Details
About Us
At the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), we operate as the UK government department responsible for government policy, funding, and strategic oversight of health and adult social care in England. Established with a core mission to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer, our mandate is built on setting national strategy, securing public funding, and ensuring safe, high-quality care across the health and social care sectors.
Who We Are
Operating from headquarters in Whitehall, London (alongside executive agencies and regional hubs), our organisation brings together civil servants, policy makers, healthcare economists, scientific advisors, and public health officials. Accountable directly to Parliament and led by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, we oversee a vast ecosystem of arm’s length bodies, regulatory authorities, and NHS organisations.
What We Do
We deliver an integrated suite of national policy, regulatory oversight, and public health governance solutions:
- National Health Policy & Strategy: Setting strategic direction, legislative frameworks, and operational guidelines for the National Health Service (NHS) and adult social care providers in England.
- Public Health Protection: Managing national health security, infectious disease responses, vaccination programs, and public health campaigns through executive agencies.
- Sector Funding & Resource Allocation: Overseeing multi-billion-pound budgetary allocations, capital investments, and commissioning frameworks across health and care systems.
- Regulatory Governance Oversight: Directing and holding accountable national regulatory bodies such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Our Approach & Values
- Patient & Citizen Centred: Placing the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of patients, care recipients, and the wider public at the absolute centre of every policy decision.
- Evidence-Based Governance: Utilising rigorous scientific research, economic data, and clinical insights to shape sustainable, future-proof health strategies.
- Accountability & Transparency: Ensuring robust public stewardship, parliamentary accountability, and open communication across all devolved and national care services.
Industry Role
We operate as the Cabinet-Level Government Department for Health and Social Care. Our role is to act as the supreme national authority setting policy, funding frameworks, and statutory legislation for healthcare and social support across England.