In the Civil Service can a department block you from moving to another department on level transfer?

trix1234

As title suggests, is this possible?

anmarj

They can, i got a level move to another and i got blocked. think it has to come from a lot higher up, they can block on need for the existing department. 

trix1234

anmarj said:

They can, i got a level move to another and i got blocked. think it has to come from a lot higher up, they can block on need for the existing department. 

Thanks for that....do you mind me asking what grade you were at the time? Do you think that plays a part.

anmarj

AO, grade. My application is still sitting at reserve for post after two years! There was an announcement six months earlier by London that no one was being allowed to be moved to this particular department. At the time the new department had to take on other staff, before they could allow any others and think if the new department had been allowed to, i would  have gone, 3/4 quarters of the staff kept asking when I was going, which didn’t help! Don’t think it matters what level you are, its a very big risk that in level move it can be blocked. I know people who were going from AO to EO, were stopped for a while as they had a shortage of staff, but they did eventually allow them to move.

i do remember looking into at the time, the new department has to request to the existing department the move, and only if agreed does the new department get to send the paperwork. I have a feeling that if senior managers within were asked, i would have been declined automatically, without debate.

lincroft1710

This is often seen as "poaching" and is usually not allowed

TELLIT01

I don't think the employee grade makes much difference.  If the sideways move leaves the current department short of staff, or just short of a specific skills area, they can block the move.  A move with promotion can't be blocked completely but can be delayed, again on business need until a suitable replacement is in place.