DLUHC recruitment and onboarding process

Thank you for your interest in a role at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
(DLUHC).

This guidance will explain our recruitment and onboarding process:

1. Application
2. Interview
3. Provisional offer
4. Onboarding forms
5. Pre-employment checks
6. Arranging a start date

There are two different teams you can contact during this process:

• before you know about the outcome of your interview, contact the Recruitment Team at
recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk
• If you receive an offer after your interview, contact the Onboarding Team at
onboarding@levellingup.gov.uk

Application
If you are not currently a civil servant
DLUHC roles are advertised on Civil Service Jobs. The job advert will tell you about the role and what
we will look for in your application and interview.

Current civil servants

On Civil Service Jobs, you can apply for both:

• external roles (advertised to the public)

• across government roles (not advertised to the public)

Moving from another government department to DLUHC

If you work for a department other than DLUHC, you can also apply through an Expression of
Interest (EOI). These are mainly used for temporary roles and are marked as EOIs on Civil Service
Jobs. You will be asked to write a personal statement and get approval to transfer from your current
line manager. The process will be stated on the job advert.
Transfer within DLUHC

If you already work in DLUHC, you can see our internal EOIs on the intranet. You can see both
internal, across government and external campaigns on Civil Service Jobs. Internal EOIs may also be
shared with you via email. DLUHC transfers may require either an informal conversation or a formal
interview, depending on the role.

Office locations
If you get the role, you will need to be assigned to an office location. We currently expect employees
to spend 40% of their time in their office location and 60% home working.

We have offices across the UK, with hubs in Wolverhampton and Darlington. We are looking for
more roles to be based in those offices.

The BeApplied platform

Most of our applications are handled through BeApplied.

BeApplied helps us reduce bias by anonymising answers and showing answers from different
candidates in random order.

Guaranteed interview schemes

Guaranteed interview schemes are designed to widen the pool of people we recruit into the
department.

You will be asked during your application whether you want to apply through one of these schemes.

Disability Confident Scheme

We are a Disability Confident employer which means that disabled applicants who apply under this
scheme and meet the minimum criteria, will automatically be offered an interview.

Great Place to Work for Veterans

Veterans who apply and meet the minimum criteria for a role will be automatically invited to an
interview.

To be eligible for this scheme you must:

• have served at least one year in the Armed Forces as a Regular or Reserve
• be leaving or no longer be in the Armed Forces
• not be a current civil servant, or already employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited
public body
Redeployment Interview Scheme pilot
If you are a civil servant at risk of redundancy and you meet the essential criteria for a role, you will
be invited to an interview. This scheme covers internal and external job vacancies and runs until 31
March 2023. The pilot covers all grades, At Length Bodies (ALBs) and government departments. Civil
servants can only be redeployed to a role of the same or lower grade.
Application sifting
When the application deadline closes, your application will be sifted along with all other applicants.

A panel of 2 to 4 people will do the sifting. Panels should be diverse at least in gender, and ideally
should represent a range of ethnicity, disability and experience.

The panel will not be given any of your personal information. Your answers will be mixed in with
answers from other applicants, to make sure each answer is scored on its own merit.

You will be scored on each answer. Behaviour, Ability, Experience and Technical questions are
scored out of 5.

Success Profiles
The civil service uses Success Profiles as a framework to assess applications, examining these
elements:

• Behaviours - this looks at what you do to perform well in a job

• Strengths - these are things that you are motivated by and tasks that you do well frequently
• Ability - This looks at your potential to do the role
• Experience - This looks at what you have done before and your knowledge and expertise in a
task or subject
• Technical - this covers your specific professional skills, knowledge or qualifications

The job advert will also tell you:

• if you will need to complete any tests or tasks

• if you get the job, the level of security check you will need before you start
• the options for office locations for the role

For more information on Success Profiles, please see the Success Profile guidance that is also
attached to the job advert.

If you would like more information on verbal and numerical tests, please read the guidance for Civil
Service verbal and numerical tests.

Success Profile elements are scored out of 5 except the Strengths element which is scored out of 4.

Lead questions
Some vacancies have a lead question. This is also sometimes called a lead behaviour or lead
element.

If we think that a lot of people will be applying for a role, we will add a lead question. Our initial sift
will be on this question. We will then reject all applications that do not meet the benchmark for the
lead question. All remaining applications will go through a full sift.
The lead question, if there is one, will be marked in the job application. We recommend paying
particular attention to this question.

