Recruitment Information Booklet - online-jobs.co.uk
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Recruitment Information Booklet This booklet provides you with an overview of what will happen during the recruitment process and some information about what it is like to work within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It complements the information you will receive about the particular job you are applying for, for example the detailed job description, working pattern and location.
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Who are we?
The Department for Work and Pensions, The Department is committed to providing
employing over 100,000 people nationally, services that embrace diversity and promote
offers excellent career opportunities. equality of opportunity for our customers,
partners and the wider community.
The Department is responsible for the
Government's welfare reform agenda We pursue excellence and innovation through
of promoting opportunity and independence a combination of personal drive and teamwork.
for all. It delivers support and advice through a We are looking for people who can make a
modern network of services to people of working positive impact on the Department's development
age, employers, pensioners, families and children and its customers.
and to disabled people. The breadth of our work means we offer a wide
We deliver the Government's agenda and policies range of rewarding and challenging career
through a number of different service providers opportunities, in addition to an attractive salary
(called delivery businesses), as well as Corporate and benefits package. Details of what we offer
and Shared Services. are on pages 5 to 7.
Please visit the DWP website at www.dwp.gov.uk
for further information about our delivery
businesses, which are:
• Jobcentre Plus
• The Pension Service
• Child Support Agency
• Disability and Carers Service
• Debt Management
2
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How we select our people Fair and Open: We pride ourselves
Age: To be eligible to apply and work for DWP on the effectiveness of our selection procedures.
you must have reached 16 years of age. For all We conduct all our permanent selection exercises
staff applying for jobs in grades from under fair and open competition at every stage
Administrative Assistant (Band A) to Grade 6 (as required by the Civil Service Recruitment Code)
(Band G) there is no mandatory retirement age. and we monitor the procedures carefully to ensure
that they do not discriminate against anyone.
Nationality: To work for DWP, employees must
satisfy the Civil Service nationality requirements. Selection Tools: Our recruitment and selection
British Nationals, European Economic Area methods are designed to ensure that access to
Nationals and Commonwealth Citizens with the our vacancies is as wide as possible and that our
necessary right to work will satisfy our nationality selection tools are fair and objective.
requirements and can apply. If your nationality is To find people who can deliver a high quality
not mentioned, please contact the person named service, we use a range of tools. As well as the
in the application pack for further information. application form, we may use testing (including
Pre-Appointment Enquiries: If you are any of literacy, numeracy, situational judgement or
successful, your offer of employment is subject to skills tests). We may also use interviews, group
the satisfactory completion of a number of pre- discussions, role-play and presentations.
appointment enquiries, which will be carried out Guaranteed Interview Scheme:
during or after the selection process. DWP is committed to the employment and career
We will need to check your identity, age, health, development of disabled people. A practical
nationality, employment history, character and demonstration of this is our Disability Symbol
your right to work in the UK. accreditation.
Some of these checks will also need to be As symbol users we have made a firm
carried out for all applicants (whether ultimately commitment to guarantee interviews to
successful or not), during the selection process. all disabled applicants who:
Refusal to allow any of the checks to be • Meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy
undertaken will lead to any offer of employment advertised at the application and testing stages
being withdrawn. of the selection process
As part of the character enquiry we may • Have or have had in the past a disability or long
undertake a check against the National Collection term health condition, which has (or had) a
of Criminal Records. We will seek your permission substantial disadvantage on their day to day
prior to carrying out the check. We may also carry living, and;
out a Standard Criminal Record Check if you are • The disability has or is likely to last at least
applying for a sensitive post. Again we ask for 12 months.
your permission before making this check.
3
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National Insurance Numbers: Data Protection Act: The information that you
To ensure we pay you promptly and accurately you provide and that we obtain about you to consider
must provide your National Insurance Number. your suitability for employment, is subject to the
New National Insurance Numbers are issued by provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.
Jobcentre Plus. Numbers issued as a temporary It will be treated as confidential and processed
measure by other sources cannot be accepted. and stored in connection with your application
You can be offered an appointment for work for the Department for Work and
if you do not yet have a National Insurance Pensions or for inclusion in your records if you
Number. However, you will not be able to take become a DWP employee. It will be used for no
up employment with DWP until you can provide a other purpose.
full National Insurance Number. We may use some of the information,
If you do not have a National Insurance Number anonymously, to carry out equal opportunities
you should contact Jobcentre Plus by telephoning monitoring and this may influence our
0845 600 0643 between 8.00am and 6.00pm, future policies.
