Child Maintenance Service - Service Centre Support Team Senior Leader
22 hours ago
Birkenhead
The Child Maintenance Service employs around 5,000 colleagues who are dispersed across 8 UK Service Centre sites along with colleagues from other DWP Directorates. The Service Centre Support Team (SCST) Lead works collaboratively with teams across CMS and external partners to provide vital site-wide support services for all colleagues and Directorates in the Service Centre. The role ensures the workplace is safe, healthy, efficient, and well maintained, so all colleagues can focus on delivering a great service to customers. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a small team, support senior leaders, and make sure our Service Centres run smoothly. As a successful candidate, you will: Lead your team by setting clear goals, managing resources, developing capability, and identifying risks. Demonstrate integrity, fairness, and openness in your leadership, and encourage a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Make sure your site follows Health and Safety laws, keeps risk assessments updated, and supports emergency and evacuation procedures. Approach safety with diligence, attention to detail, and a proactive attitude, ensuring the wellbeing of all occupants. Support the Senior Responsible Officer for your site by assuming their delegated responsibilities as required. Display reliability, discretion, and the ability to act decisively when needed. Create and update business continuity and incident management plans, including all occupying colleagues, testing the plans regularly, and managing any incidents. Chair the Business Disruption Forum when necessary. Foster a collaborative environment, encourage open communication, and remain calm and solution-focused during disruptions. Plan and implement site projects, involving all stakeholders, and tracking progress to deliver a high-quality and professional service on time. Show adaptability, resilience and a commitment to delivering results through teamwork. Run daily site operations, working with outside partners and suppliers, keeping the site secure, fixing problems, and organising building projects. Uphold high standards of professionalism, treat all partners with respect, and take initiative to resolve issues promptly. Manage the site space for all teams, working with Estates and other groups to make sure everyone has what they need to do their jobs. Plan and oversee office moves as needed. Practice empathy and inclusivity, ensuring the needs of all occupants are considered and addressed. Lead local employee relations talks, build good relationships with trade unions, and help solve site-wide issues. Exhibit strong interpersonal skills, active listening, and a constructive approach to conflict resolution. Support CMS priorities by helping with recruitment, sharing local communications, and making sure staff complete mandatory training. Be supportive, approachable, and motivated to help others develop and succeed. Build strong relationships with colleagues and stakeholders by chairing key site meetings and working closely with internal and external partners, contractors, and suppliers. Promote trust, collaboration, and a positive workplace culture through clear communication and mutual respect. Person specification This is what you will be assessed against, and should align your Personal Statement to. Your evidence will be assessed against the following essential criteria. You must ensure you provide specific examples to demonstrate these criteria in your Personal Statement. Candidates will be able to demonstrate the following: Essential Criteria: • Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and experience of applying Health and Safety legislation confidently in the workplace, taking personal responsibility for safety and acting immediately when concerns arise (Lead Criteria)., • Proven track record in managing resources and priorities to deliver a high-quality and professional service - able to demonstrate how you set clear standards, stay organised, and follow through on commitments., • Proven strong leadership abilities, skilled in providing clear direction, influencing decisions and encouraging positive behaviours by being clear, fair, and supportive., • Adept at organising and managing multiple projects and tasks at the same time in a challenging environment of fast-paced change - demonstrating an ability to plan, stay flexible, pay close attention to detail, and manage risks carefully., • Strong skills in building effective working relationships with a diverse range of colleagues, stakeholders, and suppliers - demonstrating a proven ability to influence and bring people on board, securing commitment to working collaboratively towards shared goals., • Able to work independently and take the initiative - being creative when facing challenges to solve problems quickly and comfortable working with change and ambiguity., • Communicates clearly and effectively in writing and when speaking, providing practical advice, guidance, and support, using language that everyone can understand. Desirable Criteria We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: • Managing a Quality Service, • Working Together, • Delivering at Pace, • Changing and Improving Benefits Alongside your salary of 44,447, Department for Work and Pensions contributes 12,876 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. Working for DWP will include benefits such as learning and development tailored to your role, an environment with flexible working options, a culture encouraging inclusion and diversity. Annual Leave 23 days annual leave rising with service to 30 days, plus public holidays. Flexi Time Access to flexible working hours scheme will be available. Hybrid Working This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where anemployee works 60% of the week in their DWP office and 40% of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement andyour 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 considered. 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. Working Hours The Departments contracted working hours are: • Monday to Friday:07:45 to 20:00, • Forfull-time employees, this is37 net hours per week(equivalent to42 gross hours, including meal breaks). See the Candidate Pack for more of the benefits available to as a Civil Servant. Eligibility Visa Sponsorship For these vacancies, we strongly recommend that applicants consult with an immigration specialist or qualified advisor to assess their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship before deciding to apply. Please note that while we consider sponsorship requests in accordance with current DWP guidance and Home Office policy, sponsorship cannot be guaranteed. Location Applicants should only apply for roles where theycan reasonably commute to and from their selected home office location daily. 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 submit a CV and 1250-word Personal Statement. Important Information Regarding Anonymisation When completing your application form, CV and personal statement you must remove any personal details that could be used to identify you. This includes name and contact details which might usually appear on a CV or personal statement. Failure to do so will result in your application being withdrawn. Personal Statement Write an evidence-based statement demonstrating your suitability for the role, reflecting on the essential criteriaoutlined in the Job Description. Your evidence-based statement should be no longer than 1250 words. Avoid generalised claims focus instead on specific examples that highlight your achievements. For each example, explain the context, the challenges you faced, the actions you took, and the outcomes you achieved. Sift The sift panel will assess your evidence-based statement to evaluate your experience, skills, and knowledge against the essential criteria outlined in the job advert. To progress to the next stage of the application process, you must provide clear and sufficient evidence demonstrating how you meet these criteria. If we receive a high volume of applications, aninitial siftmay be conducted using the lead criterion: CV Your CV is for reference/context only and isnot scored, put the main content of your evidence and skills in your personal statement. Interview The interview will assess yourbehaviours and strengths. Your interview will be conducted by video (MS Teams) and you will be required to deliver a 5 minute presentation as part of the interview process. Details of the subject will be sent in advance of the interview. See the Personal Statement Guidance and Candidate Pack attachments for full details of the application and selection process. Approximate campaign timeline: Sift Period: 21 - 24 October 2025 Interviews: 6 - 11 November 2025 Results Issued: From 17/11/25 Sometimes we might decide to invite all candidates straight to interview without assessing the written application evidence, therefore sift and interview dates are subject to change. 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 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. 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 youre 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 Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks 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 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 applicants 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 DWPs 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 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. 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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) . Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) 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 : Mike Shaw Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commissions 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: . 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. Attachments SEO SCST Candidate Pack VN428776 Opens in new window (pdf, 1070kB) Personal Statement Guidance Opens in new window (docx, 51kB) DWP Terms and Conditions January 2024 (3) Opens in new window (docx, 17kB) Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview-Accessble-Version Opens in new window (docx, 69kB)