CV and cover letter

Some roles ask for application by CV and cover letter. To minimise bias, these should anonymous.
Please remove information which could identify you from your CV and cover letter. This includes
your name, age, gender, location and information about your education.

We ask panels to ignore any personal information and they must do specific training to reduce
unconscious bias and indirect discrimination before sifting.
Interview
Once the sift panel has scored every application, the hiring manager will set a benchmark score.
Every applicant who scores at least the benchmark will be invited to interview.

Most interviews are being held online on Microsoft Teams. You do not need to download Teams or
create an account. You can join the interview as a guest in your web browser.

Please check that you have a good internet connection and that your camera is working before the
call. Have a form of photo ID to hand, to show your interviewer.

There may be some face-to-face interviews, if this is the case, the Recruitment Team will let you
know.

If you can’t make the interview, please contact the hiring manager listed on the job advert or
recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk.

The questions in the interview will only cover the Success Profile elements that were in the job
description. You may be set a test or a task, such as a presentation for the interview. If so, it will say
in the job advert and further details will be provided in the interview invite.

Workplace adjustments
Workplace adjustments are changes to remove or reduce disadvantages in the workplace or
application process. They can be physical or non-physical changes to help employees.

Your application will give you the chance to say if you need any adjustments for your interview, but
you can also let recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk or the hiring manager know. For example, you may
request a written copy of questions to help adjust for anxiety.

Feedback
After all interviews are complete, you will be sent a link from BeApplied with your interview
outcome, how you scored for each question and feedback from the panel.

Reserve list
If you passed the interview but did not get the job as there was another candidate with a higher
score, we will keep your details on a reserve list for 6 months. If you are on the reserve list, you may
be offered roles at the same or lower grade than the one you applied for.

We will let you know if we are putting you on a reserve list. If you are applying for a role that
requires a Counter Terrorism Check, we may contact you to start this process in case you are offered
a role. If you want to be removed from the reserve list, please email
recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk.
Near miss
If you do not meet the grade criteria for the role you applied for, you may be offered a role at a
lower grade either immediately or after being placed on the reserve list.
Onboarding
If you get an email telling you that you were successful at interview, you will be handed over from
the Recruitment Team to the Onboarding Team. If you have any questions, please contact the
Onboarding Team at onboarding@levellingup.gov.uk.

Provisional offer
If you are successful at interview, you will be sent a provisional offer. The offer is conditional until
pre-employment checks are complete. Once these are complete, we will arrange a start date.

Current civil servants

If you are transferring departments, you will now follow this process: step by step for a successful
transfer.

If you are already in DLUHC, you may not need pre-employment checks. We will check that you have
the right level of security clearance for your new role. Your current line manager and hiring manager
will then arrange a start date with you.
Onboarding forms
We’ll send you a link to our onboarding forms, which will ask you for this information:

• your personal details, including your National Insurance number

• your bank account details, so we know how to pay you
• the address and telephone number of your emergency contact
• the address and email for 3 references - unless you are a current civil servant or secondee
• your tax details so you are taxed the right amount and not put on emergency tax

If you are not currently a civil servant, we will also send you the following to complete:

• a form about your pension history, to make sure you get the correct pension
• an optional Civil Service Workplace Adjustments Service (CSWAS) form to fill in if you are
disabled or need workplace adjustments.

If you are a civil servant transferring from another Civil Service department, we will also send you:

• a Civil Service Employee Transfer Form (CSETF)

Workplace adjustments
Workplace adjustments are changes to remove or reduce disadvantages in the workplace. They can
be physical or non-physical changes to help employees. For example, a chair, desk, or specialist
computer software. Adjustments may include:

• changes to your start and finish times

• large print, braille or other formatting changes

CSWAS will contact you and your new line manager to discuss your needs, provide advice and
suggestions for adjustments and they may refer you for specialist assessments if needed. CSWAS will
work with our HR team who will then purchase and install the agreed software or equipment.

Please fill in the CSWAS form before you start, so we can put adjustments in place for your start
date.
Pre-employment checks
Pre-employment checks help us make sure you’re suitable for the role and can legally work with us.

