Applicatin Pack fr Secndment Opprtunity This pack is fr thse wishing t apply fr a secndment t the Fire Strategy and Refrm Unit within the Crime, Plicing and Fire Grup in the Hme Office. The Unit has a vacancy fr a fire and rescue adviser which is pen t emplyees f Fire and Rescue Authrities at Grup/ Area Manager level (r equivalent) as a tw year secndment. In this pack yu will find details abut: The rle; The skills and experience required; Secndment terms; Hw t apply; Selectin prcess and timescales. Annexes Annex A: Applicatin Frm Annex B: Terms and Cnditins 1
Backgrund Fire and rescue plicy and refrm is the wrk f the Fire Strategy and Refrm Unit (FSRU). The FSRU wrks clsely with the Natinal Fire Chiefs Cuncil, Lcal Gvernment Assciatin, representatives frm the fire and rescue services and with ther Whitehall Departments n a range f prgrammes and prjects aimed at delivering imprved public services and maintaining a natinal capability during majr emergencies. We are lking t ensure we have the right mix f skills t develp plicy and are lking fr an experienced practitiner frm the Fire and Rescue Service t jin the team and help us deliver advice t Ministers, and wrk acrss the sectr. The Rle The Fire Strategy and Refrm Unit is lking t secnd smene identified as having excellent ptential t prgress t very senir management in a fire and rescue authrity. Ideally the individual is already at middle r senir manager level wh may have cmpleted, r is shrtly t embark n, the Executive Leadership Prgramme. The individual des nt need t be a specialist in any particular area but wuld be expected t have a gd understanding f current issues and a brad range f experience acrss the fire and rescue service. There may als be pprtunities t: advise Ministers and senir departmental fficials, experience the wrking f central gvernment, share natinal expsure n key elements f fire and rescue service plicy cntribute t plicy develpment and implementatin supprt the Strategic Fire and Rescue Adviser and be n call t act as the Hme Office FRS Duty Officer fr natinal fire and rescue related emergencies as detailed in the Natinal Crdinatin Advisry Framewrk (NCAF). In return the department is lking fr smene wh has a strategic view f the fire and rescue service and its rle as a public service, wh has a gd understanding f emergency service cllabratin and partnering wrk and very high standard f written and verbal cmmunicatin. The Persn The successful candidate will need t be able t shw, thrugh the applicatin prcess, the apprpriate level f knwledge, skills and experience t undertake this rle and will be able t demnstrate the fllwing: Essential qualities: Experience f plicy develpment at strategic level within yur rganisatin Experience f managing prgrammes and prjects. Experience f presenting t and managing relatinships with chief fficers, senir managers and Bard members. 2
Desirable qualities: Knwledge f the fire and rescue service and its prfessinal standards. A strng understanding f its rganisatinal structure and peratinal service delivery Frmal qualificatins in prgramme and prject management Successful cmpletin r shrtly t cmplete the Fire and Rescue Service Executive Leadership Prgramme The successful candidate will als need t demnstrate their capabilities t a high standard against the Civil Service Cmpetencies utlined belw: Hme Office Cre Cmpetencies Seeing the bigger picture: Bring tgether views and perspectives f stakehlders t gain a wider picture f the landscape surrunding activities and plicies Create plicies/ plans and develp service prvisin t meet citizens diverse needs based n an up-t-date knwledge and understanding f relevant gd practice Making effective decisins Take a cmprehensive view identifying dependencies, impacts (including diversity) and implicatins f decisins inside and utside the rganisatin t ensure sustainable utcmes Draw tgether and present sund analytical cnclusins frm a wide range f incmplete and cmplex evidence and data can act r decide even when details are nt clear Leading and cmmunicating Cnfidently engage with stakehlders and clleagues at all levels t inspire, infrm and generate cmmitment t gals Stand by wn and team s actins and decisins prmte and defend where needed Cllabrating and partnering Actively build a netwrk f clleagues, cntacts and rganisatinal partners in rder t achieve prgress n bjectives and shared interests Effectively manage the dynamics within cmplex teams, when wrking acrss Departmental and ther bundaries Delivering value fr mney Balance plicy aspiratin and delivery, utline risk and benefits f different ptins t achieve value fr mney ensuring all submissins cntain apprpriate financial infrmatin Weigh up the pririty and benefits f different actins and activities in cnsidering the mst cst effective way t achieve an utcme 3
Delivering at pace Get the best ut f peple by giving enthusiastic and encuraging messages abut pririties, bjectives and expectatins Maintain effective perfrmance in difficult and challenging circumstances, encuraging thers t d the same Develpment Opprtunities As part f this new apprach secndees wuld have access t a range f pprtunities which culd include: Access t Hme Office learning and develpment pprtunities (fr example attendance at leadership and training events); Opprtunities t supprt the Strategic Fire and Rescue Adviser; On call as the Hme Office FRS Duty Officer under the Natinal Crdinatin and Advisry Framewrk (NCAF); Understanding f plicy develpment and implementatin; Understanding f Departmental budgets and financial management prcesses within Gvernment; An understanding f central gvernment structures, expsure t and pprtunities t wrk with civil servants acrss Whitehall; Prgramme and prject management - invlvement in the delivery f natinal prjects; Experience f Parliamentary prcesses (legislatin, r a debate in the Huse); Gvernment media and cmmunicatins; The develpment f written and verbal briefing. Secndment terms We are lking fr peple wh wuld see cming t wrk at the heart f gvernment as an pprtunity t enhance their skills, and t take up develpment pprtunities that wuld benefit their careers nce they return t their fire and rescue service. The successful applicant wuld transfer n a secndment n their current terms and cnditins f emplyment and salary. The Hme Office wuld expect t share csts with the fire and rescue authrity, the exact amunts t be determined in discussin with the fire and rescue authrity, acknwledging the value f the scheme we are ffering. We ask that candidates t have agreed this apprach with their Chief Fire Officer/ Chief Executive prir t applicatin. Hw t apply Please submit yur current CV alng with the applicatin frm in Annex A t: Brian Nash at brian.nash@hmeffice.gsi.gv.uk Please cnfirm in the cvering email that yur Chief Fire Officer/ Chief Executive has given cnsent fr yur applicatin under the terms f this scheme. 4
