In addition to this further information you should have the following:-
· Application pack including Diversity Monitoring form and a Referee Information Form.
Please ensure that you complete all sections of the application pack and that you return by the date shown on the advert/form. We will be unable to consider your application if all sections are not fully completed.
Nationality
You must be a UK or other European Economic Area national, a Commonwealth citizen, a British Protected Person or a citizen of British Dependent Territories.
Brief Outline: - Applications are invited for a Regulation Manager post in the Scottish Housing Regulator based in Highlander House, 58 Waterloo St, Glasgow G2 7DA.
This is a permanent and pensionable appointment.
Applications from people wishing to work alternative patterns will be considered.
Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the appointment will be invited to assessment centre.
Divisional Information
The Scottish Housing Regulator was established on 1 April 2008 to continue to deliver the regulation functions of Communities Scotland (the housing and regeneration agency that was abolished and whose non-regulation functions were transferred to the core Scottish Government). The Scottish Housing Regulator regulates registered social landlords (for example, housing associations) and the landlord and homelessness functions of local authorities. Its purpose is to regulate to:
- protect the interests of current and future tenants, and other service users;
- ensure the continuing provision of good quality social housing, in terms of decent homes, good services, value for money, and financial viability; and
- maintain the confidence of funders.
The post-holder will report to the Senior Regulation Manager (C2), who reports to the Head of Business Analysis (C3).
The Job/Duties & Responsibilities
Main Duties:
Establish and manage key relationships, taking lead responsibility for liaising with and discussing a wide range of business and regulatory issues with relevant internal and external stakeholders for organisations with the highest risk profiles, that require high or medium engagement with us as a regulator.
Ensure we deliver risk based regulation clearly, unambiguously and consistently, in line with our guide to regulation and contribute to the continued development of our risk based and proportional approach to regulation.
Analyse intelligence from a wide range of sources to decide where the key risks lie in the sector and organisations we regulate and deliver robust regulatory assessments that draw on intelligence across the agency on a regulated body's financial viability and capacity, governance, investment and service delivery.
Establish and manage effective and proportionate regulation strategies from our assessment work, to support our purpose, by taking account of:
- Information and analysis from different branches within the agency
- Identified risks and performance weaknesses
- Non compliance with our regulatory requirements
- Reactive or notifiable events (eg mergers, transfers, complaints, whistleblowing etc)
- Manage, implement, review, and publish regulation plans in a way that enhances the credibility of the regulator.
- Act as a main liaison point with public sector investment teams providing specialist knowledge of development activity, and inform investment decisions in line with our regulatory policy on the matter.
- Commission and project manage work from analysts and inspectors across the agency in order to implement effective regulation plans in a consistent way across the agency.
- Where appropriate, recommend and oversee the implementation of appropriate strategies to resolve intervention cases that arise from our risk-based approach.
Essential Criteria
Educational Qualifications and Experience
You must be educated to degree level.
Essential Criteria
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate evidence of the following:
· Financial and business expertise, including an understanding of business and investment planning, housing finance, and the principles of risk management and good corporate governance.
· Relationship management skills (including influencing and conflict management skills)
· Project management skills
· Critical analysis and evaluation skills.
· Excellent written, presentation and oral communication skills
Desirable Criteria
It is desirable but not essential that the successful candidate is able to demonstrate evidence of the following:
· An understanding of the purpose and impact of regulation
· An understanding of social housing policy and the principles of housing investment
Personnel Security Standard
As of 1 January 2008 the Scottish Government introduced a new baseline personnel security standard which provides a more consistent and rigorous pre-employment screening process for prospective Scottish Government staff and non-Government staff who require access to Scottish Government premises for work purposes.
If you are successful in obtaining a job with the Scottish Government you will be subject to these additional security checks. In accordance with this you will be required to provide:
· your original birth certificate
· Photographic ID
· A bill or financial statement for you current address, preferably a utility bill. Please note that mobile phone bills are not acceptable
· Basic Disclosure certificate
If you do not have photo ID, you should provide a passport sized photograph of yourself endorsed on the back with the signature of a person of some standing in the individual's community (e.g. a JP, medical practitioner, officer of the armed forces, teacher, lecturer, lawyer, bank manager, civil servant etc) and accompanied by a signed statement, completed by the same person, stating their name in full, the period of time that you have been known to them (minimum 3 years) and their contact details. The signatory will be contacted to confirm that he or she did, in fact, complete the statement.
