Advice needed from civil service workers please

[YouCannotBserious]

I have been offered a 1 year fixed term contract with PHE, would it be likely that I would be kept on? It is an SEO position. TIA

It’s hard to say. There are no guarantees with fixed term contracts and I think they’re being used more and more so that the civil service stops recruiting permanent people to cope with short term pressures.

I can’t remember the rules exactly, but I think you could ask (a) is there a possibility of extension and (b) what would be the position with you applying for jobs after that, either in PHE or elsewhere. Would you be treated as an external or internal candidate (not everything is open to external candidates)

Depends on business needs at the time contract is up. I've known fixed contracts being extended, made permanent and finishing all with the same area of business and same year so dont think there is a set answer I'm afraid

No guarantee but when you are in you can apply for permanent positions. Thats what I did 12 years ago.

No guarantee but you have a big advantage for any permanent positions.

Thank you for the replies. I have been offered the fixed contract as an external candidate. Can I ask how I would be at an advantage for applying for permanent jobs and also with it being a 1 year contract, will my progression and development be considered in terms of training opportunities?

Any further advice please? Want to know as much as possible before I make a decision.

You would be at an advantage because you’d have up to date and relevant experience to put in your application , in comparison to external candidates . But it is absolutely no guarantee. Plus civil service is very volatile at the moment. Even if the period of your contract is extended it’s no indication they plan to make it permanent

You will have access to internal positions and relevant experience.

Thankyou MrsGrindah, that is very helpful. I was worrying about the current pandemic impact too. I have heard that PHE is changing to another organisation too so worried about whether that means less chance of contract extension too.

Thank you TooTweeForMe,
Do internal positions tend to be temporary or permanent do you know?

A one year ftc seems standard. It’s normal. As someone else has commented you are likely to have access to other jobs advertises internally, but in any case many positions these days are only for a year because of funding and so forth and you will probably find you will be kept on permanently. I had a job that was fixed term for a year that went on for twelve years.

Health protection or another role?
Tha national institute of health protection comes into being in April and health protection staff will transition in.

Thank you for your reply StealthPolarBear. It is indeed health protection, so if the plan is for staff to transition in, I don’t understand why it is a 1 year contract?

I expect either the role is genuinely seen as a one year role, or they're unable to recruit permantly until new structures are set.

I'd go for it. Things may well change plus not all positions will be externally recruited so you'd have an advantage in getting another position.

Agree with Stealth The thing with civil service is they have the need for the roles but constantly have to review their funding in line with the departmental budget reviews. And once people are in the civil service it’s very hard and expensive to make them redundant. So it’s easier to offer short term contracts with the option of permanent roles. However they can’t just convert , there has to be some degree of competition no matter how long you have been in the role. So my advice is always see a temporary job as temporary.

Thank you for your advice MrsGrindah. Its really helpful. I need to think carefully about the pros and cons.

Internal positions are usually permanent.

No that's not true! Internal positions can be secondments.

Oh do you mean they're more likely to be? Hmm maybe. The other benefit is you are in the know. You see them coming up and know the requirements.

The plus side to a 1 year position is that it gives access to the internal jobs page. A lot of jobs get advertised here and it's also pretty common to move about department's within the civil service once within it (especially if the job is based in London!).
It's currently a fairly reliable employer who have given good benefits throughout covid and very understanding of difficulties with childcare.

@YouCannotBserious

Thank you for your reply StealthPolarBear. It is indeed health protection, so if the plan is for staff to transition in, I don’t understand why it is a 1 year contract?

Spending plan and budgets are a bit unknown at the moment which is why it's probably a 1year position

Oh you have all been so helpful with advice. It seems that civil service is a great place to work. Now I need to work towards getting a permanent job with them.