The Council - packingtonpc.org.uk · Web viewis proficient with the use of email, Microsoft word, ... JOB DESCRIPTION. Clerk to . ... Personal Qualities

PACKINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

APPOINTMENT

Of

Parish Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer

RECRUITMENT INFORMATION & APPLICATION PACK

September 2016

1

Packington Parish Council
































PACKINGTON PARISH COUNCILInformation Booklet

______________________________________________________________________

Contents______________________________________________________________________

1. Packington Parish Council

2. Job Advertisement

3. Job Description

4. Person Specification

5. Application Process

6. Selection Process

7. Application Form

______________________________________________________________________

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS

Friday 14th October 2016

Completed applications should be marked

PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL

and addressed to: The Clerk, Packington Parish Council, 77 Victoria Street, Melbourne, Derby, DE73 8FR

or emailed to:[email protected]

2

1. PACKINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

Packington

Packington is a village and civil parish in Leicestershire with a population around 830 people. The village lies near to the River Mease and is situated near to the A42, at Ashby de la Zouch.Packington is within North West Leicestershire District Council, which includes 31 local councils and has offices in Coalville. It is also within Leicester County Council who have their main office in Leicester

The Council

Packington Parish Council has 6 councillors representing a single ward.

Responsibilities

The Parish Council:

• Receives a precept of just over £19,000 per annum

• Benefits from a Solar Farm Fund of around £6,000 per annum enabling the Council to support local groups and organisations as per the Agreement

• Is the Trustees of two Charities; The Recreation Ground Charity & Earl of Huntingdon Charity.

• Assists with maintenance of the Church grounds

• Provides financial support to the Recreation Ground Charity to maintain the grounds and equipment

• Prides itself in organising regular events for the residents of Packington including a yearly Bonfire Night, the recent Queens Birthday Celebrations and which events receive a significant amount of help from willing volunteers

Parish Council Meetings

The Parish Council meets on the first Tuesday of the month. There are also Trustees Meetings which are held directly after the full Parish Council meeting, on the same evening.

3

2. JOB ADVERTISEMENT


Has a vacancy for Parish Clerk / Responsible Financial Officer8 hours per week (days/times flexible when required)

Salary : NJC Salary Point 21 - £19,939.00 pro rata + Pension SchemeActual Pay - £4,313.92 p.a equivalent to £10.37 per hour

We are a friendly enthusiastic Council, who are keen to make a positive difference to our Parish. We have lots of ideas and are looking for a Parish Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer to support in the efficient running of the Parish Council.As well as being friendly, enthusiastic, well organised and calm, we are looking for someone who:

• has excellent people skills, including the ability to work with Councillors, members of the public and third party organisations

• is proficient with the use of email, Microsoft word, excel and powerpoint • is an accurate record keeper, well organised and able to meet deadlines• will, with appropriate training be able to deal with the day to day management of the Parish

Council including updating the website• can identifying funding opportunities and help prepare bids for grants funding • with training and support, ensure the smooth running of the Parish Council and suggest new

ideas or working practices• will undertake any other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time and which

may involve additional evening or daytime meetings

The job is carried out from home and the successful candidate may be expected to start working towards obtaining CiLCA (Certificate in Local Council Administration) if it is felt to be necessary in the future and once they have completed the initial 6 month training period.

Please contact Vicky Roe, via phone or email (see below) if you would like to know more about Packington Parish Council, the job or would like an application pack.

The closing date for return of applications is Friday 14th October 2016, interviews to be held week commencing 24th October.

Please send applications to:

Vicky RoeClerk, Packington Parish Council77 Victoria StreetMelbourne, Derby, DE73 [email protected]

3. JOB DESCRIPTION 4

mailto:[email protected]

Clerk to Packington Parish Council

Overall Responsibilities

The Clerk to the Council will be the Proper Officer of the Council and as such is under a statutory duty to carry out all the functions, and in particular to serve or issue all the notifications required by law of a local Authority's Proper Officer.

The Clerk will be totally responsible for ensuring that the instructions of the Council in connection with its function as a Local Authority are carried out.

