Civil Service Academy - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

This page contains FAQs relating to the Civil Service Skills Academy

General

1. What is the Civil Service Skills Academy?

The Civil Service Skills Academy is a pre-employment training course and is a great way to receive needed and transferable skills to upskill or reskill before joining the workforce, returning to the workforce or changing career.

Candidates selected to join the programme will learn and develop skills and knowledge across a range of areas including project management, leadership, communication, policy development, commercial skills and financial skills. Participants will gain an accredited qualification in project management. Additionally, you will be supported through the first steps of an accredited qualification in procurement and in leadership. While the skills acquired during training are transferable across employment sectors, the training will also equip participants with Civil Service-specific knowledge.

If you successfully complete the training course, you will be invited to a job interview with the Department for the Economy / The Executive Office for a Staff Officer or Deputy Principal role. Successful completion of the Academy is not a guarantee of gaining employment – you must also be successful at the recruitment interview stage.

2. Who are the Department for the Economy and The Executive Office?

The Civil Service comprises nine Departments that support the NI Executive and Ministers. This is achieved through developing and implementing government policies and legislation and delivering key public services. The Department for the Economy (DfE) and The Executive Office (TEO) are two of the Departments in the Civil Service.

The Department for the Economy

The Department for the Economy (DfE) is responsible for economic policy development, enterprise, innovation, energy, telecoms, tourism, insolvency, consumer affairs, labour market and economic statistics, learning and research, skills training and promoting good employment practice.

The Executive Office

The overall aim of the Executive Office (TEO) is to contribute to and oversee the coordination of Executive policies and programmes to deliver a peaceful, fair, equal, and prosperous society.

You can find more information about the two Departments in the Candidate Information Booklet - Civil Service Skills Academy | Department for the Economy (economy-ni.gov.uk)

3. When and where is the Academy taking place?

There are both full-time and part-time training options available for the Academy.

  • Full-time training will be delivered through a six-week campus-based course. You will be expected to be on campus every Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.
  • Part-time training will be delivered through a twelve-week course with a mixture of online and campus attendance on weekday evenings and on Saturdays. Online delivery will take place on Mondays and Wednesday between 6pm and 9.30pm. You will be expected to attend training on campus on Saturdays between 9am and 5pm.

Campus based training will be at Belfast Metropolitan College (E3 campus).

You can indicate in your application form your preference for either full-time or part-time training.

Training will be specific to the roles (Staff Officer and Deputy Principal) being offered and there will be separate curriculums and cohorts for each.

If you are selected, training will take place as follows:

Academy Cohort

Start training date

Finish training date

# of places

Staff Officer - full-time training

22 August 2022

30 September 2022

20

Staff Officer - part-time training

30 August 2022

19 November 2022

20

Deputy Principal - full-time training

5 September 2022

14 October 2022

20

Deputy Principal - part-time training

12 September 2022

3 December 2022

20

Further information is available within the Candidate Information Booklet which can be found at Civil Service Skills Academy .

Eligibility to apply to the Academy

4. How do I know if I am eligible to apply for the Academy?

To be eligible to apply for the Staff Officer Academy you must:

  • be at least 18 years old at the date of application close (19 July 2022)
  • be eligible to work in the UK and satisfy the Nationality requirements for appointment to the Civil Service
  • have at least a Level 5 qualification in any discipline
  • have experience of leading and communicating, making effective decisions, and managing a quality service. These three competencies are part of the NICS Competency Framework.

To be eligible to apply for the Deputy Principal Academy you must:

  • be at least 18 years old at the date of application close (19 July 2022)
  • be eligible to work in the UK and satisfy the Nationality requirements for appointment to the Civil Service
  • have at least a Level 5 qualification in any discipline
  • have experience of leading and communicating, making effective decisions, managing a quality service, and delivering at pace. These four competencies are part of NICS Competency Framework.

