Civil Service pre-employment checks

[OneLittleMouse]

Hey everyone,
I have a very quick question:
How long does it usually take for "which Civil Service pension arrangements we can offer you" check to be completed?
I appreciate that it might sound weird, but it seems that this is the last "Check" they will need to complete before advising me further of the overall result - and if eligible for a formal offer thereafter.
I am going a bit insane in the waiting game!

From what I remember that one was very quick for me. Either before other checks were complete or straight after.

Thank you for your reply!

I've just completed all of my checks - my interview was in late Feb, and I got the 'congratulations you have completed the checks' last Monday....I think the pension bit was probably a week?

The whole process seems tortuously slow.......

I feel you! It is unnerving!

I applied for the role back in Nov 2024 with closing date at the end of Nov 2024.
Was initially assigned to the reserve list in January 2025.
I then receive the positive "Congratulations, we would like to make you a provisional job offer." in March 2025 and just being going through the PECs since.

I just got the pension's info this morning and now the status is on: "We are reviewing the outcomes of your pre-employment checks.
We will contact you as soon as a decision has been made. Please do not resign from your current position at this time."

Another nerve-wrecking step that nobody can predict how long it will take to provide an outcome.

I think it took a couple of days from the 'we're reviewing....' to 'congratulations...someone will be in touch shortly with your start date'...but I think time has a different meaning in the Civil Service ;-) (I've only ever worked in the private sector).

@Panicmode1 It certainly does! The perception of it could well be totally at their discretion, eheheh!
However, it's a bit reliving that it didn't take "discretionally" way too long for them to move upward on your status.
Do you remember also how long it took to the Line Manager/recruitment team to contact you afterwards?

I'm still waiting...I've emailed the 'onboarding' lady but she is out of the office until next week. Fingers crossed!

@Panicmode1
OMG this is a nightmare!
I get that there was Easter BH in the way, but dear Lord, this is a hell of a wait.

I really hope for you to have a response as soon as possible!

And you - good luck!
@OneLittleMouse

I’ve just checked and had formal offer 19 Dec. Line manager contacted me 23 Jan and I started 12 Feb 2024.

Good luck with it all.

A few days - like 4 maximum for the pension check to go to complete.

I was offered the role in September 2023 but didn't start until 1st May 2024. I needed security clearance though. I was sent the forms from vetting in November and took until March to confirm I had achieved the requested clearance level. Then HR had to confirm clearance levels themselves and I was given the formal offer mid April.

If you only need BPSS check done then it should be relatively quick from now.

@DarkSuitsSadSongs Since yesterday morning my status moved to "We are reviewing the outcomes of your pre-employment checks.
We will contact you as soon as a decision has been made. Please do not resign from your current position at this time.".
Unnerving 😞

Don’t be unnerved, it just means a human needs to press some buttons and send you a formal offer. Nobody knows how long that will take so they don’t want you to resign too early and end up out of pocket.

@stripedrollerskates I might just be overthinking it, I know. I just would love to start with the CS as soon as possible, and I am more eager to resign from my current job sooner!
I read on another post that someone was passed with all the checks, they had their formal offer actioned and been informed that the recruiter manager would have been in contact with them, only to have a "We are sorry to inform you that the current position is no longer available" notification a couple of days later.

On another forum, there are people speculating that it is also pretty much related to the choice of location selected at the time of the application and the business need of that specific office.

The more I think of this all the less chilled I feel 😵

Stories like that are worrying, but they’re in the minority. I’m moving jobs between departments soon so I know how hard it is being patient! Hope you get your formal offer through very soon.

@stripedrollerskates Thank you! I hope your transfer will go smoothly.

Thanks!

@OneLittleMouse- I got a phone call from the person who will be my line manager today, and agreed a provisional start date - which is about a week on from where you are, in terms of the message you have now. (I haven't seen any paperwork yet and she didn't seem to know anything about things which were discussed as being integral to the role - as discussed in the interview, but I feel I am making progress!). Hope you get positive news v soon!

@Panicmode1 I am really pleased you finally got a provisional starting date and a contact from the person who will be your manager! It sounds that the role you applied for had an interview f2f or on a video with the recruiter team?
Hopefully I get to progress soon with the status of my provisional offer as well :)

@OneLittleMouse Yes, it was a video interview. I don't want to out myself by saying more but it was fairly informal. (DH has just been rejected from a v senior role - he's only ever worked in the private sector and didn't STAR his answers apparently, so failed despite his CV and experience scoring 7s; he said it was the weirdest interview he'd ever done!).

Hope you hear soon!

@Panicmode1 I absolutely understand and you don't have to share in-depth details of the role you applied for; I am aware that there are different ways for Civil Services depending on the role applied for and the campaign itself.
I was part of higher number of posts available and had my interview as pre-recorded way (a bit weird and "robotic").

And as I'm typing I just got my status changed to " Congratulations you’ve passed our pre-employment checks.
You'll be contacted shortly to advise what will happen next. "
To another week of waiting, I assume😆