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Guidance notes for applicants

Guidance notes to help you through our application process and form

Application information

We’ll:

  • make decisions about who will be selected for interview based on the information given on the application form (excluding the Equal Opportunities section)
  • use the personal specification throughout the selection process as the basis for any decisions made

You should meet all the essential criteria of the personal specification. And be able to demonstrate that you have the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to perform the duties of the post. 

The shortlisting panel will be looking for evidence which illustrates this. So you should describe how you meet the personal specification. Use examples and supporting statements in your application.

Please:

  • complete the application form fully for your application to be accepted. We do not accept CV's as a form of application. But you may wish to attach a CV as supporting evidence. This approach will only be accepted provided the application form is completed in full
  • ensure that one nominated referee is your current or most recent employer
  • ensure that your completed application form is submitted to Personnel by the end of the date on the closing date stated. We won’t consider applications after the closing date
  • ensure that the equal opportunities section is completed. This section is not used in any part of the recruitment process. It will be separated from your application before shortlisting. It will in no way prejudice your application but enables us to monitor the effectiveness of our equal opportunities policy

You'll receive confirmation that your application has been received by email. And within your candidate home page, you’ll be able to see the progress of your application.

False or misleading information on any application form will disqualify you from appointment. or if you’re appointed, you’ll be liable to dismissal without notice.

Interview information

In accordance with the requirements of the Asylum and Immigration Act (1996), applicants who are invited for interview will be required to bring with them proof of their eligibility to work in the UK. 

If you’re invited for interview, you’ll be provided with additional information about what documents you need to supply.

You’ll be required to produce original qualification certificates for any qualification(s) you’ve stated in your form which are relevant to the post. The interview panel will check and copy these. Please note, we may contact the professional or governing body to confirm your qualification/membership if you’re successful.  

Disability information

If you’re selected for interview, we’ll send details of when and where the interview will be held. If you consider yourself to have a disability, as defined by the Equality Act 2010, please tell us of any special requirements you may have. For example:

  • car parking to be made available nearby
  • someone to meet you at the entrance of the building
  • ground floor interview room
  • sign language interpreter to be present

General information

If you’ve been offered and accepted, we’ll request post references from you. One referee must be your current or most recent employer. When providing the details of your referees, please check you’ve included a current address and if possible email address. You're encouraged to notify your referees that you’ve given their names for this purpose.

If you're applying for a post which involves working with children or vulnerable adults, one of your referees must be able to provide us with your suitability to work with children or vulnerable adults.

You'll also be required to:

  • complete and return a Medical Questionnaire. And your offer of employment will be subject to this being satisfactory
  • produce your original Driving Licence (where appropriate)

Data protection

You’ll note that the application form includes a Data Protection statement. All information requested on the application form is required to process and assess your application for employment with us.

You should note that:

  • completed application, monitoring and disclosure forms for successful candidates are retained on confidential personal files
  • forms for unsuccessful candidates are retained for a period of six months. After this they’re confidentially shredded/or deleted from our recruitment system
  • all forms are kept in a secure locked cupboard which only members of the Personnel Section have access too

Disclosure checks

Certain posts will require the successful applicant to be checked by the Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS).

If the post you're applying for requires a Disclosure check, the advert and personal specification for the post will state this. And it will indicate the level of Disclosure required. 

The cost of the Disclosure application will be paid by us. We have a policy statement on the recruitment of ex-offenders. And a policy statement on the use of Disclosures. Both of these can be found at the bottom of this page.

Verification of qualifications and/or professional membership(s)

All candidates who are shortlisted for interview are required to bring their original qualification certificates with them for the interview panel to view. 

Where a particular qualification and/or professional membership is stipulated as a requirement on the Personal Specification for the post, we may undertake checks to confirm their validity.