If you have any question about these additional pre-employment checks please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Basic Disclosure certificate
The Scottish Government requires security checks on all successful candidates and due to Part V, Police Act 1997, and a new system of disclosing criminal history information has been introduced. Successful candidates will be required to produce a Basic Disclosure certificate less than 12 months old, prior to taking up employment. Basic Disclosure certificates are available from Disclosure Scotland, Disclosure Scotland, PO Box 250, Glasgow, G51 1YU, telephone: 0870 609 6006, Fax: 0870 609 6996, E-mail: info@disclosurescotland.co.uk and will cost you £20.00 Further information on Disclosure certificates can be found at the Disclosure Bureau's website www.disclosurescotland.co.uk
Referees
You are required to include details of two referees to cover a 3 year period, if appropriate, on a separate sheet which forms part of the application form. One should be your current or most recent employer; the second is likely to be a previous employer. If you have not been in previous employment (or cannot provide a second employment reference) and have undertaken relevant further education, you can give the name of the academic staff best acquainted with your work and conduct. You can give more than one name if this is necessary in order to cover the period of such education. Please note we will request factual information from your employment referees such as dates employed, last position held, reason for leaving and details of work performance ratings, sick absence records and disciplinary records (if any). Academic referees will be asked to provide details of your course work, result achieved or expected, and the referee's impression of your ability in relation to your course work and future career potential.
Please do not send testimonials.
If your application is successful, we will write to your referees, provided you have given permission to approach them. If you have not given permission, we will contact you before any referee is approached. We recognise that there may be occasions where you have concerns about us contacting a previous employer for a reference, for example, they may know you under a different name. We have a secure and confidential process for seeking references under such circumstances, which are referred to our Diversity Adviser.
By signing your application you are giving consent for us to obtain the information as outlined above.
Salary (pro rata for part-time)
The salary range is £38,631 to £50,551. Starting salary will normally be at the minimum of the range, although a higher level may be offered for exceptional candidates whose skills, knowledge and/or experience are considered to be particularly relevant and are evident in the selection recess. Future pay progression will be dependent upon performance.
Salary is paid on the last day of the month by credit transfer.
Pension
Unless you choose otherwise we offer you the opportunity to join the Civil Service pension arrangements, which include a valuable range of benefits. We will make substantial employer contributions towards your Civil Service pension.
Retirement
The Scottish Government has a "no retirement age" policy for staff in Bands A-C. This means that you are free to continue in employment for as long as you wish. Continued employment will remain subject to the normal rules concerning performance, conduct and attendance.
Working Pattern
The normal working week is a 5 day week of 42 hours, including lunch intervals. You may have the scope to participate in the Scottish Government's flexible working hour's scheme. Consideration will be given to candidates interested in part-time or other non-standard working patterns and in-line with best practice, the Scottish Government has extended to all staff the right to request a flexible working pattern. All requests will be seriously considered.
Annual Leave (pro rata for part-time)
You will have an annual leave allowance of 25 days, rising to 30 days after 5 years. In addition, all staff receive 11½ days public and privilege holidays taken at fixed times of the year
Probation
You will be required to serve a probationary period of 9 months and confirmation of your appointment is dependent on the satisfactory completion of this probation period.
Travelling and Subsistence
Subsistence allowances and travelling expenses on official duty are paid. The cost of normal daily travel between home and office is not reimbursable.
Health Standard
You will be asked to complete a health declaration and, if necessary, to attend a medical examination.
Sick Absence
You may be allowed up to 6 months sick absence on full pay, less any National Insurance benefit received, in any period of 12 months. After that, a further period may be granted at reduced pay, subject to a maximum of 12 months sick absence in any period of 4 years or less.
Outside Activities
As a civil servant, you may not take part in any activity which would in any way impair your usefulness to the Service, or engage in any occupation which may conflict with the interests of the Scottish Government or be inconsistent with your official position. Subject to these conditions, work of a minor or short-term nature (for example, vacation work or work after hours) is normally allowed, provided you seek prior permission.
You will also be subject to certain restrictions, depending on your grade and the nature of your work, on national and local political activities. These include standing as a candidate in parliamentary or local authority elections, or canvassing on behalf of candidates; and expressing views on matters of political controversy in public speeches or publications.
The Civil Service Commissioners
The Department's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code which can be found at www.civilservicecommissioners.org If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Code and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Colin Spivey, Head of Resourcing, E1 Spur, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners.
Application
In order to process your application you must submit the completed application form including diversity monitoring form and referee information form, no later than the date stated on the advert/form. Without these documents we will not be able to consider your application.
We encourage applicants to submit their completed forms by e-mail to fiona.grant@scotland.gsi.gov.uk Please note that we can only read electronic applications submitted in Microsoft Office Word format. All electronic applications will be acknowledged via email. If you are successful we will require you to sign the form.
If you do not have access to this software, please return your completed forms to the Scottish Government, Central Resourcing Unit, S1 Spur (J6880EXT), Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD. If you require confirmation of receipt, please enclose a self addressed, stamped envelope. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within 3 days please contact Fiona Grant on 0131-244-3819.
Information given on the diversity monitoring form will be treated in strictest confidence and will be retained by HR for monitoring purposes. It will be kept separately from your application form and will not be made available to those involved in the selection decision. Guidance on the Diversity Monitoring Form and why we ask you to complete it is available on our website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Recruitment/DiversityGuidance
Selection
Candidates who, from the information they provide in their application forms, appear best suited to this appointment will be invited to assessment centre. It is thus essential for your application form to give full but concise descriptions of the nature, extent and level of the responsibilities you have held.
The assessment centre will be held in Glasgow, probably on 28 January 2009. Those applicants who demonstrate they have the necessary skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience will be invited to interview. As part of the interview, candidates will be asked to give a short presentation on a specific subject. The Panel will recommend the candidate considered most suitable for appointment. If successful, you will be expected to take up post as soon as possible.
If you are successful, and are not currently a serving member of the Civil Service, we will carry out enquiries into your nationality, health and other matters, to ensure that you are qualified for appointment. To enable these enquiries to be completed, we will need to see your original birth certificate and/or passport, as well as your educational certificates. When the enquiries are completed satisfactorily, we will then make you a formal offer of appointment. You will be expected to take up appointment as soon as possible
Disability
We are participants in the Employment Services "Positive about Disability" scheme. Under the terms of the scheme we shall interview applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for appointment. As detailed above. A guaranteed interview will only be given where an applicant has declared a disability on the diversity monitoring form.
To find out more about Disability in the Civil Service, you can access our Disability Fact Sheet at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Recruitment/DisabilityFactsheet
Text phone
If you have textphone equipment, please ring our dedicated line: 0131-244 1829. Please do not use this number for voice calls as your call will not connect.
Interview Expenses
Travel and subsistence expenses incurred during the selection process are the responsibility of the applicant.
Please note that this memorandum is provided for information only and does not form part of the conditions of employment
The Scottish Government's Aim Vision and Values
AIM
To work with Scottish Ministers to improve the well being of Scotland and its people.
VISION
To be at the centre of Scottish civic life, widely trusted, by earning a reputation for openness, helpfulness, expertise and effectiveness.
VALUES
As Civil Servants our values are:
Integrity and honesty
Objectivity
political impartiality
fairness
Scottish Government Equal Opportunities Policy
The Scottish Government policy on equal opportunities is that all staff should be treated equally irrespective of their sex, marital status, age, race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief, working pattern, employment status, gender identity (transgender), caring responsibility, or trade union membership.
Scottish Government Diversity Policy
The Scottish Government is committed to increasing the diversity of staff within the organisation. We will develop all our staff, ignoring all irrelevant differences in their management and development. Furthermore we will positively value the different perspectives and skills of all staff and make full use of these in our work.
An Investor in People