Q. What Are the Entry Criteria?

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“STEPPING UP” BAME PROGRAMME FAQs

FAQ’s

Q. WHAT ARE THE ENTRY CRITERIA?

A. Applicants should have experience of leading teams and be working at team leader or middle management level. It is difficult to specify “clearer criteria” as we have over 30 partner organizations across public, commercial, and voluntary sectors. However, we are looking for individuals who have the motivation, commitment, and talent to “step up” to a senior role.

Stepping Up is a Positive Action programme aimed at improving the representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic employees in senior leadership roles within the City of Bristol and wider area.

Q. ARE THERE AGE RESTRICTIONS?

A. No. However, it is expected that applicants will be at team leader/middle management level, for them to be able to “Step Up” to a senior level post within 1-3 years, and with 5 years left before retirement.

Q WHAT ARE THE SELECTION CRITERIA?

A. In the CV and at the interview we will be seeking evidence against the following competencies

• Leadership experience – (at team level –in work or in voluntary capacity)
• Motivation
• Empathy
• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Negotiation/influence

Q. DO APPLICANTS NEED A QUALIFICATION?

A. No. We would however, expect that applicants to be educated to “A” level standard. Some applicants may also hold a degree or professional qualifications relevant to their sector/role.

Q. HOW WILL PARTICIPANTS LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

• Visit Bristol City Council Website for Video from Marvin Rees, Mayor and Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor.
• There will also be a Briefing workshop on Monday 20th November 1.30-3.00 at Bristol City Hall, Mayors Parlor
• To attend the briefing please register interest via .

If employers wish to hold their own information sessions this can be arranged again via

Q. HOW DO PARTICIPANTS APPLY

A. Participants apply via Bristol City Council Job Page. Search or Stepping Up Development Opportunity. Applications are via CV with a supporting statement of no more than 300 words detailing motivation for applying

Q. DO PARTICIPANTS NEED ENDORSEMENT FROM THEIR LINE MANAGER TO APPLY?

A. 1. For Bristol City Council participants it will not be a requirement to seek line manager approval to apply

A. 2. In respect of other employers there is an expectation that participants will either be nominated by their employer – or a discussion will have taken place between employer and participant prior to applying for the development experience

Q. WHEN IS THE CLOSING DATE?

A. 30th November 2017 (midnight)

Q. WHEN IS THE INTERVIEW DATE?

A. Interviews will be held on 19th December 2017 at Bristol Energy Ltd. Full details will be sent out to applicants.

Q. WHEN WILL PARTICIPANTS KNOW IF THEY HAVE BEEN SELECTED?

A. Applicants will be notified by 30th December 2017

Q. WHEN DOES THE PROGRAMME START?

A. The Launch and Introductory Module are taking place on 22nd/23rd January 2018

Q. DO PARTICIPANTS STAY IN THEIR JOB AND ORGANISATION?

A. Yes. Nothing changes in respect to participants employment. Employers have pledged support to release their participant(s) to attend the development experience

Q. WHAT IS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE 30 DAYS DEVELOPMENT” ASK”?

• There are 5 Modules. Each module consists of 2 days of face to face learning input, individual and group appreciative enquiry – with key speakers from the employer consortium 10 days
• Stretch assignment – The assignment can best be described as undertaking a project or consultancy in a different organization. A training contract will be issued to Stepping Up participants to ensure that all legislative requirement are met. How the assignment is delivered is a matter of negotiation. It could be 1 day a week or 2/3 days a week. However, the total of days of assignment should not exceed 15 days
• Peer learning – the cohort will be split into 3 peer learning groups who will meet for half a day between modules, to explore learning challenges.

2 days

• Mentor - Each participant will be assigned an off-line mentor from outside of their own organization. Mentoring sessions will be a blended mix of face to face, mobile/skype and email. – 3 days

Q. HOW DOES ACCESS TO ILM LEVEL 5 CERTIFICATE IN LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT WORK?

A. Access. Employer partner Bristol Energy has extended an invitation to participants on Stepping Up to access the ILM Level 5 qualification. It may be that other employers may also wish to consider offering the qualification to their nominated participant under the level 5 Apprenticeship scheme.

