Guidance Notes for Employment Application

THESE NOTES WILL HELP YOU TO FILL IN THE APPLICATION FORM

IT IS IMPORTANT YOU READ THEM CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Trust Housing Association is an equal opportunities employer and will ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, marital status, disability, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religious belief, political belief, sexual orientation, trade union activity or responsibility for dependents.

The questions on the application form help us select the most suitable candidate for the job and are asked in such a way as to eliminate as far as possible, less favourable treatment on the basis of the information provided.

After reading these notes, please

  • complete all relevant sections
  • answer questions as fully as possible
  • DO NOT attach your Curriculum Vitae

If you require assistance in completing this form please do not hesitate to contact Human Resources on 0131 444 1200.

Personal Details

This section asks for sufficient information to identify you and allow us to get in touch with you by letter, e-mail or telephone. Please provide details where these are available to you.

Forename / Surname

- provide your forename(s) and surname in full.

Permanent Address

- provide your full postal address including post code.

Telephone Numbers

- provide a telephone number for the Association to contact.

Email Address

- provide your email address as an additional contact method if available.

Have you previously been employed or are currently employed by Trust Housing Association?

If you have previously been employed by Trust Housing Association please provide details in the box provided including job title and location.

Do you know anyone who works/has worked for Trust Housing Association or who serves/has served on the Association’s Board?

Because of regulatory requirements placed upon Trust Housing Association and other registered social landlords, we need to know if you are related to or know anyone who is a current or former employee of Trust Housing Association or anyone who serves or has served on the Association’s Board.

Do you require a work permit?

If you require a visa or work permit to work in the UK please tick ‘Yes’ in this box and provide details of your current status and working arrangements. If you do not require a working visa and have full eligibility to work in the UK please tick ‘No’.

References

Please enter all the information required as this will enable the Association to obtain references as quickly as possible. Referees will only be contacted once a conditional offer of employment has been issued unless the ‘At any time’ box is ticked. Referees should be in a position to comment on your suitability for appointment through their knowledge of you in a work-related capacity. The first referee must be your current or most recent employer and the second referee should be a previous employer. A character reference will only be accepted for a candidate who is unable to provide two employment referees but on all other occasions two previous employers must be provided. Referees must not be a partner, spouse or any other relative.

General Information

Please help us ensure that our recruitment process is as effective and efficient as possible by telling us how you heard about the vacancy with Trust Housing Association. Please tick the appropriate box and provide further details if required.

Education, Training and Membership of Professional Bodies

Education

This section covers all areas of education, training and membership of professional bodies. Please give details of qualifications and educational/vocational attainments you have gained at school or in further education. Please also give details of any qualifications or educational/vocational attainments you are working towards.

Please note that if successful you will be required to provide proof of all attained qualifications.

Membership of Professional Bodies

Please provide membership details for any professional institution or association or any other organisation.

SSSC Membership

Please provide SSSC registration details including valid to and from dates, membership number and any membership conditions that have been placed upon your registration.

Relevant Training Courses

If you have completed any other training that is relevant to the job in which you are applying, please provide the details in this section. This can include short courses provided by your employer or previous employer(s), or other training organisations.

Again, please note that all successful candidates will be required to provide proof of qualifications attained if certificates have been issued.

Employment Information

Present or most recent employer

Please give the full name and address of your present employer. If you are not employed, give the details of the last employer you worked for.

Use this section to tell us about the main duties and responsibilities of your current or most recent post. Please include enough detail to give a clear idea of your relevant experience for your two most recent employers.

Please only provide the basic employment information requested for any employers previous to your two most recent appointments.

Career Breaks

Please ensure you account for any breaks in employment in this section.

Evidence in Support of your Application

Competencies

Our Core Competencies which all employees are expected to demonstrate in the workplace are:-

Communication, Teamwork, Organising Own Work, Decision Making, Customer Service & People Management (If applicable)

If the post for which you are applying requires evidence in support of your application, please detail an occasion when you have used the above mentioned competencies to the best of your ability in the required section.

