Overall Reviews at Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
4.0
Fast paced work environment with job satisfaction.
I love this job. You may wonder why I want to leave. Well I'm 23 and the prospect of me moving up within the Civil Service is a prospect that is increasingly unlikey. For that reason, I want to broaden my experiences and move to the US to see what I can learn and what I can give.
A typical day at work involves attending meetings and feeding back to staff the contents of the meetings. Then I have ownership of a case load of vulnerable customers to deal with and prioritise, along with dealing with ministerial complaints. As it is a Government department, laws and policies always have to be adhered to and applied where necessary. No two pieces of work are the same and this is what I enjoy most; also the satisfaction of knowing you have potentially helped someone as every case is a person. I am always dealing with outbound and inbound queries whilst undertaking the roles of an administrative assistant and working to deadlines.
I am also the single point of contact for the Faster Payment system, issuing urgent payments and cheques to vulnerable people using the UK banking CHAPS and BACS systems. This has to be one of the most satisfying parts of my job.
I have learnt so much during this role, from professionalism, managing a heavy case load, prioritising work and working as part of a diverse team.
Prosjob satisfaction, fair employee conditions
Consno promotions
4.0
very productive and funny place to work
great environment, great people,you meet different people with different motives and perception
3.0
Work Programme Employment Adviser |
Boston, MA | Jun 17, 2015
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target focused culture where targets are placed ahead of the general welfare of customers. Great people in teams who work hard for the customers positive outcomes.
ProsHelping people
ConsUnachievable targets
4.0
Excellent place to work
Enjoyed every day at this workplace, very demanding role with numerous challenges
ProsColleagues and customers
ConsNone
2.0
Soul Destroying
No job satisfaction. Passed over for promotions as “face doesnt fit”. Too much focus on punishing the customers with sanctions and not enough focus on helping them get a job.
4.0
Administrative Assistant |
Agency, IA | Dec 19, 2020
Fast paced work and commitment
Always be relaxed even if your nervous it goes in your favour and be aware of keeping in control and up to date with procedures and don't take time off if you can help it as too many absences will not be tolerated
ProsFlexible working hours
ConsAlways being compared to others
5.0
A productive workplace
A wonderful place to work that truly focuses on client needs. All staff were very friendly and eager to help. Centered in a beautiful town, with easy access.
1.0
Administrative Officer |
Cobalt, MO | Sep 30, 2020
Nightmare
From the day you start to the day you finish, you will regret it. The old school 'job for life' crowd sit back and do the bare minimum of work to get through the day! The management are usually best mates with 50% of the team and have their favourites.
Too much work, not enough time, outdated equipment, outdated work practices and stress levels are through the roof. I'd love to know what percentage of staff are addicted to alcohol, off with stress in any given year.
Avoid.
ProsNone
ConsEverything
5.0
Administrative Officer |
Trent, TX | Feb 10, 2020
Adminstration
Was an enjoyable position helping clients to get back into work seeing clients at the Reception desk with any queries. Working with outside agencies such as benefit centres Employers Colleges
Good telephone manner good people skills work as part of a team as well as your own.
4.0
Administrative Officer |
Baltic, SD | Nov 14, 2019
Good team work
Had good team work, if you had a difficult call allowed to take time away from the phones. Good working hours, Originally had been the Social Security office so customers came into the lower office for loans and to ask about claims.
5.0
Fun workplace
A very good place to work and friendly welcoming team environment. A very professional work environment with additional flat structures communication.
5.0
Great place to work
Very busy fast paced. Dealing with customer queries using company systems. Liaising with colleagues and outside organisations throughout the UK. Management are extremely supportive. Great place to work with friendly supportive hard working colleagues. Very rewarding job that gave you a great feeling when you helped customers in their journey and received a very warm thank you in return.
2.0
Poorly run
poorly run
lack of structure
wasting taxpayers money
contractors treated differently
lots go pyramid hierarchies
chasing things constantly
lot of operational offices run down
3.0
Executive Officer |
Brighton | May 20, 2018
UK Civil Service
Pros
Generally people focused organisation, very large department with good pension and pleasant staff. Well established work areas.
Cons
As with all UK government departments, budgets for staff development are minimal and recruitment opportunities depend on the locality. Offices are generally very old and ill equipped unless working in roles based in central London.
5.0
Engagement Manager |
London | Jan 13, 2016
Interesting place to work at
Busy environment,liaising with other stakeholders and colleagues to make sure everything works smoothly,solving client problems,looking at ways of improving product delivery,looking for leaner way of delivering.
5.0
A great place to work
I have worked at the Department of Working Pensions for the last 15 years. My latest role was a Team Leader to 14 staff. My daily duties included - Making sure all statistics were input before the deadline, dealing with any HR issues, distributing work and making sure advisers were hitting their targets. chairing meetings, writing reports, dealing with customer complaints, filing, telephone calls, updating system with data.
I have learned how to prioritise work and my Customer Service is excellent. I am excellent with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
I have learned how to motivate a team and get the best out of them.
I had excellent relationships with Management and liaised with them daily.
I am a definite team player and would always volunteer when nobody else wanted to. I would cover any shortfalls within the team and liaise with colleagues to see if there was anything I could help them with.
The hardest part of the job would be having difficult conversations with staff, anything from their sick absence to their targets not being met.
The best part of the job was the daily challenges that were set, the people and all targets being met.
ProsFlexi
ConsThe systems not always working
3.0
Call Center Representative |
Norwich | Apr 11, 2014
Insecure Employment and Stressed Management
The idea that being a Public servant is rewarding has been eroded by continuous cutbacks. The members of staff still feel a dedication to providing a good level of service to out clients. However the draconian cuts, uninspiring management techniques and poor empathy makes it an uphill struggle.
The best part of working there was being with dedicated co-workers who honestly strived to provide the best service they could. The management paid a great deal of lip service to staff motivation but seemed to have only taken away the bullet points of the ideas and not the actual soul of intent that makes them come alive.
The most rewarding part was to actually have the opportunity to make someone's life a ilttle better by finding a positive outcome for them.
ProsA reasonable canteen, flexible working hours and good colleagues
ConsUnforgiving call metrics, Taking a call & saying hello counted as a "positive outcome".
5.0
Service Delivery Officer |
Nice (06) | Jun 22, 2021
Nice place to work
A beautiful place to work, staff fantastic , respect each other. I love love love it and would recommend. My managers are fantastic, friendly and everyday ready to help and see you succeed
ProsLovely environment
5.0
Good atmosphere, great people, great culture and ethics
Walked straight into a thriving, busy environment, had general daily duties to perform, performance reviews from the previous week and preparing management reports.
Had a team or varying levels of experience and skill sets, I had to re motivate them and build their confidence, Mondays being the most important day to do this. Learnt various new reporting methods as well as the information provided from various management reporting and performance software.
The hardest part of the job was changing the ethos from 3 or 4 self appointed teams into one cohesive team.
Definitely the people, developing their skills, building their self confidence by letting them set realistic objectives within the scope and expectations of the department and its goals and objectives.
ProsEncouraged to develop skills and be involved
Consprogression can be difficult without changing departments within the Civil Service
2.0
No chance of promotion or improvement
I worked within a friendly team. It was productive to work with such a team, unfortunately the Department through government cut backs made the job more stressful.
Prosflexi time
Conscutbacks
