Recruitment services

Tender description

The Department of Health's Appointments Team manages the recruitment and selection process for Public Appointments that are made by the Secretary of State for Health. Ministers decide on whether or not to use executive search for these appointments and decisions are made on a case by case basis, dependent on the profile of the appointment and challenges to recruitment of a particular post. The need for search will be addressed on a case-by-case basis and each use of search will be subject to Ministerial clearance. The key deliverables are to identify, discuss with and encourage/support candidates to apply for key senior appointments. We wish to tender for a contract to start from on or shortly after the 1.9.2016 until 31.8.2017, plus optional extensions as described in this notice, which we can use for appointments requiring search support as and when needed. The Department of Health (DH) helps people to live better for longer. We lead, shape and fund health and care in England, making sure people have the support, care and treatment they need, with the compassion, respect and dignity they deserve. DH is a ministerial department, supported by 28 agencies and public bodies. The DH Appointments Team manages the recruitment and selection process for Public Appointments that are made by the Secretary of State for Health. Ministers decide on whether or not to use executive search for these appointments and decisions are made on a case by case basis, dependent on the profile of the appointment and challenges to recruitment of a particular post. Our appointments include high profile Chair and Non-Executive Director appointments to DH's Arms-Length Bodies, including for example, NHS England, NHS Improvement and the Care Quality Commission. To ensure open competitions attract the very best candidates and a wide and diverse field of applicants and for some campaigns target specialist groups, there is sometimes a need to use executive search to support a campaign. The Department of Health is looking for an organisation to provide primarily, executive search support for key public appointments. Support may also be required for any other appointment for which Ministers have an interest and agree that search support from the DH contract may be used. The Department's default position is not to use executive search when recruiting to public appointment. This also reflect the Government's general view, and the Minister for the Cabinet Office (whose permission to use Executive Search is required) will only agree to the limited use of search. However, there are occasions when Ministers may, as part of the wider recruitment process, choose to use executive search support to strengthen the candidate field. This can be particularly important for key national roles, for certain specialist roles and for engaging with hard to reach groups, where even targeted advertising and use of social media can have limited effect. Search can be particularly effective in engaging with senior figures in the commercial/private sector and generally with those whose experience is out of the health and social care sector. The Contract is expected to be for a period of up to 12 months commencing on or shortly after the 1.9.2016 until the 31.8.2017, with an optional extension of 2 periods of up-to a further 12 months for each additional period (maximum Contract length would be 36 months). Please refer to the Invitation to Tender documents for full details of the requirement. The Department of Health reserves the right to discontinue the tendering process and not to award the contract.