5. What is a Level 5 qualification?

Level 5 qualifications are at a level equivalent to intermediate higher education qualifications such as diplomas of higher education, foundation and other degrees that do not typically provide access to postgraduate programmes. Level 5 qualifications include: Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), foundation degree, Higher National Diploma (HND), level 5 award, level 5 certificate, level 5 diploma, level 5 NVQ. If offered a place on the Academy, you will be asked to provide a copy of your degree/level 5 qualification.

6. Can existing NICS staff apply?

Yes, existing NICS staff can apply. However, they must meet the eligibility criteria for the Academy cohort that they are applying for.

There are no specific adjustments or preferences for existing NICS staff. Existing NICS staff must consider how they will attend the Academy and successfully complete the training course whilst delivering their existing role. The part time Academy will be delivered over evenings and weekends to help existing NICS staff to maintain their current role and complete the training.

Further information is available within the Candidate Information Booklet which can be found at Civil Service Skills Academy

7. How do I know if I meet the nationality and right to work requirements?

You must be legally entitled to work in the United Kingdom and satisfy the Nationality requirements for appointment to the NICS to be eligible to apply for the Civil Service Skills Academy.

You are eligible to apply if you are a:

(i)  UK national; or
(ii)  National of a Commonwealth country; or
(iii)  National of the Republic of Ireland; or
(iv)  EEA nationals with (or eligible for) status under the EU Settlement Scheme; or
(v)   Relevant EEA or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service; or
(vi)  Relevant EEA or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in  the Civil Service; or
(vii)  Certain family members of the relevant EEA & Turkish nationals

(i) ‘UK National’ means a person who is a British citizen (including persons from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), a British subject under Part IV of the British Nationality Act 1981 having the right of abode in the UK or a British Dependent Territories citizen acquiring his/her citizenship from connection with Gibraltar.

(ii) ‘Commonwealth Citizen’ means any person who has the status of a Commonwealth citizen under the British Nationality Act 1981, not covered by the ‘UK Nationality’ definition above.  This includes British Dependent Territories citizens (other than Gibraltarians), British Overseas citizens, and from 1986 those persons in the category British National (Overseas).

(iii) ‘British Protected Person’ means a member of any class of persons declared to be British Protected Persons by Order in Council under the British Nationality Act 1981, or by virtue of the Solomon Islands Act 1978.            

(iv) ‘EEA National’ means a national of one of the following countries:
Austria                        Finland            Latvia                           Portugal
Belgium                      France             Liechtenstein             Romania
Bulgaria                      Germany         Lithuania                     Slovakia
**Croatia                     Greece            Luxembourg               Slovenia
Cyprus                        Hungary           Malta                            Spain
Czech Republic          Iceland            Netherlands                Sweden
Denmark                     Ireland             Norway                        
Estonia                        Italy                 Poland                         

NB Nationals from Switzerland also have the same free movement and employment rights.

‘Family member of the relevant EU or Turkish nationals’ means:

(i)  That national’s spouse*; or
(ii)  A direct descendant (child, grandchild etc.) of that national or his/her spouse who is under 21 years of age or is their dependent; or
(iii) A dependent relative in the ascending line (parent, grandparent etc.) of the EEA national or his/her spouse.

*Note:  ‘Spouse’ does not include a party to a marriage of convenience and in the case of EEA national vocational students family members are restricted to spouses and dependent children only.

Further guidance on nationality can be obtained at Home Office (GOV.UK)

Application Process

8. How do I apply?

The application process will involve the completion of an online application form and online assessment.

It is the individual’s responsibility to ensure that the application form and online assessment is submitted successfully. You will know these have been successfully submitted as you will receive a confirmation email. You should retain this email as proof.

Application form

Applications are open from 12:00 noon on Monday 4th July 2022 until 12:00 noon on Tuesday 19th July, and application forms have to be submitted within this period.

The application form for the Academy can be found at Civil Service Skills Academy application form

The application form is designed to ensure that you provide the necessary information to determine how you meet the requirements and the eligibility criteria for the role.

