Fixed Term Administrative Officers (AO)Information for Applicants

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Introduction

Thank you for your interest in the role of Administrative Officer in Estyn.

We currently have vacancies for the role of Administrative Officer in Estyn.

These vacancies are fixed term and are likely to be up to 31 March 2019.

Estyn conducts its business in both Welsh and English and many of its customers and clients are bilingual. For some posts, it is essential that we appoint someone who can use their communication skills to good effect in both Welsh and English.

This information pack contains further information on working for Estyn, the role, and details on how to apply. Please refer to the Guidance Document for details on how to complete your application.

If you feel you have the qualities we are seeking, then we very much look forward to receiving your application.

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About Estyn

Who we are

Estyn is the Education and Training Inspectorate for Wales. We are a Crown body, independent from, but funded by, the Welsh Government. Led by Meilyr Rowlands, Chief Inspector of Education and Training for Wales, our mission is to achieve excellence for all learners in Wales.

We currently employ approximately 118 staff, of which around two thirds are Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) and the remaining staff are based in Corporate Services.

What we do

Learners’ needs are the heart of all our work. We inspect education and training across Wales, from schools, colleges and work-based learning providers to adult learning and local authorities. The full range of our responsibilities are listed at estyn.gov.wales/about-us. Through our inspections, we report on the standards achieved by learners, the quality of the education or training and the effectiveness of leaders and managers.

In addition to our inspection work, we provide advice and guidance to the Welsh Government on a wide-range of thematic topics, such as the foundation phase, literacy and numeracy and careers. We also publish and share case studies of effective practice about teaching and learning strategies.

Our inspections and advice work is carried out by Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) and supported by our Corporate Services staff through functions such as planning and deployment, finance, secretarial support, events management and supporting the day to day running of the office. The teams in Corporate Services work together and with our inspectors to deliver agile services to help Estyn achieve its three strategic objectives, which can be found at estyn.gov.wales/about-us/strategic-overview.

For more information about Estyn and our work visit estyn.gov.wales/about-us/corporate-publications-accounts where you will find our latest Annual Plan and Annual Report and Accounts.

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Working for Estyn

We strive for excellence not only in our inspection activities but also as an employer. Estyn is committed to being an exemplary employer. We aim to achieve this by valuing, listening to, and encouraging staff to develop their skills and talents. We are committed to enabling staff to flourish and give of their best through individual, team and organisational learning, and continuous development. Estyn recognises that each person brings different skills and experience with them when they work for us. As an organisation, we support and welcome diversity and value these differences.

Estyn is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Hours of work, annual leave, health and well-being and benefits

As a full-time employee, you are normally required to work a five-day week (Monday to Friday) of 37 hours excluding lunch breaks. You will be entitled to an annual leave allowance of 31 days a year, plus 10 public/privilege holidays (taken at fixed times of the year). Part-time employees receive a pro-rata allowance proportionate to their working pattern.

We are committed to providing a safe, healthy and supportive environment for our employees and our promotion of the health and wellbeing of our employees has been recognised through the achievement of the Silver Award for the Corporate Health Standard and the award of Gold Standard for Investors in People (IiP). Our package of well-being benefits includes:

Access to a tax free Childcare Voucher scheme Free annual health checks Subsidised eye care (for display screen equipment) An Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24-hour counselling, information

and advice Access to medical health care societies Access to a Cycle to Work Scheme

As a Civil Servant you will also have access to further benefits and services including:

The Civil Service Social Club – Sports and Leisure The Civil Service Motoring Association The Charity for Civil Servants The Civil Service Insurance Society and Civil Service Healthcare

Pension

Our staff are entitled to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme and your appointment is pensionable from the outset. New entrants can join either alpha, an index-linked, defined benefit pension scheme, or Partnership, which is a stakeholder pension. As your employer, Estyn will make a contribution to whichever pension scheme you decide to join.

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Salary

The salary range for an Administrative Officer (AO Grade) is £19,240 - £22,500. Starting salary will normally be the first scale point above your current salary (within the salary range for the role). Estyn’s pay scales can be found on our website www.estyn.gov.wales (click on ‘About Us’, ‘Working for Estyn’ and select ‘Current Vacancies’). Under the current pay system, you would normally reach the maximum of the pay scale within three years of joining Estyn.

Training and personal development

Estyn is an accredited Investor in People (Gold), committed to improving performance and realising our objectives through good management and development of our people. We will support you with your learning and development needs, including Continuous Professional Development and during your first month you will receive a comprehensive induction to the organisation.

Location

These roles are based at our office in Cardiff, where free car parking is available on most days.

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Role Summary

Administrative Officers provide administrative support to ensure the delivery of key functions in Estyn, by supporting team managers and ensuring team targets and objectives are met. Administrative Officers will be flexible and may be deployed within or across any of the business support functions of Estyn, including:

Finance, procurement and office services Human Resources Inspection Support Services Stakeholder engagement (communications, events, publications and secretariat) Statistics, Knowledge and Information Services

Administrative Officers may be placed in a role within any of the business support functions, as business needs may demand.

Person Specification

Job specific criteria

1. Good written and verbal communication skills including dealing with general enquiries and telephone calls, process and draft routine correspondence – the ability to work through the medium of Welsh (speak and write in Welsh to a good standard) is essential for some posts.

2. Ability to use ICT effectively, including Microsoft packages (e.g. Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint).

3. Experience of working well as part of a team, building and maintaining working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

4. Ability to prioritise tasks, work accurately and ensure that systems and procedures are maintained and operate effectively.

5. Support corporate developments to ensure that Estyn’s aims and objectives are met.

Key skills (relevant to the Civil Service Competency Framework)

Setting Direction

Changing and improving – review working practices and come up with ideas to improve the way things are done, co-operate with and be open to the possibilities of change and consider ways to implement and adapt to change in own work role.

Engaging People

Leading and communicating – put forward your own views in a clear and constructive manner, act in a fair and respectful way in dealing with others.

Collaborating and partnering – proactively contribute to the work of the whole team, be open to taking on different roles, try to see issues from others’ perspectives and check understanding.

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Delivering results

Managing a quality service – actively seek information from customers to understand their needs and expectations, act to prevent problems, reporting issues where necessary, take ownership of issues, focus on providing the right solution and keep customers and delivery partners up to date with progress.

Delivering at pace – working in an organised manner to deliver on time and to standard, work with energy and pace to get the job done, take responsibility for the quality of own work and keep manager informed of how the work is progressing.

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How to apply

Applications must be made using our application form. Please refer to the Guidance Document before completing the application form. These documents are also available from www.estyn.gov.wales (Click on ‘About Us’, and select ‘Working for Estyn’, then ‘Current vacancies’).

We are hoping to recruit some Welsh speaking Fixed Term Administrative Officers. If you are able to use your communication skills to good effect in both Welsh and English, you should complete the supporting statement in Welsh. If successful at sift stage your Welsh Language skills will be assessed as part of the selection process.

We are unable to consider late or incomplete application forms. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application form is completed fully and correctly and submitted by the closing date.

The closing date for applications is 10am on 20 February 2018. Applications received after that time and date, for whatever reason, cannot be considered.

Your application and associated documents should be returned by e-mail to: recruitment@estyn.gov.wales or by hard copy to:

Human Resources, Estyn, Anchor Court, Keen Road, Cardiff CF24 5JW

Further Enquiries

For enquiries about this recruitment exercise please contact Human Resources on 029 2044 6336, or via email at recruitment@estyn.gov.wales .

Estyn welcomes receiving correspondence in Welsh, will respond to correspondence in Welsh, and corresponding in Welsh will not lead to delay.

Timetable

Please refer to the guidance document for full details of the selection process.

Closing date Tuesday 20 February 2018 at 10am

Initial sift Week commencing 26 February 2018

Assessments & Interviews Week commencing 5 March 2018

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