Please read the following guidance notes before completing your application.
When recruiting our new employees we use a job description, a person specification and an application form. However on some occasions we may ask for your c.v. instead.
- Job description or summary
This tells you the main responsibilities of the job.
- Person specification
This is an important document and explains what we are looking for. It tells you what knowledge, experience and skills you need to do the job. These "criteria" are used to make appointments.
"Essential" criteria are those which you must have to carry out the responsibilities of the job. The person specification will show you which criteria will be used to shortlist candidates for interview.
"Desirable" criteria may also be included. These are extra requirements which may be considered if we receive a large number of applicants who meet our "essential" criteria.
- Application form
If you want to apply for more than one position, please submit a separate application for each job.
It is useful to make a rough draft first. Check through the draft to make sure that it is clear and that it covers all the criteria, before you complete the actual form. Please give all the information that you think we may need, as we cannot guess or assume anything about you.
Please tell us anything that you think is relevant to the job in terms of knowledge, experience and skills. You need to give enough information so that we can judge your suitability for the job.
Please complete the Recruitment Monitoring section of the application form. This information is confidential and it is not available to the recruiting panel. The information you provide is used for monitoring purposes to ensure that we are acting fairly when we employ people.
If you have a disability which prevents you from meeting any of the criteria, tell us about this in your application. Please tell us what we could do to help you meet the criteria. If you have a disability we will offer you an interview as long as you meet the essential requirements of the job.
The Disability Discrimination Act defines "disability" as follows:
"A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term effect on the person's ability to carry out normal day-to day activities."
- Returning your completed application form
You should return the completed application form to the address provided in the advertisement. If an address does not appear in the advertisement you must contact the telephone number on the job advert to obtain the relevant details. This will ensure that your completed application form reaches the right person.
- On-line applications
You will need to register your e-mail address and provide a personal password before commencing with an on-line application. You should then read the Data Protection Statement AND respond to the data protection question at the start of the online application form.
When completing the online application form, please ensure that all mandatory fields are completed, as the form can not be submitted if any of these are incomplete. If you apply online for more than one job, you must submit a separate online application for each.
Please make sure to read your online application form completely before submitting it, ensuring that you provide all the information we need and that all information is accurate with no spelling or typographical errors.
- Canvassing
The Council will disqualify any applicant who directly or indirectly seeks the support of an elected Councillor for any appointment with the Council. This does not prevent a Councillor from giving a reference for a candidate to submit with their application.
Conditions of job offer
If you are successful at interview you will be given an offer of appointment. This offer is subject to:
- your acceptance of the terms and conditions contained within the contract of employment
- a mutually agreed date of commencement
- the receipt of two satisfactory references, one of which should usually be from your present or most recent employer
- receipt of a satisfactory medical report from the Council's Occupational Health physician of your fitness to undertake the duties of the post
- evidence of any required professional qualifications (i.e. social work qualification) and essential requirements, such as a clean driving licence
- any necessary police (Disclosure) checks, where appropriate
- at the most senior levels (Deputy Chief Officer and above) the appointment must also be cleared with Executive Members of the Council.
For further queries regarding completing your online application, or if you have any technical problems with the online form, please contact the help desk on jobs-help@southwark.gov.uk