Please note:

  • You must submit an online application form.
  • We will not accept CVs, letters, additional pages or any other supplementary material in place of or in addition to the completed application form, unless it is specifically requested in the application form and candidate information booklet.
  • All applications must be submitted by the advertised closing date and time. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
  • There is one application form for both the Staff Officer and Deputy Principal Academies and you will be asked to select whether you are applying for the Staff Officer or Deputy Principal Academy, or both.
  • There is one application form for both the full-time and part-time training options. You will be asked to select whether you are applying for the full-time or part-time Academy.
  • The 'save and return' feature allows you to come back to an incomplete application at a later date without losing the information you have already entered. Select the 'Save and come back later...' button. You are then asked to provide an email address, after entering your email address and selecting ‘Save and send email’ you will be emailed a link that allows you to return to your incomplete application any time until the application window closes.
  • All parts of the application form must be completed before the application is submitted. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.

You should ensure that you provide evidence of your experience in your application form, giving length of experience, examples and dates as required.

  • It is not sufficient to simply list your duties and responsibilities.
  • The panel will not make assumptions about the skills and experience gained from the title of your post or the nature of the organisation.
  • The examples you provide should be concise and relevant to the criteria.
  • Clearly write your personal involvement in any experience you quote. Write “I” statements, e.g. “I planned meetings, I managed a budget, I prepared a presentation... “ 
  • Avoid acronyms, complex technical detail, etc. Write for the reader who may not be familiar with your employer or your job.
  • Note: only the details provided by you in your application form (the employment history and eligibility criteria) will be passed to the panel for the purpose of determining your eligibility for the Academy.

Online Assessment

After submitting your application, you will receive an email on the 20th July containing a link to the online assessment facility. The email you receive will include all instructions on how to complete the assessment, which you will have one week to complete. The online assessment must be complete by 12 noon 27 July.

There is an online assessment consisting of 24 questions to be completed within 36 minutes (irrespective of whether you complete all of the questions or not). The assessment needs to be completed in one sitting (you cannot save and go back to complete the assessment at a later date). The assessment measures verbal, numerical, deductive, inductive reasoning skills and the ability to deliver at pace.

To complete the online assessment, applicants will require a computer or a smart phone that has an internet connection and a modern web browser installed.

Practice assessments and familiarisation material are available once you click on the link and register for the assessment facility.

It is ESSENTIAL that you use the online familiarisation materials to check that your browser and the internet connection that you intend to take the live assessment on are compatible with the online assessment. Note that some network firewalls may block access to the assessment site or prevent images from showing. If the familiarisation materials work on your IT equipment, this is a good indication that the live assessment will work also. It is very important that you access the familiarisation materials using the device and internet connection that you intend to use to take the live assessment on in advance of the assessment.

For best results we recommend the online assessment is completed in a test-like environment. Any possible distractions should be turned off, for example, mobile phones, TV, music, etc. Concentration is needed throughout the assessment, so if you are completing it near other people, ensure they are aware that they should not disturb you. No responsibility can be accepted for any issues arising from how or where you choose to complete the online assessment.

If offered a place on the Academy you may be required to take a verification assessment completed in supervised conditions.

9. What personal data are you collecting from me and how do you use my data?

All information about what personal data we collect and how we will use it can be found at our Privacy Notice Civil Service Skills Academy.

10. What should I do if I have technical issues with the application form?

If you have technical issues with the application form you should contact civilserviceskillsacademy@economy-ni.gov.uk.

It is the individual’s responsibility to ensure that the application form is submitted successfully. You will know these have been successfully submitted as you will receive a confirmation email.

11. Can I save my application and return to it at a later point?

The 'save and return' feature allows you to come back to an incomplete application form at a later date without losing the information you’ve already entered. Select the 'Save and come back later...' button. You are then asked to provide an email address, after entering your email address and selecting ‘Save and send email’ you will be emailed a link that allows you to return to your incomplete application any time until the application window closes.

