2019 AO Competition announced

Annemc123 · 18-06-2020 10:26AM

I rang PAS a couple of months ago and they said this panel will expire in 1 year. I assume that is 1 year from the date the panel is formed.

frenchman · 07-07-2020 10:04AM

I was assigned last week. Waiting on a start date now. Hoping that doesn't take too long.

Jbh91 · 07-07-2020 10:43AM

I was assigned yesterday again waiting to negotiate a start date! I was early 30’s on the general panel

JG2019 · 10-07-2020 05:31PM

Im no 41 on general panel and just got an email saying they’ve reached my place to go through clearance

AOHopeful2019 · 13-07-2020 01:00PM

Can anyone that has already been assigned and started their job able to give an idea of how the role is so far? I know it would be different in each department just looking for any info! Thanks!

thechaseison · 15-07-2020 09:30AM

Congratulations all!

What departments are you getting assigned to? Can you even PM if you're not comfortable saying on a public forum please!

Thanks a million

BainMarie · 15-07-2020 07:10PM

thechaseison wrote: »

Congratulations all!

What departments are you getting assigned to? Can you even PM if you're not comfortable saying on a public forum please!

Thanks a million

I’d like to know also. PM me if u can. Would be grateful.

lsdmem · 22-07-2020 12:58PM

BainMarie wrote: »

I’d like to know also. PM me if u can. Would be grateful.

I'm guessing alot are being assigned to the new bulked up Dept. of Children, Equality and Integration???

SFC1895 · 22-07-2020 06:05PM

lsdmem wrote: »

I'm guessing alot are being assigned to the new bulked up Dept. of Children, Equality and Integration???

I wouldn't be too certain of that. They're getting ~100 staff from Justice and the Disability area from Health, I heard.

Ollie321 · 22-07-2020 06:40PM

This might sound like a silly question but who actually makes the call into how many AO's are needed in a particular office etc?

SFC1895 · 22-07-2020 07:04PM

Ollie321 wrote: »

This might sound like a silly question but who actually makes the call into how many AO's are needed in a particular office etc?

Do mean at the Departmental (Management Board) level or the higher DPER/Vote level?

MrsBean · 22-07-2020 07:08PM

Ollie321 wrote: »

This might sound like a silly question but who actually makes the call into how many AO's are needed in a particular office etc?

The HR section of each department will know of how many vacancies they have at any given time. Amalgamations of departments will also have an impact on those numbers as pointed out above in reference to the Dept of Children. But generally, every department is in a constant flux of needing staff at various grades as staff leave, second, retire, and get promoted. Depending on the business needs of certain sections managers will put forward a business case for needing more staff on board if it is deemed important enough.

doc22 · 22-07-2020 07:11PM

Were is the new Dep of higher Ed getting staff? and were are they based

SFC1895 · 22-07-2020 07:18PM

doc22 wrote: »

Were is the new Dep of higher Ed getting staff? and were are they based

Innovation and Science too, so at a guess primarily made up of current Education staff, old DBEI staff perhaps moving with some economist secondments from DPER. Pure guesswork here on my behalf though!

Ollie321 · 22-07-2020 08:53PM

MrsBean wrote: »

The HR section of each department will know of how many vacancies they have at any given time. Amalgamations of departments will also have an impact on those numbers as pointed out above in reference to the Dept of Children. But generally, every department is in a constant flux of needing staff at various grades as staff leave, second, retire, and get promoted. Depending on the business needs of certain sections managers will put forward a business case for needing more staff on board if it is deemed important enough.

Thanks for this, so section managers that make requests would be at what level? I have heard of AO's being promoted etc but no requests made to have them replaced even though the section needed them

SFC1895 · 22-07-2020 09:01PM

Ollie321 wrote: »

Thanks for this, so section managers that make requests would be at what level? I have heard of AO's being promoted etc but no requests made to have them replaced even though the section needed them

The section needed them or had an existing vacancy at that level?

doc22 · 22-07-2020 09:09PM

Ollie321 wrote: »

Thanks for this, so section managers that make requests would be at what level? I have heard of AO's being promoted etc but no requests made to have them replaced even though the section needed them

They could be promoting into a HEO internally instead or the PO could move the AO role to a different location in the division. If an open position becomes available management have to request and make business case for role. Allocation isn't automatic. If there's an AO role needed I can't imagine why local management are sitting on it.

BainMarie · 13-08-2020 12:58AM

Finally, I have recently been assigned to the Department of Justice. However, I am a CO in another department and my manager is threatening not to release me. He said it would likely by 2 to 3 months before I can be released earliest. Is this fair? I am eager to start before the second wave and everything is paused again for months. Justice want me as soon as possible. They may not wait and move on to the next person. I really want that Department. How much notice am I required to give? I told an AP in HR via email that I made the panel months ago... this boils my blood because I have been working non stop for years for my manager and this is the thanks I get when I finally get a promotion externally. Civil Service crap. Please, what can I do? I need to start as soon as possible my partner has lost his job I was waiting for the rise.

An Ri rua · 13-08-2020 01:23AM

BainMarie wrote: »

Finally, I have recently been assigned to the Department of Justice. However, I am a CO in another department and my manager is threatening not to release me. He said it would likely by 2 to 3 months before I can be released earliest. Is this fair? I am eager to start before the second wave and everything is paused again for months. Justice want me as soon as possible. They may not wait and move on to the next person. I really want that Department. How much notice am I required to give? I told an AP in HR via email that I made the panel months ago... this boils my blood because I have been working non stop for years for my manager and this is the thanks I get when I finally get a promotion externally. Civil Service crap. Please, what can I do? I need to start as soon as possible my partner has lost his job I was waiting for the rise.

