DWP EO -contract hours / flexible working

[squaredots]

Hi, could you give me some advice please 🙏

I have accepted a full time EO position from DWP over a telephone call but have not received the contract yet. After some thoughts, I am sure if I will be able to cope with 37 hours full time with other commitments and now feel panic that I have made things complicated for myself :(

My questions:
(1) how straightforward is it to ask the contract hours to be amended to part time hours once I receive the contract? What hours are available?

(2) Is it possible to change contract hours once I start and how easy is it?
(3) Is WFH an option for EO position?

Any input is much appreciated. Thank you.

3 It really depends on what the EO position is. In my department it’s an absolute blanket no.

DWP as a whole are pretty good at considering part time roles but I have nothing to do with recruitment so don’t know if they will consider it up front. I would expect they would consider it.

I have worked for them for 26 years. I have been Full time, part time, term time only, and most recently full time compressed over 4 days... I have also wfh/detached duty for 7 years so can't complain about their flexibility.. I e just partially retired and do mom-wed..

Does depend on the role. Majority of that was as an EO

My advice would be her in. Get settled and after probation make a case for shorter hours ..

Get in not her in

I've worked across a variety of civil service departments and as others have said, it will depend in the role.
I think most civil service departments have a blanket rule of only being able to change your hours once in a year - so, if they will alter them once you're in please make sure they definitely work for you, or you might be stuck!

@squaredots phone the recruiting manager and ask them, the worst they can say is no.

The Civil Service is open to being asked these type of questions. As pp have said it will depend on the role.

I think it would be quite cheeky to ask for amended hours before you have even started the job. But ask if you like.

@Viviennemary in my experience the CS is much more pragmatic than a lot of private sector employers. I have had job applicants ask for the maternity policy and I’ve happily sent it out.

The reason I say phone not email is because it’s a much better conversation.

Thank you for all the replies, very helpful and comforting to have a place that I could ask and now feel less panicky.

@Foreversearch After hung up, I am not sure where to find someone from DWP that I could ask more about the role and contract as the DWP recruiting staff didn’t leave their contact number and SSCL DWP’s recruitment agent couldn’t help with the contract hours and info about the role.

@Viviennemary The role was advised as Full-Time or Part-Time, hence I thought its an option. I was bit nervous when I got the call so wasn't thinking clearly and said yes when asked " are you accepting the full time?"

@squaredots ask SSCL for DWP HR’s phone number or email HR and ask if they will give you their number so you can talk to them.

I work in the CS and there is often a lot of flexibility with whether roles are full or part time. If the role you have accepted though is to be a work coach for example, I dont see that you could do that from home.

Most CS depts have an expectation of 40-60% of time in the office but that will vary depending on whether you are customer facing.