Monday to Friday. Complaints: If you think the selection process
has not been carried out fairly or openly at any
stage, you can complain in writing, within 28
days to the person responsible for the
recruitment exercise.
4
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What DWP can offer you DWP offers a wide range of rewards and benefits.
DWP Values: The Department has four core These include:
values, which underpin our work and enable us to
deliver our key objectives. These are: Pay and pension
We offer a competitive salary as described
• Achieving the best
in the advertisement, complemented by an
• Making a difference excellent pension scheme that gives you the
• Respecting people flexibility to choose a pension that suits you best,
including a final salary option.
• Looking outwards
Pension benefits are provided under the Principal
If you are successful with your job application you
Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) Premium
will learn more about the Departmental values
Scheme. New recruits will receive details of the
and how they apply in your workplace, once you
schemes when they join DWP. You can choose
start work.
from a scheme which is contracted out of the
As an employer we are committed to equality and State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS)
valuing diversity in our workforce. Our goal is to and provides benefits on a final salary basis
ensure that these commitments, reinforced by our (contributions are 3.5%); or, a more flexible
Values, are embedded in our day-to-day working Partnership pension scheme, which provides
practices with all our customers, colleagues and pension benefits based on contributions made.
partners.
Note: Changes to the Pension scheme will affect
By adopting an inclusive approach, the new employees from 1st July 2007. Further
Department aims to treat colleagues with respect information will be supplied to those recruits with
and value the differences each individual brings to employment start dates on or after that date.
the workplace.
5
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Your rights, health and safety Time off
The Department has a range of policies and We offer paid annual holiday entitlement –
procedures to protect your rights, health of between 22 and 25 days depending on grade
and safety. and length of service, rising to 30 days after 10
You will have the option to join a Trade Union. years service in all grades (pro-rata for part-time
Pay is negotiated on your behalf, and you will have staff), as well as 8 public holidays and 2.5 privilege
the opportunity to earn performance related pay. days holiday per year. We also offer Special leave
entitlements in exceptional circumstances.
Employees also have access to an occupational Other entitlements include Maternity, Paternity
health service and an employee assistance or Adoption leave and up to 5 years unpaid
programme that includes counselling support, Carer's Leave for staff with caring responsibilities.
legal and financial advice 24 hours per day.
Free regular eyesight screening is also available Learning and Development
to all staff. Employees may voluntarily join
Our people are our most valuable asset.
contributory healthcare schemes.
We develop and maximise the potential of all
Our offices are modern and safe. Our staff use our people by giving them the knowledge, skills
modern Information Technology. and experience necessary for the job and for
Staff are offered the opportunity to take part in their career within the Department. We offer
sports and leisure activities and can join the comprehensive induction, learning and
Health and Social Security Recreational Association development opportunities, which include
(HASSRA). access to internal and external leadership and
management programmes
Smoking is not permitted in any of our offices.
DWP is committed to Excellence and has Investors
As an Equal Opportunities employer we provide
in People accreditation.
disabled staff with the reasonable adjustments
they need to do their job effectively.
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Working Patterns Probationary Period: People who join DWP on a
Subject to business needs a variety permanent or Fixed Term appointment serve a 6
of working patterns may be offered, including months probationary period (with a possible
full time, part time and part-year working. These extension of 3 months).
options have been designed in order to help New recruits are normally expected to have been
employees achieve a strong Worklife Balance. in their current post for two years before applying
We recognise that Worklife Balance is no longer for another post (either on promotion or level
just about being “Family Friendly” but is about transfer). This is to ensure that the organisation
offering a range of options for all its staff. achieves a good balance between operational
You will receive information about the working effectiveness and delivering business objectives.
pattern(s) that apply to the specific post you are This condition does not apply to Fixed Term
applying for. These arrangements may be agreed Appointments.