12. How do I know if I have exceeded the character limit for a question?

It is your responsibility to ensure you do not go over the character limit specified as there is no automated word count on the application form. We suggest drafting your answer in Microsoft Word and using the word count function in Microsoft Word before copying and pasting your answer into the application form.

13. What happens if I go over the character limit indicated on a question?

Any characters entered that are over the specified limit will not be considered as part of your application. For example if the character limit is a maximum of 1400 characters and your answer exceeds 1400 characters, only the first 1400 characters of your answers will be considered.

14. If I apply for both Staff Officer and Deputy Principal on my application form, how do I know which Academy I will attend?

We will let you know as soon as possible as to the outcome of your application and if you have been successful or not. If you are successful in gaining a place on both Academies, we will offer you the place on the Deputy Principal Academy (the higher of the two grades) and you will only be offered a place on and expected to attend one Academy.

15. Why do I have to fill out the equal opportunities monitoring questionnaire? Do the answers to these questions impact my chance of selection?

The answers do not impact your chance of selection. The Monitoring Form will be processed separately and neither the form nor the details contained in it will be available to those considering your application or subsequent selection and recruitment.

Equality monitoring is the process of collecting, storing and analysing information that is relevant to and necessary for the purpose of promoting equality of opportunity between different categories of persons.

For guidance on completing the Monitoring Form and to read the NICS Equal Opportunities Policy Statement please refer to the DoF website www.finance-ni.gov.uk.

16. If I select a preference for one of the three key areas of focus (Policy Development, Governance and Finance, Programme and Project Management) how does this affect my application and training?

This information will not impact the selection process or the training you receive. It will only be used to help allocate successful candidates to the most suitable positions available once the training and interviews have been completed.

Further information is available within the Candidate Information Booklet which can be found at NICS Skills Academy (nidirect)

17. Can I submit a paper application?

You must submit an online application form. The application form for the Academy can be found at NICS Skills Academy (nidirect)

18. Will CVs be accepted?

We will not accept CVs, letters, additional pages or any other supplementary material in place of or in addition to the completed application form.

19. What should I do if I require reasonable adjustments due to disability to complete the online assessment?

We wish to ensure that all applicants have the opportunity to perform to the best of their ability. You will be asked on the application form if you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to complete the application process including the online assessment. You should provide these details in your application form and send document(s) evidencing proof of this requirement to civilserviceskillsacademy@economy-ni.gov.uk, for example, an occupational psychologist report or a GP’s medical statement.

Details of any disability are only used for this purpose and do not form any part of the selection or recruitment process. If you wish to discuss your disability requirements further, you should contact civilserviceskillsacademy@economy-ni.gov.uk.  

It is essential that you make us aware of your request for a reasonable adjustment as early in the application process as possible and in advance of undertaking the online assessment for the Academy.

You can get advice or assistance with making an application from your local Jobs and Benefits Office. You will find contact details on nidirect: Jobs and Benefits offices | nidirect.

You can also get advice or assistance from local disability employment organisations. To find out more about local disability employment organisations, contact Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment (NIUSE), an umbrella group for individuals and organisations promoting opportunities for people with disabilities to access and maintain employment.

20. Can the application deadline be extended?

No, we cannot agree to requests for extensions of the application window. The application process will involve the completion of an online application form and online assessment.

The application must be submitted by 12 noon on 19 July.

You will receive the link to the online assessment on the 20 July, the assessment must be complete by 12 noon 27 July.  

Online Assessment

21. I haven’t received the link to the online assessment – what should I do?

Once you complete and submit the application form an email will be sent from SHL Managed Services to the email address provided in your application form containing a link to the online assessment facility. You will receive this email on 20 July. The email you receive will include all instructions on how to complete the assessment. You will have until 12 noon 27 July to complete the assessment.

Please ensure that you have successfully submitted the application form and please check all folders (including junk/spam). The email containing the link to the online assessment will be issued from SHL.

Please contact managedservices@shl.com SHL contact if you have still not received the link.

