Fixed Term Communications Officer (Executive Officer)

Information for Applicants

1

Introduction

Thank you for your interest in the role of Communications Officer (Executive Officer) in Estyn.

This vacancy is for a fixed term period and likely to be up until the 31 March 2019.

Estyn conducts its business in both Welsh and English and many of its customers and clients are bilingual.

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.

2

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 https://www.estyn.gov.wales/about-us/corporate-publications-accounts where you will find our latest Annual Plan and Annual Report and Accounts.

3

4

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.

5

Salary

The salary range for an Executive Officer (EO Grade) is £23,625 - £27,400. 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

This role is based at our office in Cardiff, where free car parking is available on most days.

6

Role Summary

As a Communications Officer you will undertake a key role in supporting engagement activities using a wide range of communication disciplines and skills to support the delivery of Estyn’s Stakeholder Engagement Strategy, keeping learners and citizens at the heart of our work and positioning Estyn as the authoritative voice on education and training in Wales.

Key tasks include:

Planning, implementing and evaluating communication campaigns, advising on appropriate channels to ensure an integrated approach and achieve maximum impact against agreed objectives.

Supporting and developing Estyn’s proactive and reactive media relations, including press releases, interviews and enquiries.

Drafting relevant, engaging and creative content for internal and external audiences across a mix of communication channels, such as our website, social media and e-shots.

Supporting the organisation in delivering effective employee engagement, including the role of Editor of the monthly internal newsletter.

Supporting the Digital Communications Officer in designing a range of corporate materials according to brand guidelines.

Supporting the Stakeholder Engagement team in managing and maintaining the Estyn website.

Developing relationships and a range of contacts outside the team to help get the job done.

Providing cover in the absence of the Digital Communications Officer and the Stakeholder Engagement Manager (in relation to Communications issues).

Person Specification

Job specific criteria

1. Uses insight to identify target audiences and to inform communication objectives messages and solutions.

2. An understanding of how communication channels work together and how to use them effectively to engage different audiences.

3. A practical understanding of how print, broadcast and digital media work, including the media cycle.

4. Ability to advise on, monitor, analyse, evaluate and summarise campaign effectiveness.

5. Ability to write clearly in plain, simple language and to express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.

7

6. An understanding of organisational functions, roles and communication requirements to enable effective content for internal and external audiences.

7. Ability to use ICT effectively including Microsoft packages and Content Management Systems.

Key skills Relevant to the Civil Service Competency Framework:

Performance – Delivering results

Managing a quality service Delivering at pace

Key skills Relevant to the Government Communication Professional Competency Framework:

Insight – Core Ideas – Core Implementation – Core Impact – Core

Professions:

Previous work experience or qualification in a communications related discipline is essential

8

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’).

For this post, it is desirable that we appoint someone who can use their communication skills to good effect in both Welsh and English. Please state clearly in your supporting statement whether you are able to work effectively in both Welsh and English.

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 5 March 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 Monday 5 March 2018 at 10am

Initial sift Week commencing 12 March 2018

Assessments & Interviews Week commencing 19 March 2018

9