Please ensure that your evidence demonstrates the skills and experience required to carry out this role, as outlined in the job description.

The examples you give can be work related or you may draw on other activities if necessary (e.g. as a volunteer, charity committee member or organiser).

Additional Supporting Evidence

Please use this space to provide any additional information in support of your application and reasons why you would like to join Trust Housing Association.

Driving Licence

This should be completed by all applicants, irrespective of the post applied for. Please note, however, that the possession of a driving licence will only be taken into account for posts specifically advertised as requiring a full UK driving licence.

Disclosure of Criminal Records

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions & Exceptions) (Scotland) Order 2003 (as amended) enables some criminal convictions to become 'spent', or ignored, after a 'rehabilitation period'. A rehabilitation period is a set length of time from the date of conviction. After this period, with certain exceptions, an ex-offender is not normally obliged to mention the conviction when applying for a job. The length of the rehabilitation period depends on the sentence given. Custodial sentences of more than 2 ½ years can never become spent.

Because of the nature of the work of Trust Housing Association, a number of posts are exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions & Exceptions) (Scotland) Order 2003 (as amended).

This means that applicants for certain posts are required to declare all convictions, even if they are spent.

If you are applying for one of the posts which are not listed below, you must complete the Disclosure of Criminal Record section of the application form. If the post for which you are applying is listed you are not required to complete the Disclosure of Criminal Record section of the application.

  • Corporate Services Assistant
  • Corporate Services Team Leader
  • Finance Assistant/Officer
  • Housing Assistant
  • Clerical Officer (Housing)
  • Property Administration Officer
  • Development Assistant
  • Rent Assistant
  • Strategy & Performance Manager
  • Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive
  • IT Assistant/Officer
  • HR Assistant/Officer/Clerical Assistant

Please note that a conviction will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment. The circumstances of each case will be considered individually.

The cost of the disclosure check will be met by Trust Housing Association and should you wish to clarify any matters in relation to criminal conviction vetting please contact Human Resources.

Existing PVG Members

If you are an existing member of the PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) Scheme, please provide details of the date your membership was issued along with your membership number and complete whether your membership is for regulated work with Adults, Children or Both.

Declaration

Please read the declaration before signing the form.

Other Pre-Employment Vetting

Prevention of Illegal Working Under The Asylum And Immigration Act 1996

Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 requires all employers in the United Kingdom to make basic document checks on every person they intend to employ. By making these checks, employers can be sure they will not break the law by employing illegal workers.

If you are the successful candidate, at the conditional offer of appointment stage you will be asked to provide the Association with proof of your identity and supply an original document to be copied and retained on your personal file. Please note there is no need to provide any of the documents at the job application stage.

Two Ticks Scheme

What is the “Two Ticks” Symbol?

It’s a recognition given by Jobcentre Plus to employers based in Great Britain who have agreed to take action to meet five commitments regarding the employment, retention, training and career development of disabled employees.

  • Interviewing all applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria on a person specification and considering them on their abilities.
  • Ensuring there is a mechanism in place to discuss, at any time, but at least once a year, with disabled employees what can be done to ensure that they develop and use their abilities.
  • Making every effort when an employee becomes disabled to ensure that they stay in employment.
  • Taking action to ensure that all employees develop an appropriate level of disability awareness to make these commitments work.
  • Reviewing the commitments each year to assess what has been achieved, plan ways to make improvements and to let staff and the Employment Service know about progress and future plans.

If you wish to apply using the Two Ticks Scheme, please complete this section on our Diversity monitoring form.

What to do Next

Completed application forms should be returned no later than the advertised closing date to the address detailed below

Please note that in the interests of the best use of the Association’s financial resources, only candidates shortlisted for interview will be contacted again.

If you require assistance in completing this form please do not hesitate to contact Human Resources on 0131 444 1200.

We are pursuing a policy of equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Trust Housing Association is a Registered Scottish Charity- SC009086

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