About the job

Job summary

We are looking to welcome 12 new Work Psychologists to the DWP Work Psychology Service. This is a unique role providing an opportunity to contribute to our vibrant and diverse community of nearly 100 Work Psychologists. You will apply evidence-based occupational psychology tools and techniques to support DWP customers towards employment. The customers you support will have health conditions, disabilities or other disadvantages regarding the labour market. You will do this directly with customers, e.g. through one-to-one employment assessments or group work. And you will do this indirectly by helping to build the capability of Jobcentre colleagues in their own customer work. Note, this role includes customer contact working directly with members of the public who are in receipt of benefits via the Jobcentre.

This role can be based in any Jobcentre site within the relevant district, where space allows and where there is a business need. You will cover a range of Jobcentres within your district and travel will be required. 

Locations

 Please note these roles will be based in our business areas listed

• North and East Midlands - Suffolk
• North and East Midlands - Lincolnshire
• South West - covering Cornwall (travel across Cornwall and Devon will be required)
• South West - covering Hampshire (travel across Hampshire and Isle of Wight will be required)
• North Wales - covering Gwynedd, Anglesey, and Conwy
• North and Mid Wales - covering Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham County and Powys
• South East - Bedfordshire
• Scotland - Glasgow
• Scotland - Central Area (excluding Edinburgh)
• North Central - West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire
• West Midlands - Black Country covering Walsall, Wolverhampton, Sandwell, and Dudley
• North West - Greater Manchester

Successful candidates will have an opportunity to express a location preference as part of the selection process. The candidate can be based anywhere in the area they are allocated in discussion with their Line Manager and where capacity exits within a site. Other locations may become available.

Job description

Responsibilities

Under the professional supervision of a Senior Work Psychologist:

• Designing, delivering and evaluating one-to-one interventions to assess the employment related support needs of job seeking customers who are socially excluded, vulnerable or otherwise disadvantaged. The assessment might, for example, focus on the identification of suitable work goals, work solutions or technological support to help customers find, sustain and progress in work.
• Developing, facilitating and evaluating work-focused group interventions to help job seeking customers build work search skills, positive beliefs about work and make informed employment decisions.
• Facilitating case conferences: a structured conversational approach with a group of frontline colleagues who are seeking advice on how to progress complex customer cases towards work or other positive life change.
• Providing individual caseload management support to help colleagues effectively support jobseekers assigned to them and to work towards achieving appropriate work focused outcomes.
• Designing, delivering and evaluating interventions to help colleagues increase their knowledge and skills of job-relevant topics (e.g. mental health and employment) and skills areas (e.g. coaching skills).
• Actively promote the Work Psychology service at all levels of the organisation through collaboration with non-psychologist colleagues, for example through networking with internal and external partners and delivering awareness presentations.
• Using the consultancy cycle to explore issues, implement, evaluate and report effectively the outcomes of bespoke evidence-based interventions to support senior leaders to develop their teams and progress jobseekers.
• Working collaboratively with your line manager to reach an achievable balance between your continuous professional development and job training obligations and frontline business priorities.
• For Chartered Psychologists only (NB chartered status is not required at this grade): Supervising Work Psychologist colleagues through the Qualification in Occupational Psychology Stage 2 (QOP Stage II). If not already registered on the Register of Applied Practice Psychology Supervisors (RAPPS), work towards RAPPS eligibility within a reasonable timescale.

The video attached provides an introduction by our Chief Psychologist to the Civil Service and DWP Work Psychology role followed by Work Psychology descriptions of what they enjoy about their role  

 https://youtu.be/abUGlggh_F4

Person specification

Key Criteria  

The ideal candidate will have: 

• Good interpersonal skills with an ability to make sense of others experience that can build self-belief. (Lead Key Criteria)
• Knowledge and understanding of the psychology relating to the issues facing unemployed people.
• Good verbal and written communication skills and be able to explain how you convey complex information in a way that is easy for others to understand.
• Demonstrating an active contribution to a team in delivery of shared goals.
• Understanding, adherence and application of British Psychological Society ethical principles and professional standards.
• Able to find and evaluate different sources of information and use it to reach effective decisions.
• Confidently engage with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation and building trusting relationships, using an evidence-based approach to challenge when appropriate.
• Able to prioritise and organise your workload, demonstrating personal flexibility. 

Desirable Criteria 

• Experience of engaging with individuals from marginalised groups or who are significantly disadvantaged in the labour market, e.g. people experiencing mental health issues, learning support needs, or other disabilities.
• Digital skills to support data analysis, project management and communicating information.  

Benefits

• Autonomy over how you deliver your role within the parameters of the Work Psychology business model
• Opportunities for professional development
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Generous annual leave 25 days for Full Time new entrants
• All bank holidays
• Flexible working patterns available
• Family-friendly policies-competitive maternity, paternity, and parental leave
• Employee Assistance Programme with emphasis on wellbeing
• Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more
• Interest-free loans to but a bike or a season ticket, so it`s even easier for you to get to work and start making a difference

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

To assist with your preparation candidates may wish to read the How to Apply , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a personal statement of no more than 1250 words addressing how you meet the Key Criteria stated above. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

• Within the first paragraph it is essential that you must state the specific qualifications that you hold. These MUST meet the minimum standards specified in the Qualification section above.
• 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 role responsibilities, and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role.
• Your layout is entirely your preference: you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address the criteria separately; however one narrative example may cover and evidence several key criteria.
• You may not be able to meet all the criteria, but please ensure you address any gaps and how your experience might be relevant.
• You don`t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used.

Sift

The sift will take place from 3/1/24 to 8/1/24

We will sift your personal statement and within the first paragraph it is essential that you state the specific qualifications that you hold which must meet the minimum standards specified in the qualification section. The sift will award a score based on how closely it demonstrated the Key Criteria stated for the role.

Should a large number of applications be received an initial sift may be conducted using the Lead Key Criteria.

Candidates who pass the sift will be invited to an assessment centre.

Assessment Centre

The assessment centre for this role will take place between 22nd and 26th January 2024.

Interview

We will use a blended interview which will be conducted via a face-to face online interview lasting approximately 60 minutes. The interview panel will be a minimum of two people. We will assess you using behaviour and technical questions. These will explore what the candidate can and has done, but also their potential. The behaviour questions and technical questions will be issued to candidates in advance of the interview to help preparation.

Presentation 

You will be asked to deliver a presentation lasting 10 minutes, followed by questions for a further 5 minutes. The presentation is verbal only without the use of visual aids. Further details regarding the topic for the interview will be included in the invite to interview. 

Role play exercise and written report

This exercise will be described on the assessment day

This 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 at home. This is a voluntary, non -contractual agreement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone can work from 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 taking up post.

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/Disclosure Scotland 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. 

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 Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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.

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

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.