Candidate Information Pack

Job title:                          Digital Innovation Apprentice

Pay band:                       AO (Fixed Term)

Vacancy reference:         TBD

Closing date:                  TBD


 


Welcome message from Claire Harrison

If you take a medicine, use a medical device or are given a vaccine in the UK, MHRA will have played a role in making sure it is safe and effective. Digital technology has the potential to make a profound contribution to this work by providing our people and our customers with the digital tools they need.

The MHRA’s Technology, Digital, Data and Delivery team, TD3, is responsible for making sure that our scientists, inspectors and all of our staff have the tools they need to deliver the very best serivces we can to continually improve outcomes for patients and our customers. 

Our Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Strategy is a broad and exciting porfolio of change, delivering new products that have the potential to transform the Agency’s entire operations and responds to the interconnected and complex challenges we face:

  • the constantly changing landscape in which our customers operate, and the need to improve our services to patients and the public
  • the need to respond to our changing relationship with Europe when designing our products and services
  • to reduce our operational and change costs
  • the pressing need to change our digital services and transition away from our aging IT systems.
    We believe in designing products and services around our customers and delivering in a way where we combine digital and technology change, project delivery, business process, product management and cultural change together. We have made excellent progress in recent years and have many of the delivery and digital building blocks in place: new digital platforms have been implemented, and we are now starting to develop Cloud native products using open source, containers and service mesh. Our next challenge is to develop, integrate and manage the products and services our customers and teams need to maximise impact and ensure sustainability.
    We have work with an exciting mix of commercial partners who share our vision and have created a great delivery-focused working environment. Our apprentices are a critical part of our commitment to grow our own talent and build skills in house and they work closely with civil servants, contractors and service providers, getting to see the full range of activities that we deliver within TD3.
    We hold our divisional behaviours close to our hearts and aim to: be data-driven in everything we do, use evidence-based continuous improvement techniques; help our customers succeed by ensuring their needs are the focus of our delivery; and maximise our connections with each other by treating everyone fairly and ensuring we all understand our connection to the bigger picture.
    Over the next few years, we will build on the successes of the infrastructure upgrades and digital platforms, and further engage with patients, the public and those we regulate when developing new products and services.
    We aim to be at the heart of one of the most digitally advanced medical regulators in the world, but we need partners who can help us mature and grow and to deliver the services we need.  TD3 is a great place to build your technology career and we are committed to enabling all of our people to do the best work of our lives.

Claire Harrison
Chief Technical Officer - Technology | Digital | Data | Delivery
About the Agency

Our mission, as a world-leading scientific organisation, is to enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.

Our diverse range of over 1,200 staff includes some of the best medical and scientific experts in the world and they have a direct impact on the lives of millions of people, not just in the UK but across the globe.  Over the past two years the MHRA has been at the forefront the approval of vaccines to help combat the Covid-19 pandemic and it is a widely trusted and respected organisation for all of its scientific work.

We are an executive agency, sponsored by the Department of Health.  We are responsible for:

  • ensuring that medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion meet applicable standards of safety, quality and efficacy
  • ensuring that the supply chain for medicines, medical devices and blood components is safe and secure
  • promoting international standardisation and harmonisation to assure the effectiveness and safety of biological medicines
  • helping to educate the public and healthcare professionals about the risks and benefits of medicines, medical devices and blood components, leading to safer and more effective use
  • supporting innovation and research and development that’s beneficial to public health
  • influencing UK, EU and international regulatory frameworks so that they’re risk-proportionate and effective at protecting public health.

With a range of interesting specialist opportunities on offer, and plenty of scope to develop your career within our world-leading scientific organisation, consider a career with us at our offices in central London or Hertfordshire and help us work towards our common purpose of protecting health and improving lives.

 

Job description and person specification

 

Job title:

Digital Innovation Apprentice

Vacancy ref:

TBD

Pay band
and salary:

AO

£23,323

Contract type:

2 years Fixed Term, Full Time

 

Location:

London

Hours:

37 per week (excluding lunch break)

Accountable to:

Apprenticeship Programme Leader

 

Purpose
of the role:

Digital Innovation Apprentices are based in TD3 (Technology, Digital, Data, Delivery) as part of our Apprenticeship Programme. This combines traditional academic learning with work-based learning and project work, making it easier to apply new knowledge and skills in the workplace environment.

Apprentices undertake a two-year course in Digital Innovation with Ada, the National College for Digital Skills.  The course is aligned to the Level 4 Software Developer Standard leading to a Foundation Degree validated by the Open University.

