Accessibility statement for Civil Service Jobs

This accessibility statement applies to the Civil Service Jobs website, which includes the job board, application forms, and application centre. This statement does not apply to online tests which may be used during the recruitment process, however the reasonable adjustments for online tests guide includes accessibility information. This statement does not apply to digital identity checks which may be used during the recruitment process.

This website is run by the Cabinet Office. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

• change colours, contrast levels and fonts
• zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
• navigate the website using just a keyboard
• navigate the website using speech recognition software
• listen to the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible (you can read details of what is not accessible lower down this page):

• some documents and attachments used in job adverts may not be accessible (although alternatives should be available)
• some online form fields are difficult to navigate for screenreader users
• some digital identity checks may not be able to be used by screen reader software (alternative ways of checking identity can be used)
• some tables do not have row headers
• videos or images may not have captions or alternative text
• some digital identity checks require a smartphone to complete

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:

• email support.csjobs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

We will provide an initial response within 2 working days.

If your enquiry is about a specific job or application, you can also contact the recruitment team for the advertising organisation.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact support.csjobs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

The Cabinet Office is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

This website is not compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. The non-compliances are listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

• Some logo images used on job adverts are missing descriptions, so screen reader users cannot understand the image. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content).
• There are pages with incorrect heading structure, some forms where labelling is inconsistent, and some tables with missing table headers and blank cells, so it is difficult for screen reader users to understand and navigate page layout. This fails criterion 1.3.1 (information and relationships).
• The text on some application form pages refers to content ‘above’ and ‘below’, but the content is not in the correct reading order for screen reader users. This fails criterion 1.3.3 (sensory characteristics).
• Skip links and access keys have been used inconsistently, which means they do not work for all screen readers in the same way and it is harder to navigate to the main page content. This fails criterion 2.4.1 (bypass blocks).
• Some page titles include abbreviations without including the full name, or do not clearly describe the page content, so screen reader users may find it harder to understand which page they are on. This fails criterion 2.4.2 (page titles).
• In error messages when submitting an application form, links are described as section headings. This makes it more difficult for screen reader users to identify the relevant part of the page. This fails criterion 3.3.2 (labels or instructions).
• The ‘Apply Now’ and ‘Apply at advertiser’s site’ buttons each appear twice on the page with duplicate IDs and misleading labels, which can be confusing for screen reader users. This fails criterion 4.1.1 (parsing).
• When creating an account, there is an unnecessary password confirmation alert which interferes with the page title for some screen reader users. This also affects error validation when the page is reloaded. This fails criterion 4.1.2 (name, role, value).
• Some form fields where multiple items can be selected are difficult for people using screen readers or keyboard-only. This fails criterion 4.1.2 (name, role, value).
• When completing forms, alerts for errors are announced as the user navigates through the page. There are also places where errors occur but are not announced. This makes it difficult to identify where in the page the error has occurred. This fails criterion 4.1.3 (status messages).

We plan to resolve the issues listed above by June 2022.

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

PDFs and other documents

Some job adverts provide additional information in an attachment format. All documents should be in accessible formats, and if this is not the case, you should be able to request an alternative from the recruitment team listed in the advert.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 10 September 2020. It was last reviewed on 14 December 2022.

This website was last tested in May 2021. The test was carried out by the Digital Accessibility Centre. The tests were conducted on common candidate tasks, including applying for a job, reviewing application feedback and scheduling an interview.

Last updated: 14 December 2022