Details
Reference number
429162
Salary
£32,137
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
DWP - Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt - Debt Management
Type of role
Debt Management
Investigation
Operational Delivery
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
Pontypridd
About the job
Job summary
Are you a Welsh speaker?
Would you relish the opportunity to speak Welsh in your daily work, to provide a service to our Welsh speaking customers?
DWP helps people lift themselves out of poverty and to stay out of poverty, through work, saving and support. This is a hugely important public service, and our challenge is bigger than ever. As part of Counter Fraud and Compliance and Debt (CFCD) Directorate you will be at the heart of DWP's front line operations, helping to change people lives and supporting CFCD purpose of fighting fraud in the welfare system.
Why work here?
Are you looking for a varied, exciting and challenging role? Do you have great communication skills, build relationships easily and a positive mindset?
We at the DWP are committed to making our workforce reflect the communities we serve and as such we are looking to add to our existing network of Welsh Speaking colleagues, by recruiting Bilingual (Welsh/English) Team Leaders at our office in Pontypridd.
As a bilingual (Welsh/English) Team Leader you will play a key role in making a real difference to people's lives, particularly our Welsh speaking customers by supporting them to access DWP Debt Management services.
If so, we would like to hear from you.
We have an amazing opportunity for Team Leaders to come onboard, within CFCD. Our aim is to drive down the level of fraud, error and debt within the benefit system, to protect the public purse, as well as protecting those most vulnerable in our society.
We are looking for successful applicants who are well suited and committed to providing high levels of customer service who we offer an exciting role at the heart of CFCD. We offer bespoke on the job training with opportunities for progression and development.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion matters to us. We are keen to hear from candidates from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences and excited about you bringing your "whole self" to work for CFCD.
If you want to join somewhere that recognises the importance of work-life balance, where you can learn new skills and progress your career, then CFCD is the place for you.
Job description
Responsibilities will include but will not be restricted to:
* Lead and motivate staff, providing visible and effective leadership to staff at all levels of the business always engaging in an honest and open way.
* Act as a positive role model for all staff, motivating and managing staff development.
* Understand and utilise management information (MI) and other performance data to drive continuous improvement within the team and contribute to overall CFCD Performance.
* Focus on delivering to agreed goals and priorities to achieve collective commitments, team expectations and quality outcomes.
* Working closely with leaders to ensure consistency and robust application of all DWP policies and ensure staff are aware of their responsibilities.
* Take responsibility for own development to improve competency and skills and support and coach others to do the same.
* Promote the work of the department and play an active part in supporting the Civil Service values and culture.
Person specification
We are looking for people who:
* Are able to speak and understand spoken Welsh (Essential Criteria).
* Demonstrate effective leadership and communication skills.
* Display integrity and support for others, acting as a positive role model for team and colleagues.
* Demonstrate strong judgement and decision-making skills.
* Demonstrate accountability and ownership, providing context and rationale for decisions, and display confidence when making difficult decisions, even if they prove to be unpopular.
* Display confidence and resilience in decision making, delivering difficult messages and dealing effectively with HR issues.
* Ability to work collaboratively with wider teams to support delivery outcomes.
* Deal appropriately with challenging and vulnerable individuals.
* Inspire others through positivity, drive, and energy to achieve outcomes and deliver change.
* Have a flexible and adaptable leadership style with an ability to reach a diverse audience and be prepared to engage effectively with our partners.
* Have a desire to showcase public service at its best.
* Can work in a demanding and complex environment with changing priorities.
Languages
Standard of Spoken Welsh – Candidates should be able to converse clearly and understand spoken Welsh to:
* Discuss customers personal circumstances, including financial issues.
* Explain benefits rules, requirements and decisions.
* Understand customers questions and be able to respond.
Webinar event
We will be holding a webinar event to let you know more about this role. This will take place on the following date:
* Monday 29/09/2025 at 12:00 to 13:00PM EO Debt Bilingual Team Leader Webinar- 29/09/2025
Please follow the link to register for the session. Those who attend may be contacted following the event for evaluation purposes to improve our service.
Languages
Standard of Spoken Welsh – Candidates should be able to converse clearly and understand spoken Welsh to:
•
Discuss customers personal circumstances, including financial issues.
•
Explain benefits rules, requirements and decisions.
•
Understand customers questions and be able to respond.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Leadership
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
* Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £32,137, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £9,310 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
* Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
* Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
* Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
* Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
* Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year's continuous service.
* Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
* An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women's Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Stage 1 – Written Application and Sift
Your written application can be in English or Welsh and is not a measure of your written Welsh (the essential criteria is to communicate verbally in Welsh)
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete examples of the Civil Service Behaviours below using no more than 250 words for each behaviour. These should contain things you have done in the past and how your skills and experience demonstrate those Civil Service Behaviours.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process (Level 2):
* Leadership (Lead Behaviour)
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
* Managing a Quality Service
It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:
* WHO - What it was, how you approached the work/situation and what the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? or
* STAR - What was the Situation? That were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?
If you do not have work-based examples then please give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.
The written evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences.
In the event of a high volume of applications it may be necessary to undertake an initial sift using the Lead Behaviour – Leadership. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to an interview.
If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all DCS candidates who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.
However, in the event of a low number of applications, candidates may be progressed to interview without their written application being sifted.
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
You will also be asked to complete a CV with details of your education, professional qualifications and full employment history. Your CV will not be formally assessed so please put the main evidence of your skills into your personal statement. Your CV will be used to add context to your personal statement.
**Please note the closing date for your full application is 23:55 on 07/10/2025**
The sift is scheduled to be held from 13/10/2025 to 17/10/2025. These dates may be subject to change.
Stage 3 - Interview
If you pass the written application sift with the required score you will be invited to a blended interview and will receive an electronic notification to your Civil Service Jobs account.
