Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Appeal and Guidance Writer (Decision Making and Appeals Leeds)
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
DMA Leeds Hub, Quarry House, Leeds, LS2 7UA.
Job Summary
Are you skilled at working through complex information and reaching clear, well supported conclusions? If you can review evidence, identify the main issues and explain your reasoning clearly, this could be the role for you.
You will join DMA Leeds, a welcoming and supportive team that values collaboration, shared learning and high-quality work. Colleagues work closely together, drawing on their collective expertise to solve complex problems. The team handles all DWP appeals to the Upper Tribunal and higher courts, provides expert guidance to decision makers on complex cases, and quality assures a wide range of DWP products.
You will develop the specialist knowledge needed to assess legal risk, apply relevant social security legislation and draft comprehensive responses and persuasive written submissions. You will organise your work and respond effectively when priorities change, ensuring deadlines are met. You will communicate clearly in writing and verbally, working with colleagues across legal, policy and operational teams to explain complex issues and agree next steps.
Job Description
This is a specialist, high-impact role with no line management responsibility. It offers the opportunity to use and develop your analytical, drafting, communication and decision-making skills while contributing to work that makes a real difference. We welcome applications from people who can demonstrate these skills through relevant or transferable experience gained in different roles or settings.
General Role Responsibilities
As part of your day-to-day role you will:
- Produce high quality, technically accurate written appeal applications and submissions to His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS).
- Utilise expertise to draft case specific legal guidance for operational colleagues
- Co-ordinate with stakeholders to quality assure a range of learning and development products
- Build positive relationships with team members and stakeholders to identify & manage litigation risk and determine the appropriate response for complex cases
- Ensure that team records, Excel spreadsheets and other reporting mechanisms are accurately maintained
Person specification
The Successful Candidate Should Be Someone Who Has:
- Communication skills – able to communicate clearly and effectively in writing and verbally, adapting style and content for different audiences.
- Analytical skills – able to understand, interpret and summarise complex information, identify key issues and apply information appropriately.
- Judgement and attention to detail – able to assess information carefully, make well-reasoned decisions and produce accurate, high-quality work.
- Planning and organisation – able to manage competing priorities, organise work effectively and deliver to agreed timescales.
- Collaborative working – able to build positive working relationships, work effectively with others and engage constructively with a range of stakeholders.
- Learning and development – willing to build knowledge, take responsibility for personal development and respond constructively to feedback.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £32,137, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £9,310 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
- Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
- Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
- Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
- Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
- Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
- An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. 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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Ensure that you read the full information about the selection process before starting your application. Please note the closing date for your full application (Application Form, Test, CV and Written Statements) is 08/10/2026.
Stage 1 – Online test
After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.
Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 08/10/2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.
Stage 2 – Application and Sift
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and to give examples of specific Behaviours. The CV is for reference only and will not be scored.
The sift will be assessed on the 3 Behaviours listed in the advert, for which examples of 250 words are required. Using the Situation, Task, Action and Result (STAR) method can help you give examples of relevant experience that you have. It allows you to set the scene, show what you did and how you did it and explain the overall outcome.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
If there are large number of applications, we will sift based upon the Lead Behaviour Making Effective Decisions. If you do not meet the minimum requirements for this Behaviour, the rest of your application will not be considered.
Anonymisation
DWP operates an anonymised recruitment process, you should remove any personal details that could be used to identify you. Failure to do so will result in your application being withdrawn.
Examples Of Plagiarism Can Include:
- Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
- Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own
The same applies to all stages of your application
Stage 3 - Interview
If you are successful at the sift you will be invited to a face to face interview. The interview will comprise a blended mix of Behaviour and Strength-Based questions. The guidance on Success Profiles explains these selection tools. The Behaviours being assessed are detailed in the job advert. Because of the nature of Strength-Based questions you will not be told which Strengths are being assessed.
Questions in Advance
To help you prepare and settle into the interview you will be sent the Behaviour questions 5 days prior to your interview. These questions should be treated as confidential and should not be shared. The interview panel will ask you Strength questions which will not be shared in advance.
You are strongly encouraged to secure your interview promptly to ensure fairness in preparation time with the questions provided in advance.
The written application sift is scheduled to start week commencing 12th October 2026.
Interview dates are scheduled to start week commencing 9th November 2026.
Please note that these dates are only indicative and could be subject to change.
Offer
Once all interviews have been completed, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email and offers will be made in merit order.
Acceptance of an offer confirms your agreement to accept appointment to a post for the location listed in this advert.
Due to the complex nature of the role and the investment in training and development, successful candidates will be expected to remain in the post for a minimum of two years.
Working Pattern
DWP is a family-friendly employer and part-time and job-sharing working patterns within standard working hours may be available subject to business needs. We will consider colleagues with existing part-time contracts providing these align with operational requirements.
Hybrid Working
Certain job roles may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
Please note that, to support induction and training, successful candidates will be required to attend the DMA Leeds Hub, Quarry House, Leeds, LS2 7UA for the first four weeks of their training. Any hybrid working arrangements will be discussed after this initial training period and will remain subject to business
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Location