Recruitment Standards followed
Voluntary Action Leicester is keen to ensure that its recruitment of employees is fair and effective and this is supported by comprehensive policy guidelines and service standards.
We have set ourselves certain standards of service that you can expect when applying for a job with Voluntary Action Leicester.
We aim to:
- Follow a recruitment process that is free from bias
- Base our recruitment process on good employment practice
- Ensure that our recruitment process is clear and easy to use
- Make our recruitment process responsive to your comments both complimentary and critical.
To achieve this we will follow certain standards of service:
Advertisements and Application Process
- That all vacancies will be advertised to external applicants (except where there is a major internal restructuring or some temporary jobs). This may be via local/national newspapers, professional /trade journals and/or the Job Centre and vacancy boards. We monitor responses to our adverts to make sure they have been accessible.
- Please note that you need to complete an application form and CVs alone will not be accepted.
- All requests for application packs will be recorded to allow monitoring of dispatch.
- That application details will be sent off to you within two working days of your request.
- All application packs will have a contact point for return and queries.
- All application packs will include a current accurate and valid job description, employee specification and as much supporting information as appropriate to help you with your application.
- That we will specify knowledge, skills and abilities which are essential to the job, (keeping desirable requirements to a minimum) and these will be:
- objective
- fair
- realistic
- measurable
- That application details will be available in alternative formats (e.g. large print, audio cassette) on request, and any other reasonable assistance to help you apply will be available.
- To be given at least 10 days, and usually two weeks, from the date of the advert, in which to return your application.
- To be asked to complete an equal opportunities monitoring form which is processed separately from your application and allows us to monitor our recruitment and selection.
Shortlisting and Interview Process
- To be contacted within two weeks of the closing date if you are short-listed for interview. Unsuccessful candidates will not be contacted.
- To be given at least one weeks notice of the date of the interview (unless you are contacted by telephone to agree a date) or unless applicants were told initially of the date
- To be given sufficient information about the interview arrangements to be able to prepare yourself, including the names and job titles of the interviewers.
- That short-listing and interviewing will be done by at least two staff who have been trained in fair and effective recruitment. Only people involved in processing your application will see your form, and details will be used for recruitment and selection purposes only and as the basis of the personal records of the appointed candidate
- That if ability / aptitude /psychometric testing is used, this will be appropriate, fair, valid and reliable.
- References may be taken up in advance of interview only if you have indicated that this is acceptable.
- We will ensure that candidates' special requirements/needs are met wherever possible. This can include signers, interpreters, etc
- Interviews will be carried out by the same panel that undertakes the shortlisting.
- To be given time during the interview to ask questions.
- To be paid expenses if you have traveled to interview from outside of Leicestershire. How to claim travel expenses guidance notes and form
- To be told the outcome of the interview within the timescale promised at the interview, and feedback will be given if requested.
- That we will send a written offer (usually still subject to references and may be subject to criminal conviction checks if appropriate (you will be informed if the job you are applying for is subject to a criminal conviction check) which will be made clear in the letter) to the successful applicant within three working days of a verbal offer.
Records of Recruitment Process
- Successful application information will be kept securely, with current employee details.
- Recruitment paperwork will be kept securely for six months in case of any complaint and then destroyed.
Ensuring Best Value
- Voluntary Action Leicester's recruitment procedures are under constant review, and maybe adapted as a result of our monitoring procedures, which include comments from applicants.
Queries or complaints
- If you have any queries or initial dissatisfaction with a particular recruitment process, please contact the named person on the advertisement. If you have a complaint of unfair discrimination, please contact the Chief Executive. You can of course use your statutory rights to make a complaint but Voluntary Action Leicester would wish to have the opportunity to investigate any queries/grievances in the first instance.
- Click here to submit your views electronically
For more information
Contact Reena Joshi
Tel: 0116 257 5034
Email: reena.j@valonline.org.uk