Civil Service - can they pull job offer before 'formal offer'?

[Orangeisthnewblue]

I applied for a civil service position and received an offer by email, followed up with a call.

The CS jobs portal updated over the next week and confirmed I had passed security checks. Then had remote call with new manager to discuss start dates and understood they want me asap, and would get the formal offer out within a couple of days. It's been a week and nothing. I emailed new manager yesterday and no reply, no out of office.

Have they changed their minds? ! Can they withdraw the offer at this late stage? I know I've passed the various checks and am an existing civil servant. This was an externally advertised post.

The advert mentioned existing CS must move on secondment but this hasn't been mentioned during the recruitment process.

CS recruitment can take ages.

i think my DD was almost three months between interview and initial offer and her starting point recently.

They're probably off sick/compassionate leave unexpectedly.

They still want you, HR takes forever

It will take ages. Welcome to the Civil Service! Start as you mean to go on!

Yup. However quickly they want you in post civil service recruitment/secondment arrangements all take ages.

This!

No I’ve recruited internally in the civil service. Probably one person in the chain hasn’t filled in a form correctly or ticked the right box or is off sick or gone on leave.

Don’t worry they won’t withdraw the offer.

It’s half term- nothing will happen until schools are back. The civil service is basically deserted at half term. You’ve had and accepted an offer and passed security… please hang in there! We need good people like you!

I interviewed successfully in November, got my official acceptance letter last week.

I look forward to being eternally frustrated by admin during my time with the CS.

OP is already a civil servant 🙄

Thanks all. I am already in the CS but moving from one major agency to another. The ad said I must move on secondment but then that hasn't been mentioned at all during recruitment.

I will hand in my notice when I have a formal offer and re-join CS if my current department won't agree to a secondment.

Has anyone had a secondment request refused?

Generally you're posted within 4 weeks but it sounds like there's some extra red tape to jump through. With it being half term you are unlikely to hear anything this week.

OP is already a civil servant 🙄

Yes but maybe she hasn't moved between OGDs before. I'll take my public flogging from you though Gilt. Have a splendid evening.

Did you get the formal notice in the end?

Yes but my manager has not confirmed whether the secondment will be accepted.

Keeping people where they don't want to be is stupid. They just end up with a disengaged and often cynical staff member.

Still waiting for an outcome. I've been told they will agree the loan but not the promotion - so I would have to go across on my current salary plus 10% instead of the advertised higher salary. The issue is, my department has already confirmed salary would be the higher, advertised rate.

I worked in recruitment a long time. Departments differ. Is it DWP you are going to?

Yes

Sorry which dept will agree the loan but not the promotion?

my understanding is that if going on promotion, you’ll get the base salary for the new department or your current salary plus ten per cent whichever is higher. But you won’t get to keep that on returning to your home department.

My home department (home office) agrees the loan but not the promotion on return, and my new (loan) department (DWP) have confirmed salary at advertised rate.

So if i understand correctly, I would be paid the higher salary (min advertised rate for the grade) for the loan period, then have a drop in salary when I return to my home department?

I actually think that if the grade is not recognised by home department, I have to move on temporary cover which means my current salary plus 10%. Trying to find where I have read that but it's somewhere.

Yes - this is pretty standard IME. Of course you can apply for promotion back at your home department when your secondment is coming to an end.

Oh grow up.

How long is the position for? If transferring in the CS the standard internal transfer process should be followed, so I wouldn't have thought they could deviate from the standard process. If it's over 6 months, you would transfer to DWP payroll.