before you start work. They must be agreed with
you within the first 3 days of starting work. Travel
Travel away from your home office:
What we expect from you Some of the jobs in DWP may involve travel to
We ask our employees to provide an impartial and other locations and may include the occasional
professional service to all DWP's customers, to overnight stay. Staff may claim expenses
contribute what they can to help the Department necessarily incurred in carrying out official
move forward and to provide value for money for business.
taxpayers. Moving your place of work: Occasionally it
Each employee takes personal responsibility for may be necessary to change your permanent place
their work, for maintaining good time-keeping of work. There are certain rules governing these
and for working hard. Employees need to keep moves, which should normally be within reasonable
the Department informed if they are too ill to travelling distance, defined as:
work. We expect them to respect and support all • Travelling time of 11/2 hours from home to office
their colleagues and customers, be flexible and judged by whichever available and reasonable
adaptable. They need to be committed to mode of transport offers the greatest radius of
continuous self-improvement throughout their travel for people at Executive Officer/Band C
service and keep up to date with changes in the level and above.
Department.
• Travelling time of one hour from home to office
DWP requires employees to dress in a professional judged by whichever available and reasonable
and businesslike way, in keeping with the high mode of transport offers the greatest radius
standards that we expect to provide for our of travel for people at Administrative
customers and the respect we have for each other. Assistant/Band A and Administrative Officer/
This standard applies across all the Department Band B level.
and individual businesses may have additional
specific business dress requirements.
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Contact Centres
What the DWP Contact Centres Do
DWP Contact Centres provide a wide range of services via the
telephone and other contact channels, which could include
helping customers find work, claim a wide range of benefits
and pensions and enable employers to place vacancies.
The Selection Process
As we need to find people who can deliver a high quality
service we aim to find the right person for each job using a
range of selection tools. A combination of the following may
be used:
• Application Form / Telephone Application
• Literacy and Numeracy Test
• Situations Exercise
• Skills Tests
• Final Assessment Stage, which could include one or more of
the following: Interview, Group Discussion, Telephone Role
Play or a Presentation.12569 DWP Info Pack CS Insert 15/3/07 17:05 Page 2
What you will be doing
The work entails:
• Being the first point of contact for customers and/or employers
• Identifying the most suitable benefit or service for the customer
• Dealing with customer queries in a knowledgeable and
professional manner
• Dealing professionally with customers who may be upset
or distressed.
Skills required
• Good communication skills within a contact centre
environment
• The ability to understand and meet contact centre targets
and deadlines
• The ability to adapt to using IT and telephony systems
Hours of work
Full time hours are usually 37 per week over 5 days.
Part time working is also available.
The training you will receive
All new employees receive induction training both in their job
and DWP as an employer. This can be classroom based training
or using e learning packages. Training will cover the IT
packages and our policies and procedures. All training is
followed by a period of consolidation and continuing support.12569 DWP Info Pack JC+ Insert 15/3/07 17:05 Page 1
Who are we?
Jobcentre Plus provides advice and support to adults of working age, paying benefits accurately
and on time and helping people find and apply for jobs in support of an active welfare state
based on rights and responsibilities.
Jobcentre Plus provides recruitment services to employers to create opportunities for its
customers, and to address the general need for greater openness and flexibility in the operation
of an active UK labour market.
Jobcentre Plus aims to provide work for Working in Jobcentre Plus
those who can, and support for those We employ a wide range of people in a wide
who cannot, by: range of roles and the competencies needed
• helping those at greatest disadvantage in depend on the job people are doing. But to
the labour market such as lone parents, achieve our aims we need people with a strong
older people, those from ethnic minorities commitment to serving our diverse and often
into work, as a route out of poverty; disadvantaged customers.
• providing financial support as a safety net For more information visit the Jobcentre Plus
for people of working age while they are website at www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
out of work;
• addressing inequalities of opportunity;
• protecting the integrity of the benefit
system; and
• working with our partners to prepare
customers for the labour market,
and with employers to fill their job
vacancies effectively.
Jobcentre Plus aims to increase the employment
rates of groups at greatest disadvantage,
increasing the effective supply of labour in the
economy and increasing the prosperity of the
UK. Success in these aims will also contribute to
the reduction of poverty and social exclusion and
help to create a fairer society.You can also read
