Details
$ads={1}
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates
At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.
Equality and Diversity - Department for Education
We are seeking to recruit an EO as a caseworker on the Intercountry Adoption (ICA) Team based in Darlington. The team processes intercountry adoption applications (casework) predominantly relating to prospective adopters who are resident in the UK wishing to adopt a child from overseas. The team ensures that adoptions are processed in compliance with intercountry adoption policy and legislation, including compliance with international agreements and conventions.
This is a fixed Darlington post as it is a front-line delivery role requiring access to physical casework files and processing documentation securely stored in Darlington as well as handling incoming and outgoing physical post to and from the Darlington office.
The friendly and supportive ICA Team is led by a Grade 7 and has 1 SEO (Senior Policy Advisor), 1 HEO (Casework Manager) and 3 EO caseworkers.
You will be expected to work out of the Darlington office for at least 3 days a week as a normal working pattern. Across the team there needs to be provision of a high-quality casework service covering Monday – Friday, including taking phone calls. This is to ensure that time critical tasks e.g. child matching and entry clearance checks are not delayed. We accommodate flexible working arrangements across the team around meeting this business need.
Job description
This is a suitable role for a high performing person to work in an extremely interesting and rewarding front-line operational delivery environment.
- You will manage a portfolio of intercountry adoption casework and play a key role in finding new, loving, permanent families for vulnerable children from across the world.
- You will help ensure that important legal and safeguarding checks are completed and that adoptions are compliant with legislation.
- You will process casework in a professional, timely manner and help achieve the best outcomes for children and families.
- You will be playing a part in helping to deliver the government’s aims to safeguard and improve outcomes for vulnerable children.
Work on intercountry adoption can be fast paced and challenging at times. You will be dealing directly with prospective adopters, adoption agencies, other government departments and overseas authorities. The team will support you and provide training and induction and you can buddy up with an experienced caseworker on the team. There are also good developmental opportunities both within the team and the wider division.
The postholder’s key responsibilities will include:
Having responsibility for processing a portfolio of intercountry adoption cases from receipt in the Department, through to the adoption being completed, in a timely manner within target period.- Checking intercountry adoption applications for compliance with UK and other countries eligibility requirements and legislation. Identify and proactively pursue any missing information, required to take an application forward.
- Organising the correct processing of applications by other agencies/authorities (e.g. Notary Publics, Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)), prior to sending the adoption application to another country.
- Working effectively in partnership with UK Adoption Agencies, other government departments, the Devolved Administrations and overseas authorities, to correctly process a variety of adoption cases.
- Responding to correspondence received from, both written and telephone enquiries, from a broad spectrum of stakeholders (including prospective adopters, solicitors, notary publics, other government departments and UK adoption agencies) regarding the adoption process, in line with Departmental correspondence timescales and standards.
- Liaising with colleagues from UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) (Entry Clearance Officers – ECOs) regarding visa applications from adoptive families, by completing timely internal checks on whether they have complied with, and satisfied UK adoption legislation.
- Using the ICA Team Casework Record Management (CRM) system to accurately record application data, and efficiently manage and prioritise your casework tasks.
- Protecting personal information, on both casework and IT systems, in accordance with Departmental processes and guidelines.
Person specification
This role would suit someone who wants the opportunity to use and develop a wide range of skills in a front-line operational delivery role.
Essential criteria for the caseworker role are:
- Excellent organisational skills with ability to plan and prioritise effectively to deliver at pace, including escalating issues as appropriate.
- Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, providing a high-quality customer service.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team, responding flexibly to changing business demands and supporting colleagues.
- Robust attention to detail with ability to assess information against defined criteria and make effective decisions.
Desirable criteria for the caseworker roles are:
- Experience of working in a casework environment.
- Experience of working in a front-line customer service role.
Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie break situation to help make an informed decision between candidates.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King's Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application
At the application stage, we will assess Experience. Candidates will be sifted through their CV and a personal statement.
Your personal statement (maximum 750 words) should display how your Experience meets the essential criteria of the role, listed in the person specification section.
If we receive exceptionally high volumes of applications we shall sift only on your experience regarding the following essential criteria:
- Excellent organisational skills with ability to plan and prioritise effectively to deliver at pace, including escalating issues as appropriate.
Interview
The interview will involve Experience and Behaviour related questions. Experience related questions will relate to the essential criteria listed.
The interview will explore the following Behaviours:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview. Interviews will take place at our Darlington office, dates to be confirmed.
Other Information
We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.
The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.
For this role the department would not consider sponsoring a Certificate of Sponsorship/visa. Please note we are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe 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 circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.
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.
Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs
Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.
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 Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk 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.
Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
