, even though it's unrelated to COVID passes. Worse, COVID passes are a form of (unjustified) discrimination. They are about exclusion, i.e. the polar opposite of inclusivity. It's hypocritical to say you're inclusive of everyone (such as LGBTQ), and then exclude those who have opted out of an unnecessary toxic counterproductive invasive medical procedure.

For convenience and in case it is memory holed at some point in the future, I have copied the entire description of the job advertisement below. Text in all caps was in bold font in the original.

LOCATION - LEEDS OR LONDON

SALARY - £71,000

The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) works across public health, the NHS and adult social care, covering one of the widest remits in the public sector. It is responsible for ensuring everyone can access the health and care they need – from supporting people to have the best start in life to staying in good health and living as independently as they can. We are also central to the government’s response to COVID-19, the biggest challenge the country has faced in a lifetime leading on the delivery of vaccines, antivirals and testing, making this one of the most exciting, varied and challenging roles in communications.

Since May 2021 the NHS COVID Pass has been accessible to enable individuals to show their Covid Status for International Travel and domestically to access venues and events in the UK. On 21st February the Prime Minister announced the living with Covid Strategy, which sets out to remove certification requirements in England, but that the NHS COVID Pass would be required to access venues and events in the UK and for International Travel Purposes for the foreseeable future.

Covid Pass is an award-winning DHSC programme undertaking a complex transition whilst continuing to deliver a vital citizen service in a changing health landscape.

We’re building capacity in a team which has delivered award-winning services to the public during the Covid-19 pandemic. We work inclusively and collaboratively across the Health and social care family, building strong relationships with stakeholders including our ministers, DA colleagues, ALBs and Executive Agencies (EAs) to deliver exceptional, cutting edge solutions which enable UK citizens to live with Covid.

JOB DESCRIPTION

As Deputy Director, Delivery Lead you will use your exceptional stakeholder management to continue the work of Covid Pass in this inclusive, award-winning manner.

You will be a passionate advocate of future-proof technologies and will work with service management and policy colleagues to deliver the Covid Pass Programme, a key strategic priority for DHSC and Her Majesty’s Government (HMG). This is a high profile, complex programme which interacts with other departments, Devolved Administrations and public and private sector stakeholders.

You will have oversight for the further development, iteration and implementation of the programme delivery roadmap and for supporting teams to deliver successfully against agreed milestones on time and to quality standards.

You will have a flexible work ethic and professional resilience to change direction and re-prioritise at pace. You’ll provide leadership to a diverse and highly skilled team and network of colleagues, working well across government. You’ll lead your team to contribute to and deliver our strategy and vision.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

As Deputy Director, Delivery Lead you will provide excellent leadership, a confident approach and expert advice to enable the Delivery of this high profile programme. Key accountabilities in this varied role include;

• Leading a complex programme in an effective, positive and collaborative manner. Utilising skills gained whilst working delivering multi-agency programmes in a rapidly shifting environment and with significant scrutiny.

• Leading and managing diverse delivery teams to meet evolving requirements.

• Leading delivery planning and reporting, mitigating risks and resolving issues as they occur.

• Delivering the preparation and leading the programme closure, anticipated to finalise in Q4 2022/23

• Applying expert contextual knowledge of Covid-19, health and social care, travel and infrastructure priorities to enable effective strategic provision for the service.

• Deputise for the Programme Director as required, ensuring confidence in the programme and assuring stakeholders.

• Applying collaborative leadership in a team of teams environment alongside other Deputy Directors.

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