Baseline Personnel Security Standard

You will need a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check, unless you already work in
DLUHC or the Civil Service. BPSS includes:

• your right to work in the UK

• confirmation of ID and address
• a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• employment history and references

If you are currently a civil servant but have not had a BPSS in the past 5 years, we may need you to
have a DBS check.

References
Your references must cover your previous 3 years of employment. If the contacts you have given us
do not cover the past three years, this could delay your start date. If you do not have references that
cover the past 3 years, we may accept character references.

We will contact your referees when we get their details from you. Please bear this in mind when
deciding who to put as a referee from your current employer.

Right to work
If you do not have a UK passport, the Onboarding Team will send you a link to start the Right to
Work check to make sure you have the right to work in the UK.

ID check
You will need to go in person to your assigned office with your ID for verification by your line
manager.

For proof of identity, please bring either:

• your passport (preferred)

• your driving licence and birth certificate
• full non-EU passport/EEA national identity card
• birth certificate issued at birth or an adoption certificate

If a birth or adoption certificate is given as ID, you must also send a certified passport photo. You will
also need to give two other forms of identification from this list:

• driving licence
• bank statements
• utility bill
• council tax bill
For more information on certifying a passport photo, please read the countersigning passport
applications and photos guidance.

Address
For proof of address, please send a photo, scan or download of any one of the following:

• a utility bill
• a bank or mortgage statement
• your current tenancy agreement

DBS check
The Onboarding Team will send you a link to start the DBS process once you get a conditional offer.

National Security Vetting (NSV)

Depending on your role and location, you might also need NSV clearance. The level you require will
depend on your role and location.

Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)

CTC is required to work at 2 Marsham Street in London and the Belfast office.

The Onboarding team will send you an NSV form to start the process. Return the fully completed
form to onboarding@levellingup.gov.uk.

A few days later, you'll get an email asking you to fill in the Security Questionnaire as part of your
online CTC application. We recommend using Firefox or Chrome browsers. If you do not receive the
email with the Security Questionnaire within 10 days, please email onboarding@levellingup.gov.uk.

The CTC application usually takes 8 weeks, but it can be longer. When complete, you'll receive a
certificate from the Corporate Security Vetting Section of the Home Office. We'll also receive a copy
of your certificate.

We must have your CTC certificate before you can start in your role.

If you have problems completing the online application, questions about the process or the progress
of your clearance, contact ContactUs@cluster2security.gov.uk.

Security Clearance (SC) and Developed Vetting (DV)

SC and DV are required for some roles with high security requirements. SC can take around 3 months
but may be longer. DV can take up to a year

For more information on SC and DV clearances, you can read the security vetting guidance.
Current civil servants
If you already have clearance that is valid for more than 3 months you will not need to go through it
again, unless the role you are applying for requires a different level of clearance to your current role.
You will need to return Part A-1 of the Civil Service Employee Transfer Form (CSETF form) to use so
we can transfer the clearance over.

Delays to pre-employment checks

References and NSV checks can take a while. We cannot give NSV progress updates as the checks are
carried out by a different team. We understand it can be a stressful time and we appreciate your
patience.

Some things can slow down the checking process or result in clearance being refused:

• having a criminal record

• nationality and immigration status
• having lived at numerous addresses in the UK in the last 5 years.
• having lived outside the UK as you are normally required to have been resident in the United
Kingdom for the last 3 years
• having had multiple employers in the last 5 years
• having financial concerns that could lead to potential vulnerability
• other factors such as having associates or association with organisations seeking to disrupt
the government
• having family members who are associated with organisations and or who are known to
security services
• internet subscription or access to sites associated with organisations seeking to disrupt the
government or which are associated with illegal activities
Arranging a start date
Once your pre-employment checks are complete, your hiring manager will contact you to arrange a
start date. When this is agreed we will set you up on our systems before we send you a contract.

We issue contracts in start date order. You will receive your contract no later than the day you join.

You will receive a welcome pack and a checklist of actions for you and your line manager to work
through together. Your line manager will also order a work laptop and IT equipment for you.

Wait times
There may be times when you do not hear from us for a while. For example, during security checks.
We ask you to be patient during these times, but if you have concerns or questions, you can contact
us:

• if you have not yet received an offer, contact the Recruitment Team at
recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk
• if you have received an offer, contact the Onboarding Team at
onboarding@levellingup.gov.uk