22. I am having technical issues accessing or completing the online assessment - what should I do?

If you have technical issues with the online assessment portal you should visit the SHL Support site. If you continue to have technical difficulties, you can contact SHL at mstechnicalsupport@shl.com.

It is the individual’s responsibility to ensure that the online assessment is submitted successfully. You will know these have been successfully submitted as you will receive a confirmation email.

23. How long does the online assessment take?

You have 36 minutes to complete the online assessment and it consists of 24 questions. The assessment will be time bound (i.e. you will have 36 minutes irrespective of whether you complete all of the questions or not). The assessment needs to be completed in one sitting (you cannot save and go back to complete the assessment at a later date). The assessment measures verbal, numerical, deductive and inductive reasoning skills.

To complete the online assessment, applicants will require a computer or a smart phone that has an internet connection and a modern web browser installed.

24. Are there practice assessments available?

Yes, there are. Practice assessment and familiarisation material are available once you click on the link sent to you via email from SHL and register for the assessment facility.

25. How can I prepare for the online assessment?

It is ESSENTIAL that you use the online familiarisation materials to check that your browser and the internet connection that you intend to take the live assessment on are compatible with the online assessment. Note that some network firewalls may block access to the assessment site or prevent images from showing. If the familiarisation materials work on your IT equipment, this is a good indication that the live assessment will work also. It is very important that you access the familiarisation materials using the device and internet connection that you intend to use to take the live assessments on in advance of the assessment.

For best results we recommend the online assessment is completed in a test-like environment. Any possible distractions should be turned off, for example mobile phones, TV, music etc. Concentration is needed throughout the assessment, so if you are completing it at home or work, ensure other people are aware they should not disturb you until you are finished. No responsibility can be accepted for any issues arising from where you choose to complete the assessment.

It is advisable to complete a computer check to ensure your computer is compatible with the assessment.  To check this, please complete the computer check or to access the support site please go to SHL Support site. The Support site contains further information regarding the online assessment and provides tips on how to prepare yourself.

If offered a place on the Academy you may be required to take verification assessment completed in supervised conditions.

Selection for the Academy

26. What is the selection process for the Academy?

There are two stages to the selection process to attend the Academy and training course:

  1. Online assessment - candidates will have to achieve a minimum score in the online assessment and of those passing the assessment, the top performing candidates from each cohort will progress to the sift stage.
  2. Sift against eligibility criteria - an assessment of the evidence provided in your application form against the relevant eligibility criteria will take place with those who meet the eligibility criteria being in a position to progress.

As only a number of places are available for each academy cohort, it may be necessary to shortlist those who have met the eligibility criteria and if so, results from the online assessment will be used.

For those who are selected and successfully complete the Academy, you will be invited to an interview for the role for which you completed the Academy (Staff Officer or Deputy Principal).

27. When will I hear if my application has been successful or unsuccessful?

We intend to notify you at least one week prior to the Academy starting of the outcome of your application to attend the Academy. You will be notified via email using the email address that you have provided.

There are a number of stages to the application process, and you will receive a notification via email at each point. These include:

  1. A notification confirming the receipt of your application form
  2. A notification confirming completion of the online assessment
  3. The outcome of your online assessment results
  4. The outcome of the paper sift of applications against the eligibility criteria (if you are successful in getting to this stage following the online assessment)

More information on the timings of interviews following successful completion of the Academy will be provided once you are successfully enrolled onto the Academy. 

28. Will I receive feedback on my application?

You will automatically be sent the results of your online assessment including feedback. If you are progressed to the sift stage but are unsuccessful in being selected for the Academy requests for feedback are welcome. Requests can be made to civilserviceskillsacademy@economy-ni.gov.uk.  

29. If selected, how do I provide evidence of my qualifications?

If offered a place on the Academy, you will be asked to provide evidence of at least a level 5 qualification. See question 5 for further details on what qualifies as a level 5 qualification.

Such evidence includes one of the following:

  1. Official certificate issued by the educational institute
  2. Official transcript issued by the educational institute

You will be asked to provide a copy (e.g. photograph, scan) of these documents via email. You will be required to provide these documents by 10 August. Do not send original documents. Do not post copies or original documents. Only copies sent via email will be accepted.

