DWP breaches Civil Service Commission’s rules for work coach recruitment

'System error' resulted in applicants that did not score highly enough to progress to an interview subsequently being made a job offer

The DWP has breached the Civil Service Commission’s rules for work coach recruitment, according to the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union.

In July 2020, in response to expected job losses as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Work and Pensions Secretary Thérèse Coffey announced that 4,500 new work coaches would be 'in post' by October 2020, ahead of their total number being doubled to 27,000 by March 2021.

However, despite the launch of a 'rapid recruitment plan’ in September 2020, the DWP was only able to confirm at the end of October 2020 that it had 'lined up' the new recruits.

Now, the PCS Union reports that, as a result of a 'system error', the recruitment exercise breached the Civil Service Commission's rules on fair and open competition, with some applicants that did not score highly enough to progress to an interview subsequently being made a job offer.

The PCS advises that some of its members have received letters from the DWP which tell them -

'It is a legal requirement that selection for recruitment to any role in the Civil Service must be on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. This is overseen by the Civil Service Commission who provide assurance that civil servants are selected in this way and to help safeguard an impartial Civil Service

All of DWP’s Work Coach recruitment in September and October was treated as a single recruitment campaign by the Civil Service Commission. The application form which you submitted to us as your first application was considered and scored but did not score sufficiently highly for you to progress to interview.  You were notified of this outcome by email. The score from this initial application should have been applied to your second and any subsequent applications which you made for the September/October Work Coach vacancies as they were all within a single recruitment campaign.

However due to a system error you were invited to an interview from a later application which you made for the same recruitment campaign and then subsequently made a job offer in error for a Work Coach role.'

The PCS adds that those affected have been told -

'In view of the circumstances, DWP does not propose to withdraw your offer of your 12-month employment as a Work Coach and we have agreed with the Civil Service Commission an exception to the normal rules on fair and open competition. However, your continued employment in the role is conditional upon you agreeing that the following additions to your terms and conditions are acceptable to you, as they will apply to your 12-month appointment ...'

The PCS says that it is due to hold further discussions on the issue with the DWP in January 2021 and that, in the interim, its members should not agree to any additions to their terms and conditions of employment.

For more information, see DWP Breach of Commissioner’s rules for Work Coach Recruitment and Updated Guidance for members on Commissioner’s rules for Work Coach Recruitment.