1. POLICY STATEMENT The Council is committed to appointing the best person for the job based on their skills, experience,ability to do the job and potential to develop with organisational changes

2. Statement from Recruitment, Retention and Replacement Strategy Recruitment To recruit and retain a capable and talented workforce who are committed to delivering excellent services to the community so that we become the outstanding employer within the Borough by: Equipping managers with the tools to make the right appointment decisions by providing: A fair and consistent recruitment and selection framework Recruitment and selection training and professional HR advice Equal opportunities and diversity policies and training Feedback on use of assessment tools

3. EQUALITIES The process of selecting one candidate as opposed to another will involve an act of discrimination It is essential that the act of discrimination is fair, lawful and based on justifiable criteria

4. LEGAL FRAMEWORK Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and Amendment Regulations 2003 Race Relations Act 1976 and Amendment Regulations 2003 Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Equal Pay Act 1974 and Amendment Regulations 2003 Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regs 2000 Rehabilitation Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006

5. SECONDMENTS Designed to support and encourage staff wishing to develop To fill temporary vacancies Recruitment Process Either: Restricted to Section or Open recruitment within the Council Job Description Review to meet needs of role and person specification Person Specification Essential competencies Competencies to be developed

6. SECONDMENTS - Continued - Application Form Approval from Line Manager Short listing & Interviewing Support by ‘Home’ Manager Support by ‘Host’ Manager Conclusion of Secondment Secondee – poor performance Terms and Conditions Salary – no change from applicants existing salary Honorarium payment

7. ALTERNATIVES TO FILLING VACANCIES - OPTIONS TO CONSIDER - Reorganise Re arrange tasks with existing team Review job description of post Consider terms and conditions and grades Temporary Vacancies – Subject to Recruitment Approval Secondments Acting Up Appointment Temporary contracts Agency placement

8. ACTING UP APPOINTMENTS Undertakes full duties of higher grade Temporary appointment Difference between acting up and secondment Job Description – unchanged from main role Person specification – unchanged from main role Salary – Grade for job Recruitment Process Restricted to Section Open recruitment within the Council

9. ALTERNATIVES TO FILLING VACANCIES - OPTIONS TO CONSIDER - Reorganise Re arrange tasks with existing team Review job description of post Consider terms and conditions and grades Temporary Vacancies – Subject to Recruitment Approval Secondments Acting Up Appointment Agency placement

10. ALTERNATIVES TO FILLING VACANCIES - OPTIONS TO CONSIDER - Reorganise Re arrange tasks with existing team Review job description of post Consider terms and conditions and grades Temporary Vacancies – Subject to Recruitment Approval Secondments Acting Up Appointment Agency placement Temporary contracts

11. FILLING VACANCIES - OTHER OPTIONS TO CONSIDER – (continued) Substantive Vacancies – Subject to Recruitment Approval Internal Recruitment

12. INTERNAL RECRUITMENT Opportunity for internal development, in line with Personal Development Plans (PDP), and approved by Departmental Director To be considered in conjunction with HR Business Manager and final approval by HR Director Final decision made on justifiable criteria

13. FILLING VACANCIES - OTHER OPTIONS TO CONSIDER – (continued) Substantive Vacancies – Subject to Recruitment Approval Internal Recruitment Redeployment

14. REDEPLOYMENT Registers maintained by HR Services Employees subject to redundancy or termination of employment for medical reasons or capability Redeployment skills profile completed If Knowledge, skills and ability matched to person specification of posts to be advertised – details passed to manager Where suitable match – person interviewed Selection based on ‘suitability’ for post, not ‘best person’ If suitable – commences 4 weeks minimum trial period If trail period successful – person appointed to post ‘Salary protection’ if new post only 1 grade lower

15. FILLING VACANCIES - OTHER OPTIONS TO CONSIDER – (continued) Substantive Vacancies – Subject to Recruitment Approval Internal Recruitment Redeployment NVQ Trainee Appointment

16. NVQ TRAINEES Trainees appointed to gain NVQ Business and Administration at level 2 Work in various positions for 6 month placements until NVQ obtained Once NVQ level 2 obtained – placed on register for appointment NVQ Trainees considered after redeployees but before open advertisement Interviewed for Level3/4posts If suitable - appointed

