Job Information Pack
Reference No. / FIF010214
Closing Date for Applications / 03 March 2014
Directorate / Education and Children’s Services
Location / Fife House Complex, Glenrothes
Hours / 36 hours per week
Salary / CO 40 £89,235
Post Status / Permanent
Interview Date / 28 March 2014
Thank you for your interest in this position.
If you have any queries about the job information pack, application form or the application process, please contact Catherine Coull on 03451 55 55 55 extension 444261 or by emailing or by post to Human Resources, Fife Council, Fife House, Glenrothes, Fife, KY7 5LT.
We will not normally consider applications received after the closing date.
We value diversity and are striving towards equality of opportunity. All applicants will be considered fairly and on merit.
How to apply
Please note that, in the interests of equality, we do not accept Curriculum Vitae (CVs).
We advertise vacancies on our website www.fifedirect.org.uk, on www.myjobscotland.gov.uk (the national recruitment portal), and via JobcentrePlus across Fife. You can find out more about working for Fife Council, how to apply for jobs and the selection process on our website fifedirect.org.uk under FifeDirectfcJobs.
If you are interested in a post, you should apply online through the MyJobScotland recruitment portal. If you apply for a job on our website, you will automatically be redirected to the recruitment portal. The recruitment portal allows you to create your personal MyJobScotland account where your information is saved and can be used for future applications. Please make sure you complete all sections and questions, on the application, as fully as possible. We do not accept Curriculum Vitaes (CV’s) to support your application.
Your application will be acknowledged automatically to the email address you supplied on your application. Please make sure you check your email or your myjobscotland online account regularly. If you do not receive an automated acknowledgement, within 24 hours of submitting your online application, please contact Catherine Coull on 03451 55 55 55 extension 444261 or by emailing to ensure that your application has been received.
Accessibility
Fife Council wants its recruitment application process to be accessible to the communities we serve. Job information can be made available in alternative formats including audio, paper, large print and Braille, and translation upon request. We may need to involve other agencies to help us with this. If you require an alternative format or language to help you apply for this post you should email to advise of your specific requirements. Information about accessibility can be found on our website fifedirect.org.uk, and on the myjobscotland website under Accessibility.
If you are unable to access the internet at home, you can do so at your local library. For further information, or to find your nearest library, visit www.fifedirect.org.uk/libraries or telephone 01592 583204.
Positive about Disabled People
Fife Council operates the Positive about Disabled People guaranteed job interview scheme, often referred to as the ‘double tick’ scheme. Our commitment under this scheme means that we will invite for interview disabled applicants who meet the Essential criteria, in the Person Specification, for the job.
If you wish your application to be considered under this scheme, you should notify us in your application and advise us of any reasonable adjustments that you require for the selection and interview process
At all stages of the recruitment and selection process we would wish to discuss with you what steps we might reasonably take to support you in your application.
Selection Process
It is intended that the selection process for this post will be:
· An Appointments Sub-Committee will short-list the applications on 14 March 2014. Candidates will be contacted, normally by e-mailed, as soon as possible thereafter
· SHL’s Occupational Personality Questionnaire, Verbal and Numerical Reasoning Tests will be conducted (normally online) before the interview
· An Appointments Sub-Committee will conduct formal interviews on 28 March 2014.
· At the beginning of the formal interview, you will be asked to make a short 10 minute presentation, the subject of which will be given to you 40 minutes before the interview
· It is hoped to make a decision on the appointment at the conclusion of the formal interviews and make a conditional offer of appointment.
Recruitment and Selection Pre Employment Checks
The following provides information about the checks we carry out for all candidates we invite to interview and before a preferred candidate is allowed to start work with the Council. Unless stated otherwise, all checks apply to internal and external candidates.
It is important that you read these sections thoroughly. If you are unable to supply any of the essential information or documents we need, we may not be able to proceed with your application. Please also make sure that you bring all the documents you need to your interview to avoid unnecessary delays in the recruitment process.
Eligibility to Work in the UK
In accordance with the Immigration Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, the Council has a legal obligation to check documentary evidence to confirm that all potential employees are eligible, and permitted, to work in the UK. Nationals from European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland can provide evidence in the form of a valid passport, national identity card, birth certificate or national insurance document. If you are selected for interview, you will be required to produce original forms of identification. If you are not currently entitled to work in the UK, we advise that you visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk for further information about working in the UK.
Medical Assessment
The successful candidate will be required to complete a Pre-employment Health Questionnaire and undergo a medical examination by the Council’s external occupational health provider. If you have not had a check-up with your General Practitioner (GP) recently you are advised to do so before attending for interview.
Criminal Convictions
The Council complies with legislation and codes of practice that govern the use of criminal conviction history information provided on ex-offenders.
A Criminal Conviction Self Declaration Form will be attached to the email inviting you to interview, where relevant to the post. If you have declared a criminal conviction history, this will only be taken into consideration where the actual history is relevant to the specific duties of the post you have applied for. The candidate Self Declaration form will only be opened for the selected candidate. Self Declaration forms for candidates who are not successful will be destroyed unopened.
Disclosure Checks
Some posts are eligible for a Disclosure Scotland check or Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG) membership. The level of disclosure required (basic, standard or PVG) will be clearly stated in the job information. Where membership of the PVG Scheme is a requirement of the post, you will be required to join the PVG Scheme to carry out regulated work with children or adults or both, before an unconditional offer of employment is made.
You should bring to interview at least three original forms of identity to confirm your name, date of birth and current home address. One of these should preferably be photographic. If you are an existing member of the PVG Scheme, you should bring your PVG Scheme Record to your interview. Should you be offered employment with us you will be asked to pay the appropriate fee for your check.
