Child Maintenance Service: Advice and Guidance Team Leader
Department for Work and Pensions
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 28th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Job description
Advice and Guidance provide centralised assistance across all areas of CMS for case specific enquiries that cannot be resolved on an instructional, policy or legislative basis.
The job holder will lead and manage the Advice and Guidance team to provide Child Maintenance case specific legislative policy advice to operational colleagues where the facts of the case are not covered in either the Instructions or Child Maintenance Decision Making Guide (CM DMG).
Responsibilities include:
- Provide effective leadership, being emotionally aware, enabling the team to be innovative, adaptable and flexible. Manage and develop your team, by providing a clear focus on priorities and empowering your people to succeed by creating an inclusive working environment, promoting good decision making and problem solving.
- Coach and support the team on complex issues, ensuring knowledge sharing and upskilling.
- General team management responsibilities.
- Promote adherence to relevant policies, operational instructions, regulations and legislation.
- Encourage colleague to colleague support to resolve enquiries. Ensuring an environment where sharing honest and constructive feedback is standard practice.
- Drive engagement through daily team meetings to review team goals, share and discuss concerns and maintain team spirit in hybrid working environment.
- Completing accuracy checks on completed work to ensure accuracy and consistency and identify areas for improvement.
- Undertake high level complex enquiries and challenges, engaging with senior management across stakeholders such as Appeals, Complaints and Complaints Redress and Stewardship Team (CReST) to resolve issues and enable case progression. Examine and evaluate complex information provided from a range of sources. Provide solutions based on an interpretation of legislation, policy steers, case law and operational instructions. Challenge reluctance to apply proposals which don’t meet preference of operational area but which adhere to law and policy intent and allow wider organisational considerations.
- Identifying shortfalls in Decision Making Guidance and Operational Instructions. Researching issues to gather information across departmental products and law and drafting recommendations for improvements, escalating to Policy, Decision Making and Appeals (DMA) or Single View Of Change (SVOC) for review. Engaging with these areas to move issue forward, challenging where appropriate to deliver improvements.
- Identify and escalate concerns that could cause reputational damage to the department. Liaise with Policy for legal consideration and potential press office involvement.
- Provide formal quality review through analysis of documents and by attending workshops to ensure consistency against policy / legislation.
Please note:
- Some travel to other CMS sites may be required.
- You must be able to work a minimum of 34 hours.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
This is what you will be assessed against, and should align your personal statement to. Your evidence will be assessed against the following essential criteria. You must ensure you provide specific examples to demonstrate these criteria in your personal statement. Candidates will be able to demonstrate the following:
- Experience applying legislation and adherence to policy to resolve complex queries and challenges including appeals and complaints. (Lead Criteria)
- Strong and effective remote leadership experience, a confident decision maker, proactively managing team performance, demonstrating firm and fair approach to people management responsibilities whilst supporting development needs of themselves and others.
- Effective and confident communicator - both orally and in writing, with an ability to communicate with clarity, providing clear direction, owning difficult messages, inspiring, securing commitment and showing genuine care for colleagues and teams.
- Ability to work collaboratively and build trusting relationships and credibility with a range of colleagues and stakeholders across DWP teams, through effective collaboration and working partnerships to generate commitment to goals and gain buy in, demonstrating strong engagement skills.
- Ability to apply various decision making principles such as balance of probabilities to aid caseworker decision making and to form own decisions on complex cases. This includes creating new approaches outside of published guidance to enable case progress whilst ensuring legislative compliance. Using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
Working for DWP will include benefits such as learning and development tailored to your role, an environment with flexible working options, a culture encouraging inclusion and diversity and a Civil Service pension Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
CMS is committed to the Wellbeing of all colleagues, support includes Wellbeing conversations, dedicated Wellbeing Advocates in each Service Centre to develop and deliver health and wellbeing initiatives and our own Intranet site offering a wealth of information, guidance and support.
We Value Everybody is one of our five Core Values here in CMS. We have active National Network Groups for Race, Disability, Carers, Wellbeing, Faith & Belief and Age. Our monthly People Group meeting draws these groups together to listen, act, and update CMS Directors with our plans.
CMS Colleagues have the opportunity to join HASSRA, a vibrant and successful organisation that provides a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly). It also has an important part to play in helping us achieve a healthy work-life balance and wellbeing in the workplace.
Working hours - The contracted working hours for the Department are 07:45 hours to 20:00 hours, Monday to Friday, and 08:45 hours to 17:00 hours on Saturday. Employees are contracted to work a specific number of hours per week within the above times. Employees will be required to work the number of hours per week for which they are contracted. For example, for full time employees this will be 37 hours net (42 hours gross including meal breaks). For part-time employees it will be less.
Hybrid Working
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.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Location
Applicants should apply for suitable posts where they can travel to and from their home office location daily within a reasonable time.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed.
Please refer to the candidate pack for further information contained in this section of the advert and more information in relation to the Benefits of working for DWP.
Access to flexible working hours scheme will be available.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete:
1. Personal Details application form
2. Personal Statement (1250 word limit)
3. Anonymised CV
Use your 1250 word Personal Statement to describe how you meet the Essential Criteria as detailed in the job advert.
Your Personal Statement should contain no more than 1250 words. The layout is entirely your choice, you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address each criterion separately; however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several of the criteria. Please share with us what makes you suited to this role. We would like to find out what you can do, the skills you hold and the life experience or passion that you have that could be aligned to the criteria listed within the Person Specification.
The CV is an on-line tool, there is no requirement to upload your personal CV. When giving details of your employment history, you should include details of work you have completed and projects you have been involved in. However the CV is not scored so please put the main content of your evidence and skills in your Personal Statement.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ANONYMISATION
Due to the DWP’s use of anonymised recruitment practices it is not possible for applicants to upload/attach a CV; any information that you would customarily share on a CV should therefore be entered onto the application form.
When entering information relating to your employment history you will be asked to remove any personal details that could be used to identify you. This relates to name and contact details which might usually appear on your CV/Personal statement. Failure to do so will result in your application being withdrawn.
Sift
The sift panel will use the information in your Personal Statement to assess your experience, skills and knowledge against the essential Criteria outlined in the advert.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Lead Criteria:
- Experience applying legislation and adherence to policy to resolve complex queries and challenges including appeals and complaints.
Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to a full sift where all applications will be assessed and sifted against all the essential criteria outlined in the advert.
Please note depending on the volume of applications we may choose to invite candidates straight to interview and dispense with the sift stage. For this reason, the timeline for the interview window is subject to change depending on the approach we choose to take.
Stage 2: Interview
Unless you are otherwise informed, the final stage of the process will be a blended interview via Microsoft Teams.
All elements of the interview will be via video link, and the whole process should take approximately 30-40 minutes.
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.
The Behaviours being assessed at interview are:
- Leadership (Lead Behaviour)
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
Please refer to the Candidate Pack for further information.
Approximate sift and interview dates:
Sift Period: 29/10/24 - 12/11/24
Interviews: 25/11/204 - 05/12/24
Sift and Interview dates are subject to change.
Further information:
Find out more about Working for DWP
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
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
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances 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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
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 that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, 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.
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.
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.
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 DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Jennifer Ross
- Email : jennifer.ross@dwp.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.