17. THE RECRUITMENT PACK - See handouts - Recruitment Check List Recruitment Pack – Contents Letter from Head of Service / Director Information about Slough Information on Directorate Information on Section / Team (Optional) Job Description Person Specification Main Conditions of Service Response Details Advert

18. JOB DESCRIPTION FORMAT Change from listing main duties to listing main accountabilities. Main accountabilities specify required outputs, not tasks E.g Accountability focused: To provide full administration support to the ……….. Section Task focused: To undertake filing, stationary ordering, telephone answering, typing and other administration functions for the ……….Section. Details of tasks, linked to accountabilities, identified by manager in initial PDPs, and regularly updated in 1 to 1s, based on Section operational plans. :

19. PERSON SPECIFICATION - Format - Competencies listed under following headings: Experience Knowledge Skills / Abilities Qualifications Competencies included in appraisal: Customer focused Development RelationshipsPersonal effectiveness ExpertiseCommunication skills ManagerialHealth & Safety EqualitiesFinance Essential (E) Desirables (D)

20. PERSON SPECIFICATION - Format - continued - √√ - Two ticks symbol Column to show method of assessment at final selection assessment process: Application (A) Interview (I) Test (T) More than one method can be used for each competence

21. ASSESMENT TESTING Advice on most appropriate test to assess competencies required for post available from Organisational Development Team Tests include: Aptitude test Presentations Written case studies Psychometric test. Psychometric testing covers: Verbal reasoning Numerical reasoning Management development

22. ASSESSMENT TESTING - Continued - Decision re psychometric testing: Manager on advice from HR Services Officer and Organisational Development Possibility of service charge Arrangements: Local arrangements other than psychometric testing Psychometric testing - HR Services link with OD re number of posts requiring testing in the same week – set date for all testing and published in recruitment pack Psychometric test follow up: Feed back available from OD For appointed applicant results forms part of PDP

23. SHORTLISTING PROCESS See copy of Shortlisting Proforma in Handouts Date will be set in Week 1 when recruitment pack completed Initial short listing completed by panel members independently Assess and complete entry against individual applications New style shortlisting forms 3 = meets all criteria 2 = meets most criteria 1 = meets some criteria 0 = does not meet criteria / no evidence supplied Only used evidence provided on form – do not make assumptions Look for transferable skills Look for evidence – not just statements

24. SHORTLISTING - Continued Panel come together for group final decision Selection placed in order Not all people meeting competency have to be interview, just top number decided for interview If large number meet criteria, weight criteria and reassess Persons with disabilities who meet essential competencies will be interviewed ( √√ two ticks symbol)

25. INTERVIEW PROCESS - OBSERVERS Role of Observers May be present to assist with technical, professional or senior management roles or as tenants representative Can ask questions Can make observations on applicants to panel members Final decision made by panel members

26. INTERVIEW PROCESS Assessment of each person specification competency as indicated in person specification (I – interview T – test A – application) Questions agreed by panel prior to interview – model answer identified Individual assessment Interview Proforma Forms – see handouts: 0 = Does not meet criteria / no evidence supplied 1 = Meets some criteria 2 = Meets most criteria 3 = Meets All criteria

27. INTERVIEWS - AIM To obtain information from the applicant as to how their knowledge, skills and experience best match the identified competencies for the post, and how they would perform to meet the required competencies. From information obtained from all candidates interviewed decide who is suitable for appointment, and place in order of priority for appointment

28. EQUALITIES The process of selecting one candidate as opposed to another will involve an act of discrimination Essential that act of discrimination is fair, lawful and based on justifiable criteria

29. PERSON SPECIFICATION - Format - Competencies listed under following headings: Experience Knowledge Skills / Abilities Qualifications Competencies included in appraisal: Customer focused Development RelationshipsPersonal effectiveness ExpertiseCommunication skills ManagerialHealth & Safety EqualitiesFinance Essential (E) Desirables (D) Use Behaviour based questions to obtain evidence of how candidate meets the competencies