Clsing date fr applicatins is: 28 May 2017 Candidates with disabilities Hme Office uses the guaranteed interview scheme t help widen emplyment pprtunities fr disabled peple. Applicants with disabilities wh meet the minimum criteria, as stated in the persn specificatin, the Civil Service natinality requirement and submit a cmpleted 'Guaranteed Interview Scheme' frm will be guaranteed an interview. Guaranteed Interview Scheme Declaratin fr peple with disabilities: please cmplete this if apprpriate, and return t: Brian.nash@hmeffice.gsi.gv.uk Guaranteed Interview Scheme - Equal Opprtunities Mnitring Frm As part f yur applicatin, please make sure yu cmplete ur equal pprtunity frm. The data will be treated in the strictest cnfidence, and will be used fr mnitring and statistical purpses nly. Diversity Frm - ffline.dcx The Selectin Prcess The first stage f the prcess will be a paper sift f applicatin frms; Candidates successful at the sift stage will be invited t attend a panel interview.. Candidates will be assessed against relevant criteria in the Hme Office Cre Cmpetence framewrk utlined abve: Seeing the Bigger Picture, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective decisins, Leading and Cmmunicating, Delivering Value fr Mney and Cllabrating and Partnering Indicative timetable Clsing date: 28 May 2017 Sift: w/c 29 May 2017 5
Interviews: w/c 12 June 2017 Offers and final decisin: w/c 19 June 2017 The successful candidate will be invited t start as sn as their Fire and Rescue Authrity is able t release them and within ne mnth f interview. Mre infrmatin: Fr mre infrmatin abut the secndment pprtunity please email: Chle.dunnett1@hmeffice.gsi.gv.uk Brian.nash@hmeffice.gsi.gv.uk David.nrris2@hmeffice.gsi.gv.uk The Civil Service Recruitment Principles The Department s recruitment prcesses are underpinned by the principle f selectin fr appintment n merit n the basis f fair and pen cmpetitin, as described in the Civil Service Cmmissiners Recruitment Cde which can be fund at www.civilservicecmmissiners.rg. 6
Annex A: Applicatin frm SECTION A: Persnal Details Name: Cntact Infrmatin: Pst Applied fr: Secndment Applicatin frm SECTION B: Cmpetencies and experiences Please prvide a statement f hw yu demnstrate the skills and experience set ut in the applicatin pack, giving examples frm yur achievements t date which demnstrate yur ability t meet the criteria as described. Yur statement shuld be n mre than 1500 wrds. Yu may als include any ther infrmatin yu think is relevant. 7
SECTION C: Referees (Please include name and cntact details fr tw referees) Annex B: Terms and cnditins Eligibility This is an pen external cmpetitin, the secndment pprtunity will be ffered n a fixed term cntract f tw years. The rle is pen t emplyees f Fire and Rescue Authrities at Grup Manager level (r equivalent) and abve nly. Salary Hme Office wuld expect t share csts with the fire and rescue authrity, the exact amunts t be determined in discussin with the fire and rescue authrity, acknwledging the value f the scheme we are ffering. We ask that candidates wh apply fr this rle have agreed this apprach with their Chief Fire Officer/ Chief Executive prir t applicatin. Lcatin Hme Office, 2 Marsham Street, Lndn, SW1P 4DF. Travel thrughut the UK t ther lcatins may be required. Wrking pattern This is a full time appintment. The Department welcmes applicatins frm peple wishing t wrk flexibly, including thse willing t jb share. Annual leave On appintment the psthlder will be entitled t 30 days paid leave plus 9 days public and privilege hlidays. Retirement While the nrmal retirement age fr Senir Civil Servants is currently 65, the department will cnsider applicatins n their merits, nt gverned by age. Pensin This is a secndment pprtunity and yur pensin arrangements will cntinue separately with yur Fire and Rescue Authrity. Hme Office will nt cntribute t yur pensin. Natinality T be eligible fr emplyment yu will need t be either a UK natinal r a natinal f anther Eurpean Ecnmic Area Member State, r a Cmmnwealth citizen and have the right t wrk in the UK. Swiss natinals are als eligible. In additin, if yu 8
have dual natinality yu will be eligible as lng as ne f the natinalities meets the requirements. Security clearance Befre the appintment f the successful candidate can be cnfirmed, the Department will undertake backgrund security checks. As part f this, Hme Office will need t cnfirm yur identity, emplyment histry ver the past three years (r curse details if yu were in educatin), natinality and immigratin status, and criminal recrd (unspent cnvictins nly). Cnflicts f interest Candidates must nte the requirement t declare any interests they may have that might cause questins t be raised abut their apprach t the business f the Department. Official Secrets Act This pst is cvered by Official Secrets Act. Diversity The Hme Office is cmmitted t ensuring equality f pprtunity and that all ur systems and prcesses are fair, pen and bjective. We endeavur t prmte this apprach in thse with whm we cme int cntact. We are respnsible fr ensuring that the highest principles f equal pprtunities plicy are put int effect. As an equal pprtunities emplyer we make n distinctin between peple n grunds f their race, ethnic r natinal rigin, age, religin r belief, sex, marital status, disability, part time status r sexual rientatin. 9