Business Support Team Member Newcastle upon Tyne, England
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Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
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Location
About the job
Job summary
Location
Birmingham, Bromley, Dudley, Eastbourne, Glasgow, Harrogate, Harrow, Ilkeston, Liverpool, Newcastle, Staines, Taunton, Pontypridd (for Ty Taf), Walthamstow.
Applicants should apply for suitable posts where they can travel to and from their home office location daily within a reasonable time.
Summary
Do you enjoy being adaptable? Do you have great organisation skills and an eye for detail? If so, we would like to hear from you. DWP help people lift themselves out of poverty and to stay out of poverty, through work, saving and support. This is a hugely important public service, and our challenge is bigger than ever.
As part of Counter Fraud and Compliance Directorate (CFCD) you will be at the heart of DWP operations helping to support the CFCD purpose of fighting fraud in the welfare system.
This role is pivotal in supporting the Economic, Serious and Organised Crime Senior Leadership Team in CFCD in the effective delivery of service and outcomes across the country. It’s a fantastic opportunity for personal development, giving you practical experience of working in a fast-paced, operational service delivery team covering a wide geographical area.
You will gain insight of senior roles and responsibilities across the department. We will provide training and support to help the successful candidate develop their skills to confidently support the Senior Leadership team
If you want to join somewhere that recognises the importance of work-life balance, where you can learn new skills and progress your career, then CFCD is the place for you. Come and join the CFCD team today!
Job description
This job is very varied with changing priorities but will include:
- Providing effective secretariat for the Senior Leadership team to ensure agendas and papers are issued on time, organising inputs to align with strategic priorities, arranging presenters, maintaining action points and decision logs, and taking notes and actions, ensuring these are circulated timeously.
- Work to a high standard of discretion when dealing with sensitive issues and confidential information ensuring confidentiality and data security are always adhered to.
- Effective management of the various requests for information from operational teams and other arms of CFCD / DWP including centralised returns.
- Ensure information communicated is the most up to date and accurate, using the most effective means of communication.
- Communications – ensuring communications are cascaded to teams and key stakeholders.
- Complex inbox management, organising and maintaining diaries, organising a range of different types of events and conferences and organising travel and accommodation.
- Using initiative to decide where personal response to emails is necessary or responding to/delegating requests where appropriate.
- Working with internal and external stakeholders, encouraging collaborative working between teams, building relationships to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
- Provide analysis and management information from case management systems to support performance reporting.
- Support Operational managers through process changes.
- Record and track complaints and Member of Parliament Enquires.
- The role will also include a variety of other ad hoc duties and tasks which will need to be carried out as part of a busy support team.
Person specification
What we are looking for:
- A self-starter, who sets their own work priorities and ensures these are met using excellent organisational skills, and with the ability to horizon scan to prioritise, track and adapt accordingly
- Comfortable working within very short deadlines and at pace. The role requires flexibility and openness to change, excellent drafting skills, outstanding team-working and communications skills
- The role carries a very high degree of personal trust so you will need to show discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information with excellent judgement and decision-making skills
- Someone who is comfortable in a role that involves changing priorities and interacting with a range of stakeholders at all levels including senior leaders.
- A high level of honesty, integrity, and a personal demeanour that inspires confidence.
- A strong track record in operating in a busy and highly scrutinised environment and be able to communicate and influence effectively being able to see the big picture
- Able to promote inclusivity and hold a solid understanding of equality and diversity and how it impacts upon service delivery.
- Proven Microsoft Office 365 capabilities especially in the use Outlook, SharePoint, MS Teams, PowerPoint, Word and Excel.
- Some travel between sites may be required depending on business needs.
Key Criteria
- A proven track record of being able to plan, prioritise and organise workloads effectively and manage competing priorities in a business support team environment and delivering against tight deadlines. (First lead criteria)
- The ability to communicate clearly and effectively with people at all levels including senior leaders and operational colleagues, using a range of styles and methods to maximise understanding and impact, creating and maintaining excellent working relationships. (Second lead criteria)
- The ability to deliver timely and quality results with close attention to detail within a demanding environment.
- Demonstrate the ability to build and enhance strong and trusting relationships across the Leadership and Operational teams, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
Desirable Skills
- Previous experience of working in a support office and leading business support teams
- For roles based in Wales, the ability to speak Welsh is desirable.
Essential Criteria:
Please be aware:
Security Clearance: Successful applicants for this role will need to undergo National Security Vetting to Security Clearance Level (SC) due to the nature of the role.
