Civil Service Direct Appointment Scheme

[Longtimeworker]

Please does anyone have any knowledge of the process and timeframes for this scheme? My daughter just submitted an expression of interest as she missed out on the fast stream and was wondering if any of you know how this works? Thank you

I recruited someone through this a number of years ago. We bid for a person, were sent a number of applications and I chose someone to approach. Not an interview as they had already met the bar, more a two way conversation about the role. We offered her the job and she was soon promoted.

Thank you so much. I guess as far as timescales go it depends on the role. Is there a deadline for bids?

I joined the civil service in 2019 through the Direct Appointment Scheme and the process and timelines may have changed since then. But to give you a rough idea:

• Received the initial offer of joining the DAS scheme April 2019

• Received an update to let me know which department I was being assigned to (I wasn't given the option to choose but it aligned with my background and the specific Fast Stream I initially applied for) May 2019

• Pre employment checks June 2019

• Onboarding began July 2019

• Started new role August 2019

So, approximately 5 months start to finish. Happy to answer any questions. And congrats to your daughter!

Thank you. She is excited.
So she has only just had an email and has 2 weeks to get her expression of interest in (but done it already)!

The time for the pre-employment checks varies massively depending on how many people are being recruited in that department ( not just the office/region your daughter is applying for) and the level of security clearance, if any, that is required. I have known clearance at SC level to take over a year to come through.

Wow! That is a long time. Good to know.
She is applying for other jobs as well in case this takes a long time (or nothing is offered).

I had a cohort of HEOs start around 2019 as well. It took 12 months from selection to appointment, but that was due to the (very large) number of applications who required vetting and slower than normal HR onboarding speed. Most of them only needed SC clearance.

But it can be a lot faster - depends on the capability of HR and the importance of any role she is attached to. A pushy line manager will push for speedy security clearance checks. I once managed to get someone DV'd and on-boarded in 4 weeks. Equally, I've been content to wait 8+ months when the job is less urgent or I have someone capable of filling it adequately and money to pay them overtime.

Not sure if it'll be the same for your DD, but all our DAS candidates were given 23 month contracts and not permanent. Only a small amount were kept on.

It does take a while and it was a good 9 months when DS joined