Search Boards but I think your 'manager' is talking through their rear end. There is a minimum notice that you must give and after that, they can't hold you. Email FORSA on the Covid19 related email hotline as this is a Covid issue now due to your line manager's attitude.

MrsBean · 13-08-2020 02:03AM

I was recently told that your home department can keep you for up to 12 weeks if your role is essential to the business needs and will need handover period/new staff trained in, so for example if you are solely responsible for one section like I was. This was said to me anecdotally by a colleague when I was wondering about my own departure date and if they'd try to delay it at all. You got this promotion through an open competition so as far as I'm aware there is no way for your manager to block this move, although they may be able to delay it by the sounds of things.

I suggested a time frame of three weeks for my own move, heard nothing for 2 weeks from my own HR and then last Friday I was told this would be my last week!

In your case I would try speak with someone in HR to discuss the situation and see where you stand. It could just be your manager trying to power play or they could be trying to prepare you for the worst case scenario. If you're worried you could also speak with PAS/Justice HR and see if they can help clarify some things for you - you said you're worried they might move on to the next person and you'll miss out on that Dept. If you really want that Department you could let them know that and they might be able to tell you what the craic is. I find PAS staff really helpful any time I've had any queries.

Be aware it's August and many staff are on leave so you could have some delays in getting a response.
Best of luck with it, try not to worry too much, I'm sure it will work out for you.

BainMarie · 13-08-2020 06:40AM

An Ri rua wrote: »

Search Boards but I think your 'manager' is talking through their rear end. There is a minimum notice that you must give and after that, they can't hold you. Email FORSA on the Covid19 related email hotline as this is a Vivied issue now due to your line manager's attitude.

Thanks. What is the forsa Covid related email address? I’m not a member yet.

13-08-2020 06:55AM

speak to your hr and speak to the hr of yr new dept

leave forsa out of it yet is my advice

its up to your new hr to push here in the first instance

An Ri rua · 13-08-2020 09:43AM

BainMarie wrote: »

Thanks. What is the forsa Covid related email address? I’m not a member yet.

It's a member benefit. I suggest following the advice given ré seeking advice from PAS, and both HRs. Unless your role is pivotal, which as s CO is highly unlikely, then you would be looking at 4-6 weeks max, not 3 months. I imagine your line manager is an EO in your case? In which case you've just leapfrogged them and their insecurity is on show. EOs, HEOs, even many APs earned their stripes through shouldering the burden for many years. I know many POs who started out as clerical assistants. Average people, in office environments, detest bright people with hard won qualifications. To the point that you can't display said qualifications. Off topic but that's what you're facing so cut through the smoke and talk especially to your receiving HR. Pronto.

Ravelleman · 13-08-2020 10:15AM

BainMarie wrote: »

Finally, I have recently been assigned to the Department of Justice. However, I am a CO in another department and my manager is threatening not to release me. He said it would likely by 2 to 3 months before I can be released earliest. Is this fair?

Given that this is an open competition, you could simply resign and take the new job, assuming that pension is the same.

BainMarie · 13-08-2020 11:11PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

speak to your hr and speak to the hr of yr new dept

leave forsa out of it yet is my advice

its up to your new hr to push here in the first instance

I contacted Justice HR today and they said there is no pressure regarding start date as they have a few positions opening in the next few months. They said it is up to the policy of HR in the releasing Department. HR in my current department are known for doing nothing for COs unless massive pressure is put on. People have been held back 2,3,4 months in the past. Especially that my line manager is demanding an in-person hand over with the new CO. (I would try to avoid this if possible as a family member is immuno-compromised and a hand-over can be done remotely.) I will contact Forsa tomorrow.

There are no rules within the civil service - it is pure good will between one department and another - basically after waiting the 6 months of lockdown, another 3 months is to be expected before Im placed...

An Ri rua · 14-08-2020 09:40AM

Ravelleman wrote: »

Given that this is an open competition, you could simply resign and take the new job, assuming that pension is the same.

When someone is promoted via open competition, they actually do resign (it's done for them). And then they commence a probationary contract.
It will be interesting what FORSA say and whether they cop that you're not a paid-up member BainMarie.

BainMarie · 14-08-2020 09:47AM

An Ri rua wrote: »

When someone is promoted via open competition, they actually do resign (it's done for them). And then they commence a probationary contract.
It will be interesting what FORSA say and whether they cop that you're not a paid-up member BainMarie.

Is it too late to join now? And how would I go about it?

An Ri rua · 14-08-2020 11:46AM

BainMarie wrote: »

Is it too late to join now? And how would I go about it?

www.Forsa.ie would be a good starting point.

JG2019 · 16-08-2020 06:04PM

How have the people who have been placed since Covid/working from home found starting during such a weird time? What’s the training like? I’m starting in two weeks and getting a bit nervous about staring a brand new job from home in a pandemic!

An Ri rua · 16-08-2020 06:46PM

JG2019 wrote: »

How have the people who have been placed since Covid/working from home found starting during such a weird time? What’s the training like? I’m starting in two weeks and getting a bit nervous about staring a brand new job from home in a pandemic!

Government departments are essential services. You'll likely be in a day or two a week for induction /onboarding purposes.

You'll be grand. Best of luck with it.

2019 AO Competition announced

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