About the job

Job summary

Business Services Division (BSD)

There are three operational divisions within the Insolvency Service, one of which is Business Services Division. BSD is responsible for a range of operational functions that deliver high volume insolvency services to the public and other stakeholders as part of our insolvency regime, including:

• Making statutory redundancy payments to employees of insolvent companies.
• Managing the debt relief order process and administering the online bankruptcy application process.
• Providing a first point of contact for all insolvency related telephone enquiries.
• Realising long term assets in insolvency cases and distributing available funds to creditors.
• Providing estate accounting and other business services to the agency

The Insolvency Service is a leading Government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.  

Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives. We have 10 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include Break the Stigma, Carers, Disability & Health, FACES, Grass Roots, LGBT+, No Limits, Part Time Workers, The Shed, and The Women’s Network. 

We offer full-time, part-time, job share and flexible ways of working. We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people. We encourage our employees to become more involved in areas they feel strongly about, whether it be for the benefit of the agency, though our Engagement network or in their own local communities via volunteering opportunities.  

The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career. 

Job description

This is an exciting and varied role supporting the senior responsible officer (SRO) and line managing the local post scanning team in our Stratford office. You will work closely with the SRO to ensure the office runs effectively and is health and safety compliant.  

Responsibilities

As an Office Manager you will:

• Line manage the post team located at Stratford
• Provide corporate and administrative support to the director of Business services and the senior leadership team
• Engage with building security and front reception on matters of access and building security
• Co-ordinate and facilitate access for contractors as necessary
• Act as the first point of contact for premises users in relation to building matters
• Represent the Insolvency Service at meetings between the building occupants and landlord for the Stratford office
• Maintain details of key premises assets and facilities

As a local Health & Safety Officer you will:

• Engage with building security and front reception on matters of access and building security
• Co-ordinate and facilitate access for contractors as necessary
• Act as the first point of contact for premises users in relation to building matters
• Represent the Insolvency Service at meetings between the building occupants and landlord for the Stratford office
• Maintain details of key premises assets and facilities
• Provide first line support and advice to colleagues on health and safety risks
• Support and assist the SRO in carrying out quarterly H&S performance measures including reviewing risk assessments and audits
• Carry out regular inspections reporting any potential risks and managing actions to completion
• Keep a record of any actions taken to following risk assessments and audits (internal and external)
• Maintain local H&S training information updated and publicised to employees including coordinating a daily rota ensuring adequate numbers of trained H&S personnel in each day
• Report all accident, incident, near miss reports, investigating if necessary within 2 working days
• Manage the offices quarterly H&S committee meetings, preparing the chair with agenda, minutes, reports etc on the status of health and safety arrangements (such as training, risk assessments, maintenance, accidents and incidents), saving all documents for auditing purposes
• Liaise with the health and safety team on all health and safety risks, including planned changes to workplace or work practices
• Manage the site Building User Group meeting, preparing agenda, engaging with departmental representatives and engaging with H&S and Estates on any matters arising.

Person specification

The successful applicant will have responsibility for building positive relationships with a wide range of people and collaborating in an effective manner.

You will be a central contact point for health and safety in the Stratford office so your communication and organisational skills should be excellent.

You will be able to manage competing priorities and work efficiently to ensure a smooth running and well organised operation.

Essential Skills

• Ability to organise, prioritise and co-ordinate tasks to meet tight deadlines in a pressurised, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to communicate clearly (both verbally and in writing) and proactively.
• Ability to engage positively and with confidence within meetings and workshops.
• Ability to use initiative to problem solve.
• Ability to work within a team in a collaborative manner.
• Strong administrative skills.
• Strong IT skills, including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £26,719, Insolvency Service contributes £7,214 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a 750-word personal statement. Your statement should demonstrate your suitability for the role based on the criteria set out in the Person specification and Responsibilities sections of the advert.

You will also be asked to provide a 250-word statement for the following behaviour: Making effective decisions

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

We will test your behaviours and experience as part of the sift process, if successful you will be invited to a short interview where we will test your behaviours and strengths. Full details of the selection process will be made available to shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed. 

Expected Timeline (subject to change) 

Sift – w/c 29 January 2024 

Interview – w/c 12 February 2024 

Location - MS Teams  

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Insolvency 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.

Transforming Workplaces

The Insolvency Service is currently delivering an exciting five-year transformation project that started in April 2022 which will define our future direction supporting a gradual migration to a Regional Centre model combined with smarter ways of working. As part of this, transforming our estate will align us with the government modernisation programmes making The Insolvency Service a great place to work.  

We are letting you know about our future plans because if you are joining the Insolvency Service and are recruited into an office over the next five years that is not one of the Regional Centres, you will be expected to move to one of the Regional Centres in the future. This move would not attract financial assistance.   

The 11 Regional Centres are : Birmingham, Cardiff, Croydon, Edinburgh, Exeter, Ipswich, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Stratford.

Hybrid Working

Insolvency Service operates a hybrid working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.

Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending a minimum of 60% in the workplace, which includes the office, site visits, court etc.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via insolvencyrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ 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

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is 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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.