Man picketsDSD and WNPover job snub

A community worker turned down for a vacant position in Currynierin last month has been picketing the Waterside Neighbourhood Parnership (WNP) and Department of Social Development (DSD).

Gary McClean has asked DSD to disclose any information it holds about the recruitment process, which he claims was inexplicably stalled.

Mr McClean told the Sentinel he applied for a Community Development Officer post and attended interview on June 5 but didn’t hear anything back until July 10 when he was told “the panel had not made a decision...the post would be re-advertised and that he was welcome to re-apply”.

He says he requested feedback and interviewers’ notes from the strategy manager regarding the interview and that on reading “the interview notes it appeared he had done well.” He says he put it to the WNP that he had been “unfairly discriminated against and denied the job on the basis of his perceived political opinion.”

DSD said it was a matter for WNP. WNP said it carried out a recruitment process that is a personnel matter and private to the individuals who took part therefore WNP will be making no comment.