30. If selected, what will I be required to provide as evidence of my right to work and nationality requirements?

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United Kingdom and satisfy the Nationality requirements for appointment to the NICS.  If offered a place on the Academy, you will be asked to provide proof you meet these requirements.

You must be either:

  1. A UK national; or
  2. A national of a Commonwealth country; or
  3. A national of the Republic of Ireland; or
  4. An EEA national with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme; or
  5. A relevant EEA or Turkish national working in the Civil Service; or
  6. A relevant EEA or Turkish national who has built up the right to work in the Civil Service; or
  7. Certain family members of the relevant EEA & Turkish nationals.

‘Family member of the relevant EEA or Turkish nationals’ means: (i) That national’s spouse*; or (ii) A direct descendant (child, grandchild etc.) of that national or his/her spouse who is under 21 years of age or is their dependent; or (iii) A dependent relative in the ascending line (parent, grandparent etc.) of the EEA national or his/her spouse. *Note: ‘Spouse’ does not include a party to a marriage of convenience and in the case of EEA national vocational students family members are restricted to spouses and dependent children only.

If offered a place on the Academy, you will be asked to provide evidence you satisfy the right to work requirements (more information on this can be found in Right to Work and Nationality Requirements of the Candidate Information Booklet Civil Service Skills Academy.) Such evidence includes one of the following:

  • Passport
  • Birth certificate
  • National identity card or Home Office registration certificate
  • UK Border Agency work document if permission to work is needed
  • Residence permit
  • Visa
  • Share Code

You will be asked to provide a copy (e.g. photograph, scan) of these documents via email. You will be required to provide these documents by 10 August. Do not send original documents. Do not post copies or original documents. Only copies sent via email will be accepted.

31. If I am not successful in being offered a place, can I appeal the decision?

Selection decisions by panels cannot be appealed.

Academy details and timings

32. What will I learn during the Academy? What is the curriculum for the Academy?

Candidates selected to join the programme will learn and develop skills and knowledge across a range of areas including project management, leadership, communication, policy development, commercial skills and financial skills.

The curriculum will include training in:

Topic Topic
  • Politics and Public Policy
  • Transformation
  • Leadership and People Management
  • Strategic planning
  • Government and Legislation
  • Programme and Project Management
  • Finance and Resources
  • Government Business Case Preparation
  • Stakeholder Engagement and Management
  • Reporting and Data
  • Management and Risk
  • Budget Planning
  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  • Managing the Economy
  • Interview and Presentation Skills
  • Design Thinking
  • Efficient, Effective and Productive Conversations
  • Action Planning
  • Introduction to Procurement and Contracting

 

Participants will gain an accredited qualification in project management. Additionally, you will be supported through the first steps of an accredited qualification in procurement and in leadership. The training is designed to give you the fundamental skills to be successful in the roles available.

33. What accredited qualifications will I have the opportunity to gain during the Academy?

You will have the opportunity to gain an accredited qualification in project management (Association for Project Management). Additionally, you will be supported through the first steps of an accredited qualification in procurement (Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply) and in leadership (Institute of Leadership and Management). The level of the qualification will depend on the Academy cohort you apply for and attend; the Staff Officer Academy or the Deputy Principal Academy.

34. What is the difference between the Staff Officer and Deputy Principal Academy?

Staff Officer (SO) is the first middle management level in the Civil Service and plays a key role in liaising between supervisors and more senior managers. Most SOs will be line managers of a team of staff.

Deputy Principal (DP) is the second middle management level in the NICS. It is the higher of the two grades. They develop and deliver key areas of government policy. They may work closely with their line manager to support them in the management of a significant area of government work; or operate as a relatively independent head of a major project or process.

The Staff officer and Deputy Principal academies have different eligibility criteria.