Please note: All candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. In certain circumstances, a minimum of 3 years UK residency prior your vetting application may be considered, with additional checks. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
In addition to the above candidates who are successful will be asked about the following before we offer them a position.
Candidates must declare to the best of their knowledge:
- Any disciplinary finding of guilt / failure to meet the appropriate standard of conduct relating to their employment they have ever had.
- Any charge of a disciplinary offence / notification of a failure to meet the appropriate standards they have ever had where the case has not yet been concluded.
- Any past convictions, criminal findings, or police cautions, regardless of whether they are ‘spent’, they have ever had.
- The disclosure of this information will not automatically disbar the candidate from this role but we need to be aware of any event or issue which could impinge on the candidate’s credibility if questioned in court.
What Checks are Involved
- Successful completion of the Baseline Personnel Security Standard.
- Completion, by the individual, of a security questionnaire.
- A departmental/company records check which will include, for example personal files, staff reports, sick leave returns and security records.
- A check of both spent and unspent criminal records.
- A check of credit and financial history with a credit reference agency.
- A check of Security Service (MI5) records.
- Exceptionally, if there are any unresolved security concerns about the individual, or if recommended by the Security Service, the individual may also be interviewed.
- In the event of any unresolved financial concerns, the individual may also be required to complete a separate financial questionnaire so that a full review of personal finances can be carried out.
- Checks may extend to third parties included on the security questionnaire.
Accreditation Requirements:
Successful candidates must be willing to attain the mandatory Level 4 apprenticeship, required to undertake the functions of the role.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
Benefits including:
- Generous annual leave - 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus bank holidays and one day of leave for the King’s Birthday. The exact number of days of annual leave will be determined by any current years of service.
- Competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave we also recognise the importance of a good work-life balance and offer flexible working and a family friendly approach to work.
- Training and apprenticeships and up to 5 days’ personal development & learning allowance
- Flexible/hybrid working
- Employee discount schemes
- Free wellbeing support
- Opportunities to make a real difference through joining forums, initiatives & charities
- Interest free travel loans
- Vodafone advantage discount scheme
- Highly sought after civil service pension
Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package where:
The employer makes a significant contribution to the cost of your pension.
Your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken. This means, if you pay tax, your take-home pay will not be reduced by the full amount of your contribution; and
Your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire.
For more information, visit www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Written Application – Sift Process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a Personal Statement in no more than 1000 words detailing the relevant skills and experience you can bring to the role, based on the Key Criteria.
When completing your Personal statement, please read and understand the Key Criteria thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will assessed against. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address each criteria separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several key criteria. You may not be able to meet all the key criteria, but please ensure you: Evidence the key personal requirements; what have you done that’s relatable to the requirements? You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills, experience you have used.
Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why? What you can do and the skills you have that are transferable to the key requirements, and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role.
In the event of a high volume of applications it may be necessary to undertake an initial sift on the lead criteria or both the lead and the 2nd lead criteria depending on numbers of applications before moving to a full sift. If so, we will sift on:
- A proven track record of being able to plan, prioritise and organise workloads effectively and manage competing priorities in a business support team environment and delivering against tight deadlines. (First lead criteria)
- The ability to communicate clearly and effectively with people at all levels including senior leaders and operational colleagues, using a range of styles and methods to maximise understanding and impact, creating and maintaining excellent working relationships. (Second lead criteria)
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
**Please note the closing date for your full application is 23:55 on 22/05/2023 **
Sift dates to be confirmed
Interview
Those who pass the sift 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 12/06/2023 to 16/06/2023, 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 45 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 four Civil Service Behaviours (Level 2):
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
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.
After the interview
Once all interviews have been completed, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email.
The successful candidates will be offered a posting based on their preferred location/s 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.
Reserve List
Successful candidates not offered a posting will be placed on a reserve list which will be held for 6 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
Certain job roles 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.
Apprenticeships
DWP takes development seriously. Our aim is for our colleagues in these roles to be appropriately skilled. 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. Please note: a candidate’s failure to participate fully in the professional programme, once appointed, would be a breach of their employment contracts.
If DWP decides that it is no longer a requirement for you to undertake and attain a work-based qualification, it will release you from this obligation. Any decision to release you from this obligation will not be a breach of contract by DWP.
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)
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.
Reasonable adjustment
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:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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’re 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
If successful and transferring from another Government Department full pre-employment checks will be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to the Disclosure and Barring Service/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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]
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.
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
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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 will be carried out.
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.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission here to visit Civil Service Commission
