About us

We support ministers in leading the nation’s health and social care to help people live more independent, healthier lives for longer.


Our responsibilities

We are responsible for:

  • supporting and advising our ministers: we help them shape and deliver policy that delivers the government’s objectives
  • setting direction: we anticipate the future and lead debate ensuring we protect and improve global and domestic health
  • accountability: we make sure the department and our arm’s length bodies deliver on our agreed plans and commitments
  • acting as guardians of the health and care framework: we make sure the legislative, financial, administrative and policy frameworks are fit for purpose and work together
  • troubleshooting: in the last resort, the public and Parliament expect us to take the action needed to resolve crucial and complex issues

Our priorities

From 2021 to 2022 we will:

  • protect the public’s health through the health and social care system’s response to COVID-19

  • improve healthcare outcomes by providing high-quality and sustainable care at the right time in the right place and by improving infrastructure and transforming technology

  • improve healthcare outcomes through a well-supported workforce

  • improve, protect and level up the nation’s health, including through reducing health disparities

  • improve social care outcomes through an affordable, high quality and sustainable adult social care system

Read our outcome delivery plan to find out more about our outcomes and strategic enablers and how we will achieve them.

Who we are

DHSC is a ministerial department, supported by a number of agencies and partner organisations. As of 31 December 2020, the department employs 3,030 full-time equivalent employees, who work in locations across the country.

Agencies and partner organisations, including contact information

Find out more about the department’s agencies and partner organisations, also known as arm’s length bodies.

This page includes contact information and a list of members of the executive boards.

Corporate information

Access our information

Jobs and contracts

Read about the types of information we routinely publish in our Publication scheme. Our Personal information charter explains how we treat your personal information. Read our policy on Social media use.