Study requirements The expectation is that participants would complete the course of study during the duration of the programme. Participants will be expected to complete units to the value of 13 credits (3-5 courses) from the list of 30+ management/leadership courses. There will be one written assessed work-based assignment (9-10 pages). Stepping Up participants will use the “stretch assignment” as the work -based assignment. Assessment criteria indicate that completion of the ILM level 5 within 6 months will take approximately 4-6 hours a week self-study for participants.

Q. HOW DOES THE MENTORING PROCESS WORK?

A. Participants will be matched with an “off-line” external mentor from another organization. There will be a dedicated half day workshop on the mentoring process on Day 2 of the Introductory module 22, 23rd January 2018. Steve Killeen of Business in the Community will lead the Mentoring Process.

Employers may also wish to put in place internal mentoring or shadowing. However, this is discretionary.

Q. CAN PARTICIPANTS ACCESS COACHING?

A. There is the possibility of accessing coaching – which has been offered free of charge to participants through NHS Coaching Network and Coaching Providers. Access to coaching is dependent on development needs identified as part of the individual tailored personal development plan. If coaching support if exceeds the projected 30 days of development,then participants would need to seek their employers support.

Q. WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS GET AT THE END OF THE PROGRAMME?

A. There will be a Graduation Ceremony. Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol and Cllr Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor will present certificates to participants. Participants who successfully completed the ILM level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management will also be presented with their certificate at the Graduation Ceremony

Q. HOW WILL HR AND LEARNING BE INVOLVED?

HR Club Masterclasses in Diversity – Talent pipeline and Recruitment -There will be two HR Club Masterclasses (February and May 2018)

HR and Learning Support - In addition to the Masterclasses, there will be the opportunity for “Exchange of learning”

Q. HOW WILL LINE MANAGERS BE INVOLVED?

A. There will be a briefing for Line Managers on 23rd January 2018, as part of the Introductory workshop. .Line Managers will be encouraged to attend participant presentations and engage with the participant on their learning journey

Participants will be asked to hold regular conversations with their line managers. Participants will be encouraged to produce a diary or journal to update as part of their learning and to keep their employer fully informed on progress and impact

Q HOW WILL EMPLOYER’S SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM BE INVOLVED?

A. At the end of the Stretch Assignment, participants will be expected to present their outcomes and learning to their Board or Senior Management Team.

Q. WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE PROGRAMME?

A. Database/ Future recruitment opportunities across the city?

Stepping Up talent pool database. The database will be available for employers to search for talent as part of the recruitment for new roles, assignments, or projects

Q. Will employers need to provide a new role for participants at the end of the programme?

A. 1. It is not the intention that participants will seek, or expect a new job in their organization – or indeed outside of their organization at the end of the programme. It may be that opportunities may arise at any point and there may well be movement because of the profile of the development experience.

A. 2. As part of internal talent management each employer will have their own policy regarding fast-tracking or positive action in respect of Stepping Up participants. Bristol City Council intent is to offer interview or development opportunities to support onward career progression.

Q. IS THERE A PROCESS FOR PARTICIPANTS TO DISCUSS THEIR CAREER

A. Yes. A proforma career action plan will be available for participants and employers to enable the discussion to take place. Participants will need to evidence their learning and explore how the development experience has enabled them to create a career action plan. The career action plan will need to be mutually agreed as part of the participant’s ongoing professional and personal career development.

Q. WILL PARTICIPANTS GET TRAINING FOR CV AND INTERVIEW PREPARATION

A. Yes Stepping Up team will offer CV and Interview training workshop for graduates

Q. HOW WILL SUCCESS BE MEASURED?

A. An evaluation will be put in place to measure:

• Personal growth
• Impact at work
• Succession

Stepping Up BAME FAQs (6i) (Prof) Christine Bamford