gross misconduct from dwp jobcentre in 2011.

qadsey

hi I'm wanting some advice I have seen a role in the dwp and home office which I'm really interested in. however In 2011 my employment with the jobcentre was terminated due to me checking my jobseekers account. I have been thinking whether this will still impact me in getting a job in these departments?

oh_really

If the termination was due to gross misconduct you may find you have a significant barrier to returning.

Perhaps current employees could inform what the recruitment policy has to say on the subject.

Malthusian

From a thread at the beginning of this year from someone who had been sacked for the same reason (but recently, not ten years ago) I remember someone saying that calling up your own file is a big no-no and pretty much the first thing you are told not to do. So the bad news is that the DWP appear to take such things very seriously, as they should.

On the other hand it was 10 years ago so if you have a snowball's chance of getting the job at all, you should be to convince the recruiter / interviewer that you have changed and matured significantly since then, the experience helped you understand how crucial ethics and trustworthiness are in the role you have applied for, you have had an unblemished record ever since, etc etc etc.

A previous dismissal for gross misconduct may of course result in them chucking the application straight in the bin without reading any of that, but that just puts you in the same position as if you'd not bothered applying.

TELLIT01

As Malthusian says, accessing your onw DWP file is an absolute no-no, and was certainly one of the first things we were warned about on training.  The consequences of doing so were also spelled out in on uncertain terms.  That information will still be on your employment record but if you want to apply do so and see what happens.

TBagpuss

does the DWP keep employment records that long? Given Data Protection I would have expected there to be a period after which the employer could no longer retain records for former employees.

As I recall, it's for the org. holding the data to decide how long they retain it for but they have to be able to justify their reasoning.

I think the recommended period for personnel  files is 6 years from the end of employment but of course the DWP may have its own policies. 

TELLIT01

Even if the old records are no longer retained, the question will arise about previous employment within DWP.  The follow up question will be around why they left......