Tips for Applying

Please complete all sections of the application form.

Initially you will be asked if you have the right to work in the UK and meet Civil Service nationality requirements and your personal details. (if you are successful after interview you will be asked to provide documentation to prove this. This will include proof of ID, including photo ID or equivalent biometric passport/share code and proof of address)

These jobs are broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals.
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland.
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK.
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families?_ga=2.26790964.884827562.1671461149-344924071.1670604899.
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status in accordance with the requirements of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families?_ga=2.26790964.884827562.1671461149-344924071.1670604899. Where that EUSS application has been accepted as valid, as evidenced by a certificate of application, a failure of such a person to obtain EUSS status may result in the job application being rejected or contract terminated.
• Nationals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before the 31 December 2020.
• Turkish nationals, or certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service.

For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service

Nationality rules (opens new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration

DWP use Success Profiles - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and will then ask you to provide a personal statement using 500 words which demonstrate your ability to communicate and influence effectively at Level 2.

Once an application has been submitted it cannot be amended. You should only apply once for any specific campaign/advert, any duplicate applications will be withdrawn.

Anonymisation

Remove any personal details such as name and contact details or your application will be withdrawn.

Plagiarism

The evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. If evidence of plagiarism, or sharing of questions, information or answers throughout any part of the selection process is found, your application will be withdrawn. Examples of plagiarism can include:

• Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
• Copying content from an online/published source
• Using content generated by forms of artificial intelligence

The same applies to all stages of your application.

After successfully completing and submitting your application, you may be invited to take a Situational Judgement Test. The Situational Judgement Test is a timed exercise designed to see how you would naturally react in situations and how you would communicate with others. It consists of multiple choice scenarios. You do not need any knowledge or experience specific to DWP to be able to complete the exercise, nor do you need any specific knowledge or experience relating to the scenario presented.

You should allow 30-45 minutes, you should be able to complete in one sitting and this must be your own work. Reasonable adjustments can be requested if a candidate has specific requirements due to a disability. Once you submit your answer at the end of the test you will not be able to change or update your response. If you do not complete and submit the test before the deadline, your application may not progress.

There will be one test per vacancy and if you apply for multiple vacancies then you will need to take the online test for each one. Before you begin, please ensure you are in a suitable environment with a stable internet connection and there are no issues with your device. If your test is interrupted for any reason, you will not be able to retake it.

You must pass the Situational Judgement Test to progress to your written evidence being sifted. You will receive a notification to advise you have moved on to the next stage.

If you need a reasonable adjustment or have any technical issues you can contact the SSCL Customer Hub:

• Live Chat
• DWP-Customer_Hub@gov.sscl.com
• 0345 241 5365

If you pass the Situational Judgement Test your personal statement will be reviewed and sifted. The results of the sift will be released once all applications have been reviewed. You will receive a notification to advise if you have been successful and moved on to the next stage.

Please note, feedback is not provided at sift stage but you will receive your sift score.

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.

If you have passed the initial selection stages, you should be invited to a pre-recorded interview.

Your interview will be conducted via a pre-recorded video interview and you will have 5 days from receipt of the email invitation that contains the access link and any information required. You will also receive an alert in your Application Centre and via SMS if you enabled this communication option with us.

You will see a recording of someone asking questions and have a set time to respond. You will be asked 3 questions, 1 on each success profile behaviour: Communicating and Influencing, Managing a Quality Service and Making Effective Decisions at Level 2.

Please ensure you are using an up to date web browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge or an equivalent. It is your responsibility check you have a stable internet connection and test equipment before you start making sure picture/sound quality are suitable. You will have time to become familiar with the platform and get a practice question. In the unlikely event of experiencing technical difficulties, we will inform you of who to contact on your invitation.

You will be asked a question and given a minute to consider your response and 3 minutes to provide your response. It is essential that we can clearly see you or we won’t assess your interview as this will confirm your identity.

If you have completed your response and there is time remaining you can fast forward to the next question.

Plagiarism

The evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. If evidence of plagiarism, or sharing of questions, information or answers throughout any part of the selection process is found, your application will be withdrawn. Examples of plagiarism can include:

• Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
• Copying content from an online/published source
• Using content generated by forms of artificial intelligence

The same applies to all stages of your application.

You can request an adjustment to the pre-recorded interview by contacting the SSCL Customer Hub DWP-Customer_Hub@gov.sscl.com Tel: 0345 241 5365.

Your completed interview will be assessed and we will get in touch with your outcome.

Successful applicants will be placed on a merit list and offers will be made in strict merit order taking account of location preferences, where applicable.

Once a provisional offer is made, we will confirm this via email and you will have 5 days to accept this offer. If you do not accept the provisional offer within 5 days, your offer may be withdrawn. If you have any issues in accepting your offer, please contact our recruitment team for assistance.

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 campaign reserve list you are on 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.

When an offer of employment is made, you will need to complete pre-employment or vetting checks to prove your identity, where you live and your right to work in the UK and the Civil Service.

You will also need to provide DWP with various documents to prove who you are and where you live. Document checks can either be carried out by digital checks using Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) or a physical document check in person. IDVT is a form of technology that can establish the authenticity of documents presented for identity verification purposes. If you experience any problems with your documentation, please do not hesitate to contact us.

When you successfully pass this first stage, further checks are undertaken to confirm criminal records, health and employment history.

You will need to provide documents to support these checks and a list of acceptable ID documents will be attached to the advert. To ensure you have all the correct documentation please use our ID document checker and ensure that you provide the documentation requested within 48 hours of receiving the request.

If you pass the ID and Right to Work checks, there is a possibility we could speed up your start date and we could offer you a conditional appointment. This means you may be able to take up post before certain security and personnel checks have been completed, however please be aware;

• If you fail the checks your employment will be terminated immediately.
• This is voluntary you can wait for checks to clear if you prefer.
• Important that if you accept a conditional appointment that you still respond to requests for information to clear checks as quickly as possible

We will also check the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. You are 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.

When asked to provide documentation during the vetting process within the application platform, you will also receive an email. This is to ensure you are aware of the required actions. Please provide information and any document requested within the timeframe given. Failure to do so may result in your application being withdrawn.

For roles in Counter Fraud Compliance and Debt (CFCD) there may be additional checks as you may require enhanced security clearance.

Once all your pre-employment checks have cleared (if you are on a conditional appointment), or you have agreed a suitable start date with the business you have been allocated (if you are not on a conditional appointment) a formal offer will be made. We will confirm this via email and you will have 5 days to accept this offer. If you do not accept the formal offer within 5 days, your offer may be withdrawn and your permanent role is not finalised. If you have any issues in accepting your offer, please contact our recruitment team for assistance.

There may be more than one location listed on the advert.

In this case, you will be asked for your preferences for up to 3 locations (from those available in the vacancy) telling us where you would prefer to work if you are successful. Please do not select a location unless you are prepared to accept a role in that location.

Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles here.

Job offers made will be in merit order and there is a possibility that your preferred locations may no longer be available depending on your position on the merit list. If none of your location preferences remain at the point we make a job offer, DWP will try to offer you a role from available locations within a reasonable daily travelling distance of your home. If we are unable to offer you a role in your preferred location or an alternative location in reasonable daily travelling distance of your home, we will add you to a reserve list.

We embrace diversity in DWP and promote equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

If you require any further information or assistance or reasonable adjustments with your application, please contact: DWP-Customer_Hub@gov.sscl.com or call 0345 241 5365.