Specialist Neurodivergence Improvement Manager

Job summary

The post holder will join an integrated team working across health and social care established in 2021 to support neurodivergence policy with clinical knowledge and expertise and will work closely with the Head of Branch and collaboratively with policy leads, having direct management responsibility for members of the team.

They will have a lead role in continuing the delivery of the Neurodivergence Improvement Programme (NDIP). This will manage transforming services for neurodivergent children, young people and adults, including autism, ADHD and Tourettes Syndrome, and will provide additional support for their parents and carers.

The Programme responds to the findings of a demand and capacity review of all age ND conditions which was completed in March 2022. The review confirmed that demand was continuing to increase and waiting lists for assessment and support can be very long and growing, despite increased investment in autism services. There are also significant gaps in provision for many other ND conditions.

The Programme has specific work streams taking action to improve services, address gaps in provision and to promote a whole systems and person centred approach to future service design and delivery, with a focus on cross cutting priorities such as workforce, data improvement and digital innovation.

Programme delivery will be undertaken in partnership with the National Neurodivergence Team, hosted by the Welsh Local Government Association, which is expanding its remit to provide expertise across ND conditions and with NHS Performance and Improvement. There will be close working with Regional Partnership Boards, local authorities and health boards including existing services and with education Additional Learning Needs reform.

The Programme is overseen by a Neurodivergence Ministerial Advisory Group. The Group will oversee the work and report to the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being as neurodivergence sits with the Minister’s portfolio. Further to this, a Programme Board has been established to oversee and receive updates on the delivery of the Neurodivergence Improvement Programme.

Job description

• The post holder will have clinical experience and extensive knowledge of neurodivergence to support the cross-government delivery of the Neurodivergence Improvement Programme over the current Senedd term up to March 2028.
• Manage relationships with a wide range of external stakeholders including the NHS, 3rd Sector, Social Services, Regional Partnership Boards, education and employment.
• Work closely with the Lead for Neurodivergence in NHS P&I to facilitate the transformation of Neurodivergence services and systems in Wales.
• Work closely with NHS Performance and Improvement with regard to waiting times for children’s neurodevelopmental assessments.
• Establish systems to support people with lived experience of neurodivergence and their families and carers, including children and young people to be involved in programme delivery and to have regular opportunities to feed in their views on the progress being achieved.
• Develop and maintain programme documentation to monitor progress including a monitoring framework, risk register and finance monitoring.
• Establish and manage the Programme Board to monitor and report on progress in the three work streams, delivering verbal and written updates as required.
• Develop strong collaborative relationships with work stream leads who are responsible for the delivery of the actions, establishing a regular exchange of information on progress in delivering the priorities identified.
• Oversee and manage the Secretariat for the Neurodivergence Ministerial Advisory Group, including preparing update papers and regular communication with group members.
• Provide and deliver regular progress reports to the Ministerial Advisory Group, Programme Board and to the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being.
• Manage and monitor programme budget.
• Draft briefings, statements, correspondence and other ministerial business in relation to the programme.

Person specification

Understand the wider policy and legislative context and processes within Welsh Government.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

ob Specific Criteria

Essential

1. Substantial clinical expertise and hands‑on experience within neurodevelopmental services, demonstrating an in‑depth understanding of diagnostic pathways, multidisciplinary practice, and the needs of neurodivergent children, young people, and adults and their families.

1. Proven experience in delivering local government and health board policy commitments, including the ability to monitor, analyse and report progress, provide evidence‑based advice, and manage deadlines across a complex programme of work.
2. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide range of partners and professionals, including clinical teams, policy officials, third‑sector organisations and senior stakeholders to drive forward programme objectives.
3. Strong ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously, balancing clinical, operational and policy considerations, and responding flexibly to competing demands.
4. Excellent written communication skills, with experience producing high‑quality papers, briefings, and formal government communications relating to clinical services and policy.

Desirable

1. Knowledge and experience of working with Regional Partnership Boards and working across health boards, local authorities, education and the voluntary sector.
2. An awareness of neurodevelopmental conditions, working with neurodiverse people and in the Welsh Government neurodivergence policy context.
3. Ability to communicate in Welsh

• In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: Behaviour: Making Effective Decisions. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
• This is a temporary seconded post that is expected to end on 31/03/2028.
• The following qualities are desirable and will only be considered if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage:
  • Knowledge and experience of working with Regional Partnership Boards health boards, local authorities, education and the voluntary sector.
  • An awareness of neurodevelopmental conditions, working with neurodiverse people and in the Welsh Government neurodivergence policy context.
  • Ability to communicate in Welsh.
• A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
• This opportunity will be a secondment to Welsh Government, and the successful candidate will remain on their employer’s terms and conditions of service and current basic salary.
• You must obtain prior agreement from your employer to be released on secondment before applying. Please ensure you have line management approval.
• During the secondment, you will remain on the terms, conditions, and payroll of your home organisation.
• Inward secondees are not eligible for Welsh Government pay awards or rewards.
• There will be occasions when attendance at one of Welsh Government’s office is required and travel to other locations across Wales.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : neurodiversity@gov.wales
• Email : neurodiversity@gov.wales

Recruitment team

• Email : SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales