Tavistock scandal campaigners raise fears over £60k Department for Health and Social Care job to advise the NHS on puberty blockers for children policy - months after it pledged it would ban them

Questions have been raised over a new Civil Service job being advertised to help advise on the policy around puberty blockers for children – despite a decision over the summer to only prescribe the treatment as part of clinical research.

The role is for a Policy Adviser in Gender Identity Services under the Department of Health and Social Care, with a salary of up to £62,909.

As part of the job description, a candidate is expected to ‘work with NHSE to roll out their interim service specifications on referral pathways for children’s gender identity services and the prescribing of puberty blockers to children under the age of 16.’

This has caused confusion after NHS England announced in June that puberty blockers would be given to adolescents suffering from gender dysphoria only as part of clinical research .

The advert for the government role, which has been seen by MailOnline, has caused fury amongst feminist campaigners with one saying ‘no child should ever be given puberty blockers, they are not reversible and cause irreparable harm’.

A spokesman from the DHSC insisted ‘there is no change in policy’ and told MailOnline that as far as they understand the position is as it was back in June. 

They said the job role was to work on the policy area, ‘not working on prescribing them’ (puberty blockers). 

The spokesman ‘categorically’ said that the job advert ‘does not signal any change,’ but admitted the wording ‘could be better’.

It is understood that the final NHS England clinical commissioning policy, once published, will clarify the NHS position on puberty blockers, and at the moment they are still considering feedback from a public consultation. 

Campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen said: ‘No child should ever be given puberty blockers’

Founder of Standing For Women limited, Kellie-Jay Keen told MailOnline: ‘The Civil service is completely ideologically captured and is the tail that wags the very weak government dog. 

‘Whilst the Conservatives have made a few paltry nods of understanding about the harm to children they’ve been more proactive in banning bully dogs over stopping the sterilisation of children. 

‘To be clear, no child should ever be given puberty blockers, they are not reversible and cause irreparable harm.’

The NHS last year published its guidance for the gender incongruence service for children and young people to replace the clinic at Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust in north London.

The Tavistock clinic – the only NHS gender identity service for youngsters in England and Wales – was heavily criticised in an interim review carried out by paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass in July 2022, which called its model ‘unsustainable’.

In its announcement last summer, NHS England stated: ‘We have previously made clear, including the draft interim service specification, the intention that the NHS will only commission puberty suppressing hormones as part of clinical research.

‘This approach follows advice from Dr Hilary Cass’ Independent Review highlighting the significant uncertainties surrounding the use of hormone treatments.’

NHS England in June outlined its strategy to replace the Gender Identity Development Service at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London

But confusion has now arisen over the new job advert, dated January 12.

Under the ‘person specification’ section, the person in the role would be: ‘Working with NHSE to see the recommendations of the Cass Review implemented, and resulting changes to the children’s gender identity service.

‘Advising ministers on the implementation of NHSE’s revised guidance on delivering same sex accommodation.

‘Working with NHSE to roll out their interim service specifications on referral pathways for children’s gender identity services and the prescribing of puberty blockers to children under the age of 16.’

The job advert asks for applications before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 6 February 2024.