Further information including information on fees can be found at www.disclosurescotland.co.uk website under Types of Disclosure and at www.pvgschemescotland.org.
Overseas Criminal Record Checks
Disclosure Scotland is not able to check the criminal history system of candidates from countries out-with the UK. Therefore you are responsible for obtaining an overseas police check if you:
a) have spent three months or more (in a single period) in a non UK country in the last ten years
b) were born and have lived overseas until adulthood.
If necessary, you will need to provide a translated check from the country/countries involved at you own expense.
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DSB) formally the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) website at www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check provides guidance on how you can obtain further information from a number of overseas countries. If the country required is not listed on this website, you must contact the country’s representative in the UK. See the Foreign and Commonwealth website at www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-recrods-checks-for-overseas-applicants.
Qualifications and Certificates
You will be asked to bring to your interview original copies of all relevant educational and professional qualifications and memberships. A copy will be taken for our records. If the original certificate is unavailable, you must obtain a certified copy of the document from the issuing body.
Registration with a Regulatory Body
Where registration with an appropriate regulatory body e.g. Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), General Teaching Council (GTC) is required, you will be asked to provide us with your registration certificate.
Driving Licence
If required, you will be asked to bring proof to your interview that you hold the appropriate driving licence to allow you to carry out the driving duties of the post. A copy will be taken for our records. Where a Certificate of Professional Competence and/or Driver Qualification Card is specified on the employee specification, you will also need to provide evidence of the number of hours of periodic training undertaken since issue of the CPC or DQC.
Contacts
If you have any queries about the job information pack, application form or the application process, please contact Catherine Coull on 03451 55 55 55 extension 444261 or by emailing . If you wish an informal discussion about the job, please contact Craig Munro, Executive Director of Education and Children’s Services on Telephone 03451 55 55 55 Ext 444219.
You may want to refer our website Fifedirect (www.fifedirect.org.uk), in particular Fife's Community Plan page, (www.fifedirect.org.uk/communityplanning) from which you can access the following documents or you can access by clicking (press ctrl + mouse click) on the links below:
Key Papers
Ø Fife's Community Plan 2011-20 click here
Ø Fife Partnership Resource Pack 2011 click here
Ø Council Plan 2017 click here
Ø Community Planning Achievements: State of Fife Report 2011/12 click here
Ø National Standards for Community Engagement click here
Ø The Education and Learning page on Fife Direct has links to: Education Service – Planning and Performance report 2011, Education Standards and Quality Report 2010/11 and Fife Children’s Services Plan 2011-2014
Ø Education and Learning Directorate - Service Improvement Plan 2013/14 click here
Ø Curriculum for Excellence Implementation Plan 2013-14 click here
Ø The Standards for Leadership and Management: supporting leadership and management development click here
Ø SWIA Fife Council Scrutiny Report 2010 (published in January 2011)click here
Ø Child Protection Inspection Report (CP2) June 2012 click here
There are mini sites on the Council’s website which provides further relevant information on:
Financial issues – Budgets and Finance
http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/topics/index.cfm?fuseaction=subject.display&subjectid=AAC434E8-8E8A-40D1-A51A3C89D508AEBA
Council Decision Making Structure – Fife Council News Centre
http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.display&objectid=7FAAF227-CE24-9C0C-B39F68CA19D85270
Fife Council is an equal opportunity employerWorking in Fife Council
Fife Council is the third largest authority in Scotland and the largest employer in Fife. We employ approximately 18,000 people to provide 900 different services to approximately 360,000 people and we have one of the highest overall customer satisfaction ratings for a council in the UK.
The Chief Executive leads the non-political organisation, supported by Executive Directors who lead operational directorates.
The services we provide range from education, social work, housing and neighbourhood services to transportation, looking after the environment and developing the economy.
Our vision is to make Fife a great place to live, work, visit and invest. To realise this we are committed to working in partnership with other local organisations and local communities. Our shared boundaries and close links with other public sector organisations including Fife NHS and Police Scotland have helped us build a strong Community Planning Partnership.
Fife Council works with an annual budget of around £900 million and we pride ourselves on providing value for money services. But, like all public sector organisations, we are having to make our budget stretch further every year and will have to save significant sums of money in coming years.
We remain ambitious for Fife, we want our region to inspire others, to lead the way and be the best it can be, but we must address the inequalities across our communities.
The council plan for 2012-2017 sets out Council’s aims:
· Grow a vibrant Fife economy
· Increase opportunities and reduce poverty and inequality
· Improve quality of life in local communities
· Promote a sustainable society
· Deliver excellent services.
We can only achieve our aims by working together and putting people first. We believe that all our employees must be empowered to make a difference by improving performance, efficiency and customer focus.
Building on these values, we are creating an organisation that is outcome focused, puts customers at the heart of what we do, supports flexible working, recognises and celebrates achievements and strives for innovation.
Our Customer Charter is our agreement with the people of Fife about how we will work together with them to develop the services they want, where and when they want them.
In return for our employees’ commitment to delivering excellent services we offer a range of employee benefits and support the health and wellbeing of staff. Fife Council is the largest public sector organisation to hold the Healthy Working Lives Gold Award.
Living and Working in Fife
Great education, superb transport links, a growing economy and a wide range of leisure and housing choices, Fife has it all!
Fife lies on the east coast of Scotland, between Edinburgh and Dundee, and is one of Scotland's fastest growing regions. We are going from strength to strength offering competitive employment opportunities coupled with quality alternatives to big city living and everything you would need for a healthy work life balance. As Edinburgh is in easy reach, Fife residents can also benefit from the amenities of Scotland’s capital city.
As well as great golf (St Andrews is home to the game after all) and leisure facilities, our countryside, wildlife and award winning beaches attract over a quarter of a million visitors every year.