To be eligible to apply for the Staff Officer Academy you must:

  • be at least 18 years old at the date of application close (19th July 2022) be eligible to work in the UK and satisfy the Nationality requirements for appointment to the Civil Service
  • have at least a Level 5 qualification in any discipline
  • have experience of leading and communicating, making effective decisions, and managing a quality service. These three competencies are part of the NICS Competency Framework.

To be eligible to apply for the Deputy Principal Academy you must:

  • be at least 18 years old at the date of application close (19th July 2022) be eligible to work in the UK and satisfy the Nationality requirements for appointment to the Civil Service
  • have at least a Level 5 qualification in any discipline
  • have experience of leading and communicating, making effective decisions, managing a quality service, and delivering at pace. These four competencies are part of the NICS Competency Framework.

The training and curriculum for the Staff Officer and Deputy Principal Academies will differ slightly to account for the difference in seniority and responsibilities between the two roles. 

More detailed information is included within the Candidate Information Booklet which can be found at Civil Service Skills Academy

35. I have holidays planned / I am unavailable during the scheduled Academies – is there any workaround?

No, there is no workaround. All participants are expected to attend training during the timeframes outlined. If you have any pre-scheduled commitments during the Academy training period, please indicate this on your application form - this may be considered when assessing your application if you are unable to attend a considerable portion of the training.

The importance of full attendance cannot be stressed highly enough to enable you to successfully complete all the training modules and achieve a pass on the course. Attendance is monitored and will contribute to the successful completion of the Academy.

36. What support (including financial support) will I receive throughout the Academy?

All the training will be delivered through Belfast Metropolitan College. The College will provide day to day support and pastoral care. 

A training allowance is available to help support you throughout the course.

  • Full-time training - for the duration of the training, participants will be paid a £155 training allowance per week and can be re-imbursed for appropriate travel costs for college-based training.
  • Part-time training - for the duration of the training participants will be paid a £80 training allowance per week and can be re-imbursed for appropriate travel costs for college-based training.

The training allowance is paid on a weekly basis by Bankers’ Automated Clearing System bank transfer (BACS) directly into the participant’s bank account and will credit no later than Friday of each week. 

The training allowances is intended to cover costs associated with the course. This may include the cost of study materials, examination fees to gain accredited qualifications, and any equipment required to participate in the Academy.

Participants are entitled to claim for travel expenses for college-based training for the duration of the Academy. Travel expenses are assessed and paid on a weekly basis and can be claimed for both public and private transport.

Academy participants may be entitled to financial assistance to support with their childcare costs depending on their circumstances.  All claims for assistance with childcare costs are assessed on an individual basis.

A participant’s entitlement is not means-tested, but it does depend on the type of childcare arrangement the participant has in place. The amount that we can pay is also capped at a certain rate.

37. Will the Training Allowance impact my benefit payments?

We have no responsibility for benefit payments and we cannot provide participants with advice or decisions about their benefits.  All participants who are currently in receipt of benefit(s) should contact the Department for Communities for advice on how their participation on the Academy could affect their entitlement to benefit(s). 

38. What should I do if I require reasonable adjustments due to disability to attend the training?

If successfully selected for the training Academy details on reasonable adjustments required to attend the training will be gathered by Belfast Metropolitan College in the enrolment process. 

Recruitment and interviews after the training

39. Am I guaranteed a job if selected to attend the Civil Service Skills Academy?

Selection for the Academy does not guarantee a job or a job interview.

Those who successfully complete the Academy training course will be invited to a job interview with the Northern Ireland Civil Service for a position within the Department for the Economy / The Executive Office.

Those who are successful at this interview will be offered a job. Successful completion of the Academy is not a guarantee of gaining employment.

40. What roles and jobs are available?

This Academy will be used to fill up to 40 full time vacancies at Staff Officer and 40 full time vacancies at Deputy Principal level across the DfE and TEO. All vacancies are for full-time roles. These are middle management positions that provide the opportunity to make a real difference.