Apprentices may be eligible to continue onto a third year with TD3 if they pass work assessments and their Leve 4. The third year aligns to a full degree. Third year in TD3 will have expectations including successfully delivering small projects on their own, taking ownership of engineering activities and collaboration in a professional manner.

Apprentices will shadow roles in a number of functional teams to broaden their knowledge and experience, including:

  • Software Engineering (including DevOps and QA)
  • Data & Information Governance
  • Application Support
  • Infrastructure Operations
  • Service Management

The course includes a work-based project, successful completion of which is mandatory.  This will take place in workplace where theoretical skills will be enhanced with practical experience.

Key Responsibilities:

  1. Must consistently do well in modules, assessments and exams in their two-year Foundation Degree Digital Innovation course as a requirement for this apprenticeship.
  2. Attend full time work with the Agency in accordance with the block release schedule agreed with Ada.

 

  1. Actively participate in the Agency’s Apprenticeship Programme activities.
  2. Actively participate in agile sprint teams, attending sprint planning and daily stand-up meetings for product development.
  3. Undertake software design, development, testing, automation, deployment and support on pre-release and BAU projects in agile product teams.
  4. Shadow and assist Agency colleagues in functional teams to broaden knowledge and experience.
  5. Provide support to Agency colleagues with ad-hoc delivery requirements and queries.
  6. Comply with the Agency’s policies and procedures.

 

Success Profiles:

The Civil Service recently launched a new recruitment framework called Success Profiles, which has replaced the Civil Service Competency Framework.

Success Profiles are made up of 5 elements: Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience, Technical but it is unlikely that you will be assessed against all 5.

Behaviours, Experience and Technical elements will be assessed through your application form, in the first instance.

 

Technical element

Criteria

Candidates must have 5 GCSEs, A*-C or the new grades 4-9, English Language (or equivalent).

Candidates must be educated at the minimum of Level 3 (A Level, BTEC, NVQ Level 3).

Candidates must have A Level Maths, A*-B Grade.

Candidates must have the right to work in the United Kingdom.

Modern standards approach

Awareness of adopting a modern standards approach to software development.

Programming and build (software engineering)

Awareness of agile software development, design, code, test, automation and document simple programs or scripts under the direction of others.

User focus

Awareness of user stories / requirements, focusing on user needs and taking on feedback.

Service Support

Awareness and assisting in the investigation and resolution of code, configuration, and infrastructure problems under the direction of others.

The above skills relate to a number of entry level roles in the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Profession Capability Framework, such as:

  • Apprentice Development Operations (DevOps)
  • Apprentice Developer
  • Associate Engineer - Application Operations
  • Associate Engineer - Infrastructure Operations

Assessment

Application form, Interview

 

Behaviours element

Criteria

Communicating and Influencing

Ability to put forward your views in a clear, constructive and considerate manner, using an appropriate method of communication such as an email, telephone call or face-to-face.

Delivering at Pace

Ability to concentrate working with focus and pace to get the job done on time and to a high standard.

Working Together

Able to proactively contribute to the team and remain open to taking on new and different roles. Ask for help when needed and support others when the opportunity arises.

Assessment

Application form, Interview

 

Experience element

Criteria

Ownership and initiative

Taking ownership of a body of work or an incidence and continue working through to completion.

Problem management

Investigating problems and helping to find an appropriate solution.

Commitment

A track record of delivering against committed activities and persevering through challenges and changing circumstance.

Assessment

Application form, Interview

 

Strengths element

Criteria

Learner

You are inquisitive, you seek out new information and look for new ways to develop yourself.

Problem Solver

You take a positive approach to tackling problems and find ways to identify suitable solutions.

Focussed

You strive to deliver on time with quality outcomes in an inclusive collaborative manner.

Assessment

Application form, Interview

 


 

 

The Civil Service Code:

These core values support good government and ensure the achievement of the highest possible standards in all that the Civil Service does.  You can find out more about our values, standards of behaviour and rights and responsibilities in The Civil Service Code.

Civil Service Values:

Integrity         putting the obligations of public service above personal interests

Honesty         being truthful and open

Objectivity     basing advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence

Impartiality    acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well governments of different political persuasions.

Agency Values:

The code is reflected in the agency’s values, which state that we will strive to be:

Innovative

Proactive

Impartial

Evidence-based

Open

Trustworthy

 

 

Benefits:

  • Modern offices in East London and Hertfordshire
  • Flexible working
  • 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to a maximum of 30
  • Civil Service Pension Scheme
  • Interest-free season ticket loan or bike loan
  • WorkplaceWellness – an employee assistance service
  • Access to shopping discounts through the ‘Mylifestyle’ employee benefits portal
  • Great training and development opportunities
  • Discounted rates for civil service sport and leisure organisations