Welcome to the Acas Grade 10 Application andFurther Information Details.

Closing date for receipt of applications: 12 noon on Friday 1st March 2013(UK time).

Regrettably, we cannot accept any applications after this deadline.

Documents are available to download from the ‘vacancy summary’ page on our website.

-Background Information

-Application Form Guidelines

-Terms and Conditions

-Competency Framework*

-Day in the life of a Helpline Adviser*

-Application Form and Equal Opportunities Data Form *

-Competency example*

Background Information

Posts Available

In this selection exercise we are seeking to identify candidates suitable for appointment to Helpline Adviser posts in our regional offices in Birmingham, Cardiff, LondonandNottingham. The role of the Helpline Adviseris to answer calls from customers and provide accurate, impartial advice on employment rights issues to individuals, employers, and other interested parties.

  • Initially, new staff appointed will be engaged solely as Helpline Advisers taking calls and providing advice over the telephone.

This role involves promoting the benefits to business of early dispute resolution.

Post Expectations

The Acas Helpline serves all sections of the community and we welcome applications from individuals with language skills additional to English. In particular, we are keen to hear from candidates with strong Welsh Language skills. There is a box on the form to indicate whether you have any language skills and we would be grateful if you could complete this, if appropriate.

Helpline advisers need to understand and quickly absorb large amounts of complex information and explain it in ways that meet the needs of the enquirers. You must have two years relevant work experience or at least two A-Level qualifications or equivalent (e.g. NVQ, SVQ, BTEC, National Record of Achievement).

Full training appropriate to individual needs will be provided by Acas, and applicants should note that some of the training is residential, particularly within the first six months.

Application Form Guidelines

The Application Form has standard sections which capture biographical information about you. It also asks you to complete competency based questions covering four different competencies. This section is self-report and requires you to provide evidence of how you have demonstrated the behaviours associated with the specified Acas competencies, defined at the end of this pack. Included in the pack is an example of a well written competency example. Your evidence must be objective and truthful, and describe real examples of what happened and how the behaviour led to the outcome. The specified competencies represent skills and abilities which applicants will need to have to be successful in the role for which we are selecting.

The Application Forms are reviewed and marked by a team of trained Assessors, who use strict criteria to ensure that the highest standards of accuracy and consistency are applied in all cases.

Some hints for completing the Application Form:

  • Read the question carefully and ensure all parts are answered.
  • You can provide either work-related or non work-related examples appropriate to the questions. However, wherever possible, please select examples from the workplace.
  • Give examples that are recent, preferably within the past 2 years.
  • Focus on what YOU did and what YOUR specific contribution was.
  • Be as specific as possible and try to explain exactly what you personally did.
  • Examples should be no more than 200 words per question. Applicants who provide more than the allotted word limit will only have the first 200 words assessed.
  • Ensure your examples are written clearly and legibly. We cannot give you credit for what we cannot read. Ideally you should type your examples.
  • You should focus on identifying how and where you have made a contribution at work or to an outside interest. This may be:

-A specific one-off incident or the results of sustained effort over a period of time.

-An achievement in which you invested a lot of personal effort.

Further guidance is provided in the relevant section of the form.

Terms and Conditions

These posts are graded at Acas G10 (Executive Officer equivalent). The starting pay for staff outside London will be £19,985 per annum and £24,025 in London. Annual leave is 25 days a year rising to 30 days after 5 years, plus 10.5 days public and privilege holidays. Your appointment is pensionable from the outset. The posts are fixed term for 1 year with a possibility of extension or permanency. Successful Welsh speaking candidates will be appointed on a permanent basis.

Full-time Acas staff outside London work a 42 hour week including lunch breaks. Part time hours and/or job share will be considered subject to business need. All staff have the option of flexi-time working, again subject to business need.

Acas helpline services are delivered between the hours of 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm Saturdays. You will be required to work evenings up to 8pm and also Saturdays on a regular basis. The frequency will be determined by your rota pattern.

Application and selection process

Submitting Your Application

Your completed Application Form, Statement of Availability and Equal Opportunities Data form should be sent electronically as soon as possible to:

By email to:

By post: Acas Recruitment

Acas National

Human Resources Directorate

22nd Floor, EustonTower

286 Euston Road

London

NW1 3JJ

Please save your form with the office location as the first part of the document name.

Selection Process

There are three stages in the selection process for these posts:

Stage 1 will be a pre-sift of your application to confirm that you meet the Nationality requirements and have the necessary relevant work experience or educational qualifications:

  • Stage 2 will be asift of candidates based on written evidence in their application forms.
  • Stage 3 will be a half-day Assessment Centre, between the 25 Marchand 19 April 2013 involving a number of exercises which are designed to give the candidates an opportunity to show their level of skill in each competency area. Welsh speaking applicants will have a telephone interview conducted in Welsh prior to the assessment centre.

Further information about the assessment centre will be provided to those candidates who are invited to attend. We will give at least one week’s notice of date and location. We may not be able to offer an alternative if this proves inconvenient so please keep the above dates clear. If you do not arrive promptly on the appointed date, you may not be allowed to take part.

Feedback

Due to the volume of applications received, we regret that we are unable to provide feedback to applicants who are not selected for the assessment centre. More detailed feedback will be available to those who attend the assessment centre.

Diversity

Acas will ensure applicants will not be discriminated because of their protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. Protected againstcharacteristics include age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity. Acas will make all effortsto meet your access requirements.

Baseline Personnel Standard Security

As a non-Departmental Government body, we are required to carry out the Baseline Personnel Standard Security Check which comprises verification of the following four elements:

  • Identity;
  • Employment history (past 3 years) ;
  • Nationality and Immigration status;
  • Criminal record (unspent convictions only).

In advance of any firm offer of employment, Acas must be satisfied about these four elements. Please note that an individual’s refusal to undergo an essential check, or an adverse check being received, could lead to a refusal of employment.

Helpline Adviser Competencies

Acas has a defined framework of behavioural competencies. Candidates will be assessed against the key competencies for AcasHelpline Advisers throughout the selection process.

Analysis and Interpretation *
Identifies and links relevant information to aid problem solving. Contributes to generating solutions, highlighting key issues and options for consideration.
Communication
Communicates relevant information clearly and concisely to others, both orally and in writing.
Negotiating & Influencing
Provides accurate information to effectively influence others.
Personal Responsibility for Delivering Results*
Delivers against personal work and organisational objectives, demonstrating motivation and conscientiousness.
Customer & Business Focus *
Treats internal and external customers in a professional and appropriate manner. Provides accurate and timely responses to customer requests, making sure customers understand what services Acas provides.
Adapting & Improving *
Displays flexibility and adaptability and remains calm under pressure. Supports change and seeks to improve performance.

* Competencies that are assessed by this application form.