How to apply

All MHCLG colleagues must meet the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). This is a series of basic security checks to confirm identity and employment history.

In addition to the BPSS, all staff based at our Marsham Street office in London (and some based in our other offices) must be cleared to at least Counter Terrorism Check level.

Some roles at Marsham Street, and other MHCLG offices, also require either Security Check or Developed Vetting clearance. Each job advert will state the level of security required. The nature and level of the security checks will vary depending on the level of clearance.

All offers of employment are conditional on successful completion of BPSS and (if applicable) National Security Vetting. To read more about all the vetting levels please read the Security Vetting Guidance. If you have any questions about security clearance requirements please contact the HR Shared Service Centre at HRsharedservices@communities.gov.uk.

Before starting your application, it’s very important to check you’re eligible to apply and meet the Civil Service nationality requirements. The Civil Service Nationality Rules detail who is eligible to apply.

As part of your application, you’ll be asked to confirm you have read the information in the links below:
Civil Service Nationality Rules
Countries in the EU and EEA
UK Visas and Immigration

If you’re unsure if you meet the nationality requirements for this role please contact MHCLG’s HR Service Centre at HRSharedServices@communities.gov.uk.

To be eligible for a role in MHCLG (and the wider Civil Service), you will need to prove your right to work in the UK.

If you’re a British or Irish citizen, you can prove your right to work in the UK with:

• a British passport
• An Irish passport or passport card

If you’re not a British or Irish citizen, you can prove your right to work with:

• a share code – you can get a share code online
• your eligible immigration documents

However, you must also be eligible under the Civil Service Nationality requirements (in the step above).

Artificial intelligence (AI) software such as ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot and Gemini are powerful tools that can create and review text in ways that mimic what people can do.

These tools can help you enhance your application and prepare for the process but it is essential you use them appropriately. They must not be used to provide misleading or false information at any stage of the application journey.

Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Do not use AI to:

• Provide an AI tool with sensitive information about your organisation such as figures or personal details
• Inflate or invent your skills and experiences
• Create generic responses and copy these into your application
• Complete assessments that evaluate personality and abilities such as situational judgement and numerical tests 
• Create answers for questions you are asked during a live or pre-recorded interview
• Create answers for situation-based questions

MHCLG do not sponsor visas so applicants will need to have a visa that is valid for the duration of their employment with MHCLG which doesn’t require us to sponsor or support.

The salary and grade will be confirmed at the top of each MHCLG job advert.

MHCLG’s grades are as follows: Administrative Officer, Executive Officer, Executive Officer Specialist, Higher Executive Officer, Higher Executive Officer Specialist, Higher Executive Officer Accountant, Senior Executive Officer, Senior Executive Officer Specialist, Senior Executive Officer Accountant, Senior Planning Technical Officer, Grade 7, and Grade 6.

You will see confirmation of both London salary and National salary. This will be specified on the job advert.

For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable. If you apply for a role that requires a transfer of location, for example if you are transferring from London to a National location, your salary will be adjusted in accordance with our policy on transfer between HQ pay ranges.

The average employer pension contribution is based upon the National minimum salary for this role. Should the starting salary for this role be different, the average employer pension contribution will be calculated accordingly. If you are a Secondee, this will not apply as you will remain on your home organisation’s terms and conditions. 

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

The Civil Service Code outlines the core values of the Civil Service:

• Objectivity
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Impartiality

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles.

The Recruitment Principles explain the legal requirement that selection for appointment to the Civil Service must be on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

They also:

• Set out the circumstances in which appointments can be made as exceptions to this requirement; and
• Describe the responsibilities of departments and agencies in meeting this requirement.

All staff must ensure there is no conflict of interest between their interests outside work and their role at MHCLG. You’ll be asked to declare any perceived, actual or potential conflicts of interest in your application form. These can then be discussed with the hiring manager.

Before applying for a job, please read the Outside Interests guidance.

When a civil servant is dismissed for internal fraud or resigns to avoid dismissal for the same reason, their details are reported to the Cabinet Office. Those involved are banned from Civil Service employment for 5 years.

MHCLG contact the Cabinet Office as part of pre-employment checks.

For more information please read the Internal Fraud Register Privacy Notice

If you have any questions about recruitment at MHCLG, please contact recruitment@communities.gov.uk

You can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if you believe there has been:
– a procedural irregularity
– an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy
– exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day

It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision.

In the first instance, an appeal should be sent to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at recruitment@communities.gov.uk. If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub can’t satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk, or in writing at 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ.