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About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
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Location
About the job
Job summary
About the job
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is committed to reduce the rates of fraud and error payments within Universal Credit (UC). The rate of fraud and error has continued to rise significantly with increases in the proportions of higher risk cases, for example self-employed and those with capital, and as a result of the easements and changes introduced due to the pandemic.
To address this, we have introduced a Claim Review process into the UC service. This new process includes a full review of a live UC claim to determine the claimants’ payments are correct
If you’re looking for a career that makes a clear and positive difference to people’s lives, then a DWP Executive Officer role may be an ideal for you!
About us - Department for Work and Pensions GOV.UK
Job description
As a UCR case worker you will:
- Manage and conduct case reviews within an allocated caseload, following the structured Claim Review process to ensure all cases adhere to all legal and policy requirements.
- Plan and conduct robust interviews with claimants by telephone or in person, asking challenging questions to gather all relevant information, including exercising judgement to tailor follow up questions of each individual case.
- Decide what evidence is appropriate to request from claimants in order to confirm the validity of declarations, considering t context of each individual case.
- Gather, verify and assess all available information, and decide on an appropriate course of action from a number of options, to ensure any incorrectness can be identified and corrected. Examples include referring to a Decision Maker or Case Manager to enable accurate benefit reassessment, overpayment and underpayment calculation, fraud referrals to CFCD (Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt), or referring incorrect cases for corrective action.
- Present all information relevant to a claim review clearly and accurately, so that others can use the gathered information and advice as the sole source of evidence to make a fair judgement.
- Seek support and advice when required, identifying most appropriate source for the particular challenge e.g., referring to written guidance, raising with colleagues in a case conference or escalating to a team leader.
- Record the progress of a case on departmental systems. Maintain and retain relevant evidence in the evidence file redacting & annotating sensitive material when appropriate.
- Work collaboratively, effectively and flexibly within the team and contribute towards the development of this new role.
- Contribute to feedback and lessons learned to shape and improve the role and processes.
The key outcome from the reviews is to be confident the claimant is being paid the right amount and any incorrectness has been corrected.
This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the design and operating model of this brand-new process and be part of delivering DWPs Fraud and Error strategy, ensuring value for money for the taxpayer and positively impacting DWP’s reputation.
Person specification
What we are looking for:
Do you want to be part of a team where you can be yourself, feel supported, empowered, valued, respected, fairly treated and able to achieve your full potential?
If your answer is Yes. Join us!
We have exciting, challenging and rewarding roles available across UCR.
We are looking for people who are customer focused, with the right skills, committment and capability to deliver an exceptional public service.
Please note: Near miss offers may be made at Administrative Officer (AO) to candidates who do not meet the required standard for Executive Officer (EO). These roles may be permanent or Fixed Term appointments dependent on business requirements.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
With great benefits including:
- Generous annual leave, plus bank holidays
- Flexible working patterns available
- Competitive maternity, paternity, and parental leave
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27% Alongside your salary of £28,117 DWP contributes £7591,59 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Employee Assistance Programme with emphasis on wellbeing
- Career and Personal Development through Operational Delivery Profession
- Employee discount schemes
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Stage 1- Apply
Please complete the application form and write up to 500 words providing examples of how things you have done in the past and your skills and experience help you demonstrate the Civil Service Behaviour Communicating and Influencing (Level 2).
A NOTE ON ANONYMISATION
DWP operates an anonymised recruitment process, you should remove any personal details that could be used to identify you. This relates to name and contact details which might usually appear on your Personal Statement. Failure to do so will result in your application being withdrawn.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.
More information on Success Profiles and Civil Service Behaviours can be accessed by clicking the links.
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 EO 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.
If you pass the Situational Judgement Test your written application form evidence will be assessed. If you meet the required standard and your application is successful, you will receive an invitation to a pre-recorded interview.
Depending on application numbers we may progress all candidates who have been successful at the online test through to interview without assessing the written application evidence.
You will be assessed against three Civil Service Behaviours (Level 2)
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
The evidence you provide must relate to your own thoughts and experiences.
Feedback will only be provided following an interview.
More information about the job role and additional guidance on the selection process is available here.
Stage 3 - Offer
Offers will be made in merit order and business continuity.
Candidates should note that if successful in this campaign, you will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before applying for any other lateral moves within DWP.
Reserve List
You may be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:
- If you accept an offer of a post, you will be expected to withdraw from any other reserve lists of campaigns you have applied for, with DWP, at this grade.
- If you are offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances*.
- If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.
Note - Exceptional circumstances could be when a candidate has requested a contractual Part Time Working Pattern and this pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health.
Further Information
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)
The ‘Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme’ makes it easier for veterans to join the Civil Service. For further information please go to the Civil Service Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for Veterans - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) If you wish to be considered for inclusion in this scheme please tick this box when applying.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. For further information please go to the Civil Service Prison Leaver recruitment page on GOV.UK.
Location
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.
Successful candidates will be appointed to a particular DWP office but may be required to travel regularly and on a potentially daily basis to other DWP premises or locations in the community that are within a reasonable daily commute from the home office.
Job offers will be made in merit order. If you are successful and your selected location(s) have been filled at the time of offer, DWP may offer you a role from other locations listed within this advert within a reasonable travelling distance of your home.
Candidates should note that if successful in this campaign, you will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before applying for any other lateral moves within DWP.
Training
Please note that successful part time and job share candidates may be required to work full time for a number of weeks to complete and consolidate training.
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.
Complaints
If you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL [email protected] mailto:in the first instance. 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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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