2. Today’s programme Introductions
Overview of the selection and assessment process
Overview of all the exercises, the competencies we assess and how we assess them
Observe Group Exercise, Leadership Exercise and Interview
Q&A

3. The Group Exercise Part 3) a) of the handbook (BLUE) The Remit
The Topic
The Briefs
What is Assessed (competencies and behaviours)
How we assess
*Most departments offer flexible working hours to promote a good work-life balance. You can join the Civil Service pension scheme

4. The Roles The Sections The Projects Internal Communities Enterprise
Environment
Trade
Employment (Group of 6 only)
The Projects
Port of Tyne Expansion
Inward Investment
Business Start-Up
Young Technicians
Tourism Initiative
Relocation Grants (Group of 6 only)

5. Please come straight back as soon as the group discussion finishes!
IMPORTANT
Please come straight back as soon as the group discussion finishes!

6. BACKGROUND

7. The framework and competencies

8. The Fast Stream Competency Framework
Setting Direction
Seeing the Big Picture/Changing and Improving
Making Effective Decisions
Engaging People
Leading and Communicating
Collaborating and Partnering/Building Capability for All
Delivering Results
Managing a Quality Service/Delivering at Pace
Delivering Value for Money/Achieving Commercial Outcomes

9. Competency Matrix Strategic Clusters (CSCF) Competency e-Tray – Task 3
Group Exercise and Self-Review
Policy Exercise
Leadership Exercise and Self Review
Interview
No of Assessments
Setting Direction
Seeing the Big Picture/ Changing and Improving  3
Making Effective Decisions
Engaging People
Leading and Communicating 4
Collaborating and Partnering/Building Capability for All
Delivering Results
Managing a Quality Service/Delivering at Pace 2
Delivering VFM/Achieving Commercial Outcomes

10. How evidence is recorded and assessed
Four Point rating scale
Process for recording and quality assuring evidence
Reliability and consistency
BARS (Behaviourally Anchored Ratings Scales)

11. The Assessment Centre The Assessor Panel The Candidate experience
Timetable -  Part 2 of the handbook

12. The selection process: from registration to FSAC

13. Fast Stream schemes 2015 (i)
Generalist Fast Stream (GFS)
Central Departments
Diplomatic Service
Houses of Parliament
Science and Engineering

14. Fast Stream schemes 2015 (ii)
Analytical Fast Stream (Economists, Operational Researchers, Social Researchers, Statisticians)
HR Fast Stream
Digital and Technology (DaT), previously Technology In Business (TiB), Fast Stream
Northern Ireland Fast Stream
In-Service Generalist Fast Stream
In Service DaT Fast Stream
European Fast Stream
Summer Diversity Internship Programme
Early Diversity Internship Programme
New for 2015
Commercial and Finance (Commercial, Finance, and Internal Audit)
Communications Fast Stream

15. Overview of the Assessment Process
Numerical & Verbal Reasoning
Self Assessment (Online)
Feedback
Practice (Online)
Numerical & Verbal Reasoning (voluntary)
Final stage Assessment Centre (including numerical and verbal reasoning retest)
Competency Questionnaire
1st Sifting Stage (Online)
Numerical & Verbal Reasoning Assessment
2nd Sifting Stage (Online)
e-Tray Job Simulation
Situational Judgement Test*
*introduced as a trial for 2015 and is not actually being using as part of the recruitment process

16. Competency Questionnaire
Statements developed from Fast Stream competencies
80 behavioural statements presented in sets of four
Candidates rates level of agreement with each statement, and chooses which is most/least like self
No time limit

17. The e-Tray Exercise Part 3) f) of the handbook (ORANGE)
A simulated typical in-tray
Common assessment centre exercise
In-tray of messages and tasks
Organise, prioritise, take action
Around 3,000 take e-Tray
21st Century application of the e-Tray
Delivered and completed on-screen
Simulates Civil Service work environment
Inbox with messages, attachments, folders
Dynamic

19. 2014 Fast Stream Statistics
Registration commenced September 2013
38, 908 people registered on the website
26, 965 people took the on-line tests
5, 388 took the invigilated e-Tray
2, 592 attended FSAC

20. Fast Stream Assessment Centre (FSAC)
Group Exercise
Leadership Exercise
Competency Based Interview
Policy Recommendation Exercise
The e-Tray exercise is also assessed as FSAC

21. The Policy Recommendation Exercise
Part 3) d) of the handbook (GREEN)
Written exercise
1 hour 50 minutes (inc. 5 minutes reading time)
Assesses Seeing the Big Picture/Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Leading and Communicating and Delivering Value for Money/Achieving Commercial Outcomes

22. The Leadership Exercise
Part 3) b) of the handbook (PINK)
30 minutes preparation and 30 minutes for the exercise
Presentation to assessor followed by Q&A
Assesses Seeing the Big Picture/Changing and Improving, Collaborating and Partnering/Building Capability for All, Leading and Communicating and Managing a Quality Service/Delivering at Pace
Scenarios and Projects

23. Please come straight back as soon as the leadership exercise finishes!
IMPORTANT
Please come straight back as soon as the leadership exercise finishes!

24. LUNCH

25. The Interview Part 3) d) of the handbook (YELLOW) 45 minutes
Competence based
Assesses Managing a Quality Service/Delivering at Pace and Collaborating and Partnering/Building Capability for All

26. Please come straight back as soon as the interview finishes!
IMPORTANT
Please come straight back as soon as the interview finishes!

27. 2014 GFS FSAC Headlines Fast Stream Assessment Centre
Boards ran from January to mid March
36 candidates per day
18 assessors per day
3 e-Tray exercise markers
3 Quality Assurance Co-ordinators per day

28. Diversity – a snapshot
In 2013 (the latest publicly available statistics)
1004 GFS candidates attended FSAC
357 were successful, of whom
189 were female (with 6 candidates preferring not to say)
28 had a disability (with 5 candidates preferring not to say)
34 were from ethnic minority backgrounds (with 14 candidates preferring not to say)
A full statistical breakdown of 2013 figures is available on the Cabinet Office website

29. The Fast Stream Model 2 x 12 month jobs 4 x 6 month jobs Assessment

30. Where do successful candidates go? In 2014
To be updated

31. What did candidates do? In 2014
To be updated

32. Q & A

33. Thank you Hope you’ve enjoyed observing FSAC
No feedback form, but please us if there’s anything you’d like to say about what you’ve seen today
Safe journey home