Universal credit departures continue

Head of major IT programmes Steve Dover to be replaced by two new directors

Steve Dover, who heads up the Department for Work and Pensions' major IT programmes is being replaced on the evolving Universal Credit project.

Dover's role as corporate director of the universal credit programme business is now being taken up by head of service delivery Janice Hartley and by Sue Moore, the head of fraud and error strategy. The two have been appointed to director posts for the delivery of Universal Credit, reporting to Hilary Reynolds as programme director.

A DWP spokeswoman said the roles are new, and are not direct replacements to the Steve Dover role because the programme is moving from design to delivery and implementation. A further member of the DWP executive team, chief operating officer Terry Moran, is believed to be on sick leave.

Dover's future role within DWP has not yet been announced.

His departure follows that of Malcolm Whitehouse who left his role as programme director to be replaced by Hilary Reynolds.

Whitehouse had been in charge of universal credit since its inception in July 2011 and has worked at the DWP for nine years.