How to Apply
Stage 1 – Application form
Please complete the First Stage Short Application Form.
Stage 2 – Selection
After submitting your application, you will be sent an invitation with a link to complete an online Situational Judgement Test. This is designed to test your skills for the Administrative Officer role. You must complete and submit the test by the deadline stated in your invitation. If you do not complete and submit the test before the deadline, your application will not progress.
**Please note the closing date for your full application is 23:55 on 09/05/2023**
Stage 3 - Interview
Those who pass the Situational Judgement Test with the required score will be invited to a blended video interview. Please note that interviews will be via video using Microsoft Teams and you will need to use your personal or work device to access the video link. You will receive a link to join the interview at the appointed time through the email account you provide us with on your application.
Interviews are scheduled to take place from 05/06/2023, please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. Interviews will be scheduled Monday to Friday, between 09:00 to 17:00.
Communications will be electronic and/or by telephone therefore it is vitally important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder. Telephone calls may show as a withheld number, it is important that you answer so that your interview can be confirmed.
Preparing for the interview
The interview will take approximately between 30 - 40 minutes where you will be asked a mixture of Behavioural and Strength questions. A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation at interview offering a more inclusive approach. The Strength and Behaviour based questioning explores what the candidate can and has done, but also their potential.
At interview you will be assessed against 4 Civil Service Behaviours (Level 1):
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Managing a Quality Service
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Making Effective Decisions
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Communicating and Influencing
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Delivering at Pace
It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in, and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:
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What it was, how you approached the work/situation and what the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? Or
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What was the Situation? That were the Tasks? What Action did you take? How/what did you learn through a Review?
If you do not have work-based examples then please give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.
The evidence you provide in your interview must relate to your own thoughts and experiences.
Further information about the process can be found in the Candidate Pack.
If you withdraw your application at any stage, it will not be progressed any further.
Stage 4 - Offer
Once all interviews have been completed, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email.
The successful candidates will be offered a posting and will be notified of a start date following successful security checks, which is likely to be during July/August 2023. The posting offer will be made in strict merit order.
Stage 5 – Reserve List
Successful candidates, not offered a posting, will be placed on a reserve list which will be held for 3 months.
The reserve list may also be used to offer future permanent opportunities not necessarily restricted to the current locations included in the advert. They may also extend to permanent opportunities which arise across the wider DWP network. Any such offers would be made in strict merit order to all candidates remaining on the reserve list. The location and job role would be fully explained to you. Refusal of the offer would not change your reserve list position.
Find out more about Working for DWP
Further information
Location
Kilmarnock
Applicants should apply for suitable posts where they can travel to and from their home office location daily within a reasonable time.
This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
Working Pattern
Part-time and job-sharing working patterns within working hours will be considered but must meet business needs. We will do our best to let people with existing part time contracts retain their contracted hours provided they are in line with current business needs. Please note that successful part time and job share candidates will be required to work full time for specific periods to complete all training and consolidation.
Training Requirements
You will be required to undertake training which is necessary for you to perform your role. This will be provided by the Department for Work and Pensions at no cost to you. Every effort will be made to arrange for training to be held during your agreed normal working hours. Exceptionally, where this is not possible, you will need to be prepared to adjust your normal hours to attend for training and pay will be adjusted accordingly. In these circumstances you will be given details of your revised times of attendance for the period of the training event by management. Time off in lieu may be taken as an alternative to payment at the discretion of your manager and subject to the needs of the work where appropriate.
Apprenticeships
DWP takes development seriously. Our aim is for our colleagues in these roles to be appropriately skilled and qualified – as determined by the business. To support this aim you may be required to undertake a work based qualification, which may be in the form of an apprenticeship, which will support you in further developing your professional knowledge and skills for this role and your future career development. The qualification can be undertaken in work time, you agree to take this job on the basis that you may be required to undertake a work based qualification; a candidate’s failure to participate fully in the professional programme, once appointed, may be a breach of their employment contract.
Important
If you hold a level 3 qualification (2 A levels or equivalent) then please bring your certificates with you to the interview if you have them.
Equality and Diversity
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this search:
Equality and diversity - Department for Work and Pensions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Reasonable Adjustments
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
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Contact Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
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Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Internal Fraud Database
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Criminal Record Check
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to the Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing mail to Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
Additional Information
The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences. If evidence of plagiarism is found your application will be withdrawn.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Any move to DWP from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Existing Civil Servants and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules are eligible to apply.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department full pre-employment checks may be carried out.
If you're employed by a non-departmental public body (NDPB) and are applying for a job in the Civil Service (or vice versa) by moving jobs this will involve a change of employer and you may break the statutory rules on continuity of employment.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g., mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants who transfer into DWP from other government departments, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.