Staff Officer (SO) is the first middle management level in the Civil Service and plays a key role in liaising between levels of management. Most SOs will be line managers of a team of staff.

Deputy Principal (DP) is the second middle management level in the NICS. It is the higher of the two grades. DPs develop and deliver key areas of government policy. They may work closely with their line manager to support them in the management of a significant area of government work; or operate as a relatively independent head of a major project or process.

It is intended that successful candidates will be placed in a role in the Department for Economy or The Executive Office. However, there is a possibility candidates may be allocated to another Department in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. 

Further information about the roles is available within the Candidate Information Booklet, including job descriptions and further information about the two departments, can be found at Civil Service Skills Academy

41. Where are the roles based?

These posts will be based within the Greater Belfast area. Successful candidates will likely follow a hybrid working model, working from both the office and a remote office location each week. To build on the response to the Covid-19 pandemic and prepare for the future, a hybrid style of work which blends working from home (and remotely) with working in the office will be in the context of the emerging NICS ‘New Ways of Working’ policy.

42. Are part time roles available?

All vacancies are for full-time roles. Part time roles are not available through the Academy.

43. What form will the interview (post-Academy) take?

Upon successful completion of the Academy training, you will be invited to an interview for a role at the DfE / TEO for the grade for which you completed the Academy (SO or DP). This will include a presentation and a competence-based interview. 

It is important that you familiarise yourself with the Northern Ireland Civil Service Competency Framework, as this forms the basis of the assessment during the recruitment process. The NICS Competency framework can be accessed via NICS Recruitment

It is intended that interviews will take place soon after you complete the training Academy and you will be given 5 days’ notice prior to the date of your interview.

The training Academy will support you in preparing for the interview.

A panel of three civil servants will conduct a competency-based interview in which they will ask you to give examples of when you have demonstrated the competencies being assessed.

As part of the interview process, candidates will be required to make a presentation relevant to the responsibilities of the post lasting no longer than 7 minutes, the title of which will be provided to candidates in the invitation to interview letter. The panel will also ask follow up questions after the presentation.

Applicants should fully prepare their presentation in advance of the interview as no preparation time will be provided on the day of interview. Applicants may bring speaking notes if desired into the interview to deliver the presentation. Further requirements and guidance will be provided when being invited to interview.

Further information is available within the Candidate Information Booklet which can be found at Civil Service Skills Academy | Department for the Economy (economy-ni.gov.uk)

44. What should I do if I require reasonable adjustments due to disability to attend the recruitment interview?

If you are successful in completing the Academy and are invited to interview details on reasonable adjustments required to attend and participate in the interview will be gathered prior to the interview taking place.

Employment after the interviews

45. What are the terms and conditions of employment if I am successful at final interview?

Further information is available within the Candidate Information Booklet which can be found at Civil Service Skills Academy. This includes information related to location, salary, pensions, holidays, hours of work, career development etc.

More detail can also be found in the NICS Staff Handbook at:

46. If I am successful at final interview at what grade will I join the NICS?

Upon successful completion of the training Academy, you will be invited to an interview for a role at the DfE / TEO for the grade for which you completed the relevant training (Staff Officer or Deputy Principal).

This Academy will be used to fill 40 full time vacancies at Staff Officer and 40 full time vacancies at Deputy Principal level spread across the DfE and TEO.

Candidates will be matched with available posts based on their relevant experience, selected preference in the application form, and performance throughout the training stage of the Academy as best possible.

Further information is available within the Candidate Information Booklet which can be found at Civil Service Skills Academy

47. When am I expected to start if I am successful in being offered a role? What happens if I have a notice period?

We will ask you during the recruitment and interview stage if you are currently employed and if you have a notice period.

If you are successful in being offered a role after interview, we will provide a start date in the offer letter sent to you. You can also contact us after the offer is received to discuss this start date further if required. 

You will not be expected to start in employment until you have successfully completed the Academy training and been successful at the interview stage.

48. When will I hear if I have been successful at interview?

We will notify you as soon as possible after the interview as to the outcome.

Back to top