The Clerk is expected to advise the Council on, and assist in the formation of, overall policies to be followed in respect of the Authority's activities and in particular to produce all the information required for making effective decisions and to implement constructively all decisions. The person appointed will be accountable to the Council for the effective management of all its resources and will report to them as and when required.

The Clerk will be the Responsible Financial Officer and responsible for all financial records of the Council and the careful administration of its finances.

Specific Responsibilities

To ensure that statutory and other provisions governing or affecting the running of the Council are observed.

To monitor and balance the Council's accounts and prepare records for audit purposes and VAT.

To ensure that the Council's obligations for Risk Assessment are properly met.

To prepare, in consultation with appropriate members, agendas for meetings of the Council and Committees. To attend such meetings and prepare minutes for approval.

To attend meetings of the Council, of its committees and sub-committees as required, parish liaison meetings as well as any meeting requested by the Council.

To receive correspondence and documents on behalf of the Council and to deal with the correspondence or documents or bring such items to the attention of the Council. To issue correspondence as a result of instructions of, or the known policy of the Council.

To receive and report on invoices for goods and services to be paid for by the Council and to ensure such accounts are met. To issue invoices on behalf of the Council for goods and services and to ensure payment is received.

To study reports and other data on activities of the Council and on matters bearing on those activities. Where appropriate, to discuss such matters with administrators and specialists in particular fields and to produce reports for circulation and discussion by the Council.

To draw up both on his/her own initiative and as a result of suggestions by Councillors proposals for consideration by the Council and to advise on practicability and likely effects of specific courses of action.

To monitor the implemented policies of the Council to ensure they are achieving the desired result and where appropriate suggest modifications.

To act as the representative of the Council as required.

5

To issue notices and prepare agendas and minutes for the Parish Meeting: to attend the assemblies of the Parish Meeting and to implement the decisions made at the assemblies that are agreed by the Council.

To prepare, in consultation with the Chairman, press releases about the activities of, or decisions of, the Council.

To attend training courses or seminars on the work and role of the Clerk as required by the Council.

To work towards the achievement of the status of Qualified Clerk as a minimum requirement for effectiveness in the position of Clerk to the Council.

To continue to acquire the necessary professional knowledge required for the efficient management of the affairs of the Council: Suggested is membership of your professional body The Society of Local Council Clerks.

To attend the Conference of the National Association of Local Councils, Society of Local Council Clerk’s, and other relevant bodies, as a representative of the Council as required.

4. PARISH CLERK - PERSON SPECIFICATION 6

Essential Desirable

Education Good general education with a minimum of 2 GCSE’s to include English and maths grade C and above or equivalent

Certificate in Local Council Administration or willingness to obtain within an agreed timescale

Skills and knowledge

Ability to create and manage own workload in the light of competing and changing priorities and organisational challenges

Advising, supporting and constructive communication with elected members

Excellent IT skills including the ability to use a wide range of office software, including Microsoft Office

Flexible team player with good interpersonal skills

Excellent analytical and organisational skills

Excellent communication skills both written and oral

Personal Qualities

Ability to deal with a wide range of people in an impartial, diplomatic and professional manner.

Flexibility of approach, open to innovative and creative ways of working

Ability to work alone and as a member of a team

Methodical and thorough approach to tasks

Ability to anticipate problems and find solutions with a positive attitude

Confident and able to deal with pressure

7

Other Ability to attend evening meetings and willingness to work at weekends if necessary

Willingness to undertake relevant training to enhance the role of Parish Clerk

5. Application Process

The application and the covering letter should be placed in a sealed envelope marked “private and confidential - Application for Parish Clerk post” for posting or hand delivery to:

Clerk, Packington Parish Council77 Victoria Street, Melbourne, Derby, DE73 8FR

Or via email to:

[email protected]

You must include in your application information which:

- Sets out how you meet the person specification

8

- Gives clear examples of your previous achievements which link directly to the areas of responsibility in this post

- Demonstrates the qualities you would bring to the role of Parish Clerk

A CV is not required.

Your application must be returned no later than Friday 14th October 2016.

Canvassing of any Member or Officer involved in the selection process will disqualify you from being appointed.

If you would like further information before submitting your application please contact Vicky Roe, Packington Parish Clerk on 07824634604 or [email protected] for an informal discussion.

9

mailto:[email protected]

6. SELECTION PROCESS

The formal selection process by interview will take place in October on a date to be agreedThe appointment will be made by the Appointment Panel, which will comprise three councillors and the current Clerk.

Interview

Candidates will be required to attend an interview at a time to be allocated individually. The interview will last up to an hour.

References

Formal references will be taken up following an offer of employment.

Disabled Candidates

Any candidate who is disabled should please contact the Clerk of Packington Parish Council, as above, in confidence, so that reasonable adjustments can be made to the recruitment process.

Code of Conduct

The post holder will be required to observe the requirements of the Council’s Code of Conduct for employees and any national provisions in this respect. Any potential conflict of interest which arises during the course of employment should be brought to the attention of the Parish Council and entered in the Register of Officers’ Interests.

Criminal Convictions

Failure to declare an unspent criminal conviction may lead to an appointment being terminated. The successful candidate must also disclose any subsequent conviction to the Leader of the Council.

Pre – Employment Checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to two satisfactory references being received (one from the present or previous employer).

10

Application FormPlease complete in black ink and print where possible

Position applied for: Closing date and source of application:

Surname: First names and title:

Address: Telephone:

Mobile:

Email:

National Insurance Number:

Personal Details:Do you require a work permit to take up employment in the UK? Yes No

Are you legally eligible for employment in the UK? Yes No

Do you hold a current clean driving licence? Yes No

Please give details of any driving offences currently under endorsement:

Please give details of any unspent criminal convictions that you may have (in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974).

If offered this position will you continue to work in any other capacity? Yes No

11

Employment HistoryPlease list all employment in reverse chronological order, starting with your present or last position. Please continue on a separate sheet if you need to.

Name & Address of Employer:

Date joined: Date Left:

Job Title:

Describe your duties and responsibilities:

Salary: Type of Business:

Reason for Leaving:

12



Job Title:



Reason for Leaving:



Job Title:



Reason for Leaving:

13

14



Job Title:



Reason for Leaving:



Job Title:



Reason for Leaving:

15

16

Education and Qualifications (including Membership of Professional Bodies)

Date From/To Name of School, College or University

Qualifications Gained

TrainingPlease list the relevant training courses attended below:

HobbiesPlease give details of your main hobbies:

Illness and/or Accidents

1. Do you consider yourself to have any disabilities? If yes, please give details (this will enable the Council to make reasonable adjustments to help accommodate you):

17

Additional Competency InformationPlease provide specific examples in response to the following questions:

What have you done to ensure that you work effectively as a member of a team or partnership?

Please give an example of when you have worked successfully as part of a team? What did you do?

Please describe an occasion where you have improved a business process or procedure. What did you do and what was the outcome?

18

Please give details of any outside interests or other information you feel will support your application:

ReferencesPlease give the names and addresses of two referees. One should be your present or last employer if possible.

Referee 1 Referee 2Name Name

Address Address

May we approach them now? Yes No May we approach them now? Yes No

Are you related to any member or employee of this Council? Yes No

If yes, please give full details:

IMPORTANT NOTICEFailure to answer all the questions on this application or failure to reveal information which might influence a decision on whether or not to employ you will automatically invalidate the application and the offer of employment, and where employment has commenced, to dismissal.

DECLARATIONI, the undersigned, declare that the information given by me on this application and any other form (including at interview) to the best of my knowledge is correct, and that I have not knowingly withheld any fact or circumstance which, if disclosed, would influence a decision to employ or not employ me.

Signature Date

19

Documents

The Council - packingtonpc.org.uk · Web viewis proficient with the use of email, Microsoft word, ... JOB DESCRIPTION. Clerk to . ... Personal Qualities