The interview will be conducted face to face at our Pontypridd office. If you require any reasonable adjustments to attend a face-to-face interview, please ensure you state those on your application form when asked to do so.
Interviews are scheduled to take place from 03/11/2025 to 07/11/2025, please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. Interviews will be scheduled Monday to Friday, between 09:00 to 17:00.
Communications will be electronic, SMS or by telephone therefore it is important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder. Telephone calls may show as a withheld number, it is important that you answer so that your interview can be confirmed.
If you would like to opt out of SMS messages, please email CFCD..GOV.UK
As part of our commitment to improving the candidate experience, you may be contacted during the recruitment process to provide feedback.
The interview will be conducted in Welsh to ensure you can speak and understand conversational Welsh.
Candidates will be asked questions in Welsh and will need to respond and give their answers in Welsh. We will take a relaxed approach focusing on examples for the behaviours listed. The consideration is can you converse & be understood in Welsh - it is not a Welsh exam.
Preparing for the Interview
The interview will take between minutes and will consist of behaviour and strength-based questions.
A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation offering a more inclusive approach. The behaviour and strength-based questioning explores what you, the candidate, can and have done, but also your potential.
Behaviours
You will be assessed against the Civil Service Behaviours listed at level 1.
An example of a behavioural question would be "Tell me about a time when you have had to deal with a difficult customer."
It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:
* WHO- What it was? How you approached the work/situation? What the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? or
* STAR- What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?
Strengths
It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role.
While strengths questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this.
If you do not have work-based examples then please give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.
The evidence you provide in your interview must relate to your own thoughts and experiences.
If you withdraw your application at any stage, it will not be progressed any further.
Stage 4 – Offer
Once all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome by email. Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first.
The successful candidate(s) will be notified of a start date following successful security checks, which is likely to be during January 26.
To note: Where applicants do not meet the standard for the Executive Officer by a small margin, they may be offered a post at Administrative Officer (AO) – Bilingual Telephony Officer level. These roles may be permanent or Fixed Term appointments dependent on business requirements.
Please note:
* If you are offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances*.
* If we make an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.
* Note: exceptional circumstances could be when a candidate has requested a contractual part time working pattern and this pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered, or in cases of serious ill health.
Important information
Visa
Please note that these vacancies are not currently eligible for new applications for Visa Sponsorship on the Skilled Worker route, for any candidates who do not currently have permission to be in the UK as a Skilled Worker where they were sponsored before 4 April 2024, even if relying on tradeable points (including the new entrant tradeable points option) as they are not included in the published Immigration Salary List. This information is offered as guidance only, and we recommend that applicants seek specialist advice on their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship (if applicable) when considering whether to apply for any role.
Candidate pack
It is important that you take time to read the candidate pack which can be found at the bottom of this job advert. This provides further information about the role and working in DWP.
Location
You should only apply for suitable posts where you can travel to and from your 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.
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. Hybrid working will not commence until any training and consolidation period has been successfully completed.
Working pattern and Training
Part-time, part-year, term-time compressed hours and job-sharing working patterns within working hours will be considered but must meet business needs. We will do our best to let people with existing part time contracts retain their contracted hours provided they are in line with current business needs. Please note that successful candidates with agreed alternative working patterns will be required to work full time for specific periods to complete all training and consolidation. Currently initial training can last for a minimum of 6 weeks technical training plus team leader training, during which time you will be required to work full time in the office.
Every effort will be made to arrange for training to be held during your agreed normal working hours. Exceptionally, where this is not possible, you will need to be prepared to adjust your normal hours to attend for training and pay will be adjusted accordingly. In these circumstances you will be given details of your revised times of attendance for the period of the training event by management. Time off in lieu may be taken as an alternative to payment at the discretion of your manager and subject to the needs of the work where appropriate.
Hours of work
The full-time working week in DWP is 37 hours. You may be required to work at any time between the hours of:
* 7:45am and 8:00pm on any day between Monday to Friday, and
* 8:45am to 5:00pm on Saturday.
Managers will agree working patterns with successful applicants within these business hours and review these as appropriate. You will be given advance notice of your personal schedule.
Further Information
At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 3 months from which further appointments can be made.
If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:
* If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual Part Time Working Pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health).
* If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.
Disability Confident Scheme
If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.
Learning and Development
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, such as 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; your failure to participate fully in the professional programme, once appointed, may be a breach of your employment contract.
If DWP decides that it is no longer a requirement for you to undertake and attain a work-based qualification, it will release you from this obligation. Any decision to release you from this obligation will not be a breach of contract by DWP.
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.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms and conditions of employment, for example mobility, pay and allowances. Civil Servants who transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms and 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.
The evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. If evidence of plagiarism, or sharing of questions, information or answers throughout any part of the selection process is found, your application will be withdrawn. Examples of plagiarism can include:
* Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own.
* Copying content from an online/published source.
* Using forms of Artificial Intelligence to produce application content which you present as your own.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Reasonable Adjustments
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 the Government Recruitment Service via 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.
Integrity, plagiarism, Civil Service Principles and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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.
Examples of plagiarism can include:
* Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
* Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks
To process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service or 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- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
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.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check will be carried out.
Important
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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. If you are a current employee and are successful you must be able to be released from your current post within four weeks.
Those on protected TUPE/ COSoP terms and conditions applying on promotion or voluntary permanent level move will adopt DWP's Terms and Conditions and this may have a different impact on pay and allowances. Please review this prior to acceptance of a role.
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. Accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions.
Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.
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 the Childcare Choices Website.
Feedback
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)
* 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 .
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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
* Name : CFCD Recruitment Team
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR..GOV.UK.
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.