Information for job applicants

General information about the Council

Find out about Bradford Council and how the Council works.

Equal Rights and Diversity Statement

This statement outlines the Council’s commitment to equality and diversity. We want to make our district a fairer and more equitable place for everyone in the district.

The Council aims to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations across all protected characteristics in all its activities including its decision-making, policy development, budget setting, procurement and commissioning, service delivery and employment functions.

Pension

When you commence employment with the Council, you will immediately become a member of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund although under current regulations it is possible to opt out within the first three months.

Interview expenses

You may be able to claim travel and subsistence expenses incurred. Please discuss with the recruiting manager.

Trade Union membership

This Council supports the principle that all employees should be encouraged to be members of an appropriate trade union recognised for the purpose of negotiation and consultation.

Equality Act (2010)

As an equal rights employer we are committed to providing equality of access to employment and to development opportunities for people from all parts of the community. We particularly encourage applications from disabled people who are under-represented amongst our employees.

See below for information on the definition of disability, reasonable adjustments, guaranteed interview, alternative formats, rehabilitation of offenders, policy on employment of people with a criminal record etc

Disabilities

Bradford Council has been awarded Disability Confident status by the Department of Work and Pensions.

Disability Confident is a national scheme which aims to ensure that disabled people and those with long term health conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

Definition of Disability

The Equality Act 2010 defines a ‘disabled person’ for the purpose of the Act as a person who has a ‘disability’ if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Physical impairments

This includes for instance, a weakening of part of the body (eyes, ears, limbs, internal organs etc.) caused through illness, by accident or congenitally. Examples would be Blindness, Deafness, Paralysis of a leg, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Epilepsy, ME.

Mental health

This includes a clinically well recognised mental illness. Mental ill health can range from feeling a bit down to common disorders such as anxiety and depression and in limited cases to severe mental illness such as bi-polar disorder or schizophrenia. Some illnesses are persistent and may be classed as a disability while others come and go, giving the individual good and bad days. For example someone with a mild form of depression with only minor effects may not be covered but someone with severe depression with substantial effects on their daily life is likely to be considered as disabled under the act.

Learning Disability

For example Dyslexia, Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism are also recognised disability conditions.

Substantial

Put simply, this means the effect of the physical or mental impairment on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities is more than minor or trivial. It does not have to be a severe effect.

Long term adverse effect

The effect has to have lasted, or be likely to last, overall for at least 12 months and the effect must be a detrimental one.

A person with a life expectancy of less than 12 months is also covered.

Reasonable adjustments

To support our aim of removing barriers to employment for disabled people we are committed to making any necessary reasonable adjustments. These adjustments may include modifying the selection process, the job role or the working environment. To assist us in planning to accommodate your individual needs (if any); it would be helpful if your application could be supplemented by any information you may wish to provide about your needs. This information will be treated as confidential within the recruitment process and will be used solely with your consent, for the purpose of enabling selectors (and our Occupational Health Unit if appropriate) to make a fair assessment of your capabilities.

Guaranteed interview

The Council has a policy to interview any disabled applicant who meets the essential special knowledge criteria (these are marked with a X). You must also be able to demonstrate that you meet the experience and qualifications criteria.

We also consider any reasonable adjustments that need to be made as we wish to ensure that disabled candidates needs are taken into account during the selection process.

Further advice and alternative formats

If you need further advice or assistance in order to complete your application form, or if you would like it in a different format such as Braille, tape, disc or large print, please contact the Department of Corporate Services - Human Resources or the school where you obtained the application form.

Rehabilitation of offenders, protection of children and vulnerable adults

Find out about the rehabilitation of offenders and disclosure checks.

Policy on the employment of people with a criminal record

Bradford Council is committed to recruiting effectively and fairly, selecting candidates on the basis of their special knowledge, competencies, qualifications if required and experience.

Good recruitment and vetting requires attention to all pre-employment checks including written references, identity and qualification checks, full employment history, and where an assessment of risk has indicated this is necessary, the Disclosure and Barring Service disclosures, formerly known as CRB checks. For providers of services inspected by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) the checks are a legal requirement.

As an organisation using the Disclosure and Barring Service to assist in making safer recruitment decisions, the Council will comply with the DBS Code of Practice.

Employment decisions will therefore be made on a post by post basis and taking into account the specific nature and relevance of convictions disclosed. The Council undertakes not to discriminate unfairly on the basis of information revealed.

However, at all times, the Council's highest priority will be the protection of children and vulnerable adults and of the Council's resources. Recruitment Managers will be rigorous in their assessment of those seeking positions of trust.

The Council will ensure that applicants for positions where a disclosure is required are made aware of this.

At interview or on a separate occasion, the Council will discuss with the applicant any information revealed in the check before deciding whether to proceed with the appointment. Failure to reveal or attempts to conceal convictions or other relevant information, or failure to co-operate with the discussions is likely to lead to the Council withdrawing an offer or not pursuing the application further.

For employees, a failure to reveal or attempt to conceal a conviction or other relevant information is likely to lead to dismissal.

The Council will ensure recruiting Managers are given guidance on making decisions in respect of DBS disclosures, covering both the level at which the decision can be made and criteria for decision making.

The Council undertakes to keep disclosure and barring service checks secure and accessed only by those making recruitment decisions. Information will be securely destroyed once no longer needed, in line with the DBS Code of Practice, except in services regulated by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) where CSCI guidance will be followed.

Immigration, Asylum & Nationality Act 2006

This legislation was brought in by the Government to ensure that employees have the legal right to work in the UK.

All shortlisted candidates for interview are required to bring to the interview documentary evidence which confirms their eligibility to work in the United Kingdom.

Complaints procedure

Bradford Council is committed to ensure that good practice is followed throughout the recruitment process and the best person gets the job. We have a formal policy on dealing with recruitment complaints. Occasionally, however, candidates may consider that their application has not been dealt with fairly and that the standards and values of our recruitment process have not been followed.

All candