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. We will be unable to consider your application if all sections are not fully completed.
Brief Outline: -
We have a vacancy for a Casework Manager (grade B2) based in the Scottish Boundary Commissions' Secretariat, located at 3 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, EH3 7QJ
This is a permanent and pensionable appointment.
Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the appointment will be invited to interview.
The post offers excellent opportunities to develop your Information Technology skills and obtain valuable training and expertise in the use of ArcGIS software. The spatial analysis of data to support policy development is increasingly recognised and opportunities within this area continue to grow.
You will also have the opportunity to develop your presentational skills, management skills, casework skills and communication skills.
Divisional Information
The Secretariat provides support to the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Scotland and the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. The Parliamentary Boundary Commission has statutory obligations to keep under review arrangements for representation of Scotland at the Westminster Parliament and for representation at the Scottish Parliament. The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland is responsible for monitoring and reviewing local government administrative boundaries and electoral arrangements. Both bodies are advisory Non-Department Public Bodies (NDPBs) and are non-political. The Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Scotland has commenced a statutory review of the arrangements for representation at the Scottish Parliament and it is required to report to the Secretary of State for Scotland on its recommendations by June 2010. The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland completed its 4th Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements in August 2006, and is currently engaged on ad-hoc reviews. Reviews undertaken by both Commissions are cyclical which lends itself to having a single Secretariat to support both bodies.
The Secretariat is staffed by Scottish Government staff, subject to the Scottish Government terms and conditions of employment. Because of the need for political neutrality in the work of the Commissions, it is important that staff are seen to be politically unbiased.
The Secretariat is funded jointly by the Scotland Office and the Scottish Government. It is responsible to the Scotland Office for its work supporting the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Scotland and to the Scottish Government for its work supporting the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland.
The Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Scotland has a membership of 3 Commissioners and the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland has a membership of 6 Commissioners. Following this recruitment exercise the Secretariat will be headed by the Secretary, and comprise two Casework Managers, two Casework Officers, a Network Manager, Office Manager and part-time Office Assistant.
The Job/Duties & Responsibilities
As a Casework Manager you will manage an allocation of work through the steps necessary to complete reviews, within the timescale set by legislation. Such reviews will involve the management of a small team (direct line management of one Casework Officer) responsible for the development of proposals for revised parliamentary constituencies, local government electoral arrangements or administrative boundary changes, depending upon the requirements of the review being undertaken. You will progress the allocation through the various consultative review processes ensuring that required deadlines are met.
You will manage the use of a Geographical Information System (ArcGIS) to analyse, interpret, develop and present different proposals to Commissioners for consideration. You will prepare discussion papers for consideration at Commission meetings, present your papers to Commissioners, answer supplementary questions and oversee the drafting of minutes relating to the allocation of casework for which you are responsible.
You will also manage the use of ArcGIS to disseminate information to interested parties and for the production of illustrative maps for examination by the public during the consultative exercises. If you do not already have experience of ArcGIS, suitable training will be provided.
You will analyse representations made by a wide range of interested parties (including Councils, Political Organisations, Councillors, MPs and MSPs) and report to Commissioners on the potential impact of representations and present alternative options for their consideration. Where necessary, you will organise and attend public inquiries and later present the Assistant Commissioner's report to Commissioners, with analysis and options for accepting or rejecting the recommendations
You will answer enquiries on aspects of review activity relating to your allocation and those of a more general nature, arising from a wide range of interested parties. You will also oversee the publication of provisional proposals and the Commissions' final reports, prepare accompanying statutory notices and news releases and draft the relevant sections of the final report pertaining to your allocation of work.
Assist with the preparation of all material required to publish the Commissions' recommendations, including the drafting of press releases and the Commissions' formal reports.
Essential Minimum Criteria
Educational Qualifications
You must hold a minimum of three SCE Highers or A Levels including English and a subject which clearly indicates competency in figurework such as: - Mathematics, Accounting and Finance, Arithmetic, Book-keeping, Statistics, Physics.
Please note:- only grades A, B and C are acceptable.
Other educational qualifications equivalent to these may also be acceptable.
Before applying, please ensure that you have these (or equivalent) educational qualifications. Applicants without them will not be considered for appointment. If you are in any doubt about your qualifications, please ask for our advice before you apply. Before offering you an appointment we will require to see your original certificates.
Essential Competencies:
Analysis and Investigation: You will be required to use ArcGIS to assimilate diverse sources of information such as maps, electorate data and boundary information. You will be able to interpret the built and natural geography of Scotland and appreciate its impact on the development of proposals for revised parliamentary constituencies, local government electoral arrangements and administrative boundary change proposals. During the public consultations the Commissions receive detailed representations from political parties, politicians, community groups and members of the public. You will be required to analyse these often-conflicting representations in a thorough and consistent fashion and present your findings and conclusions with regard to their impact on the Commission's proposals and/or suitability for adoption as alternatives by the Commission. Using ArcGIS, you will employ different methodologies in the production of proposals for constituencies, administrative areas and electoral geographies for Commissioners' consideration. The use of ArcGIS plays an important role in developing options within the terms of the various statutory rules and, more widely, the mapping for statutory public consultation in hard copy and Internet formats.
Achieving: You will be required to be able to manage a small team of casework officers in progressing reviews and delivering proposals that are compliant with the appropriate governing legislation, which ultimately will inform Commissioners and enable them to determine final recommendations. You will therefore need to be skilled in planning, organising and prioritising work to meet tight deadlines. You will also keep your team aware of ongoing priorities and ensure that its and the Commission's objectives are met in full. As working methods are continually evolving in the Secretariat, you will need to recognise where changes can be made to improve upon existing practices.
Communication: It is important that you are able to communicate effectively at all levels, both internally and externally, and to diverse groups. During the review process, the work of the Commissions is high profile and the Secretariat receives written and verbal communication from a diverse range of interested parties including MPs, MSPs, Councillors, Chief Executives of Councils, community groups, other interested parties and members of the public. It is therefore imperative that you are able to express thought and ideas concisely and produce well thought out and structured written communications.
Essential Criteria
The below criteria are essential:
1. You must have good analytical and problem solving skills.
2. You must be motivated, self-reliant, with good organisational skills.
3. You must have the ability to work to tight deadlines.
4. You must have good written and oral communication skills.
5. You must be able to demonstrate management experience and team working skills.
Desirable Criteria
The below criteria are desirable but not essential:
1. Experience of interpreting topographical information and a knowledge of Scotland's constituency and local authority geographies.
2. Knowledge of Geographic Information Systems software.
3. Knowledge of software packages, such as, Access, Powerpoint, Photoshop, etc.
4. Knowledge of the Local Government and Parliamentary systems with the UK.
Referees
You are required to include details of two referees to cover a 5 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. By signing your application you are giving consent for us to obtain the information as outlined above.
Salary (pro rata for part-time)
Starting salary will normally be £21,292 regardless of age or previous experience. There is the opportunity to earn further performance-related increases up to a total salary of £28,520. 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 10 years. In addition, all staff receive 10½ 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.
Security
The Scottish Government requires security checks on all successful candidates and due to the implementation of the 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
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.
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.
Application
Your completed application form including diversity monitoring form must be returned to:- Fiona.Grant@scotland.gsi.gov.uk - alternatively paper copies can be sent to the Scottish Government, Central Resourcing Unit, S1 Spur (SO4683EXT) Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD, to arrive no later than the date on the application form. Without these documents we will not be able to consider your application.
All online application forms will be acknowledged via email. If you return your application form by post and 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 Edinburgh probably in May. Those applicants who demonstrate they have the necessary skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience will be invited to interview. 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 may 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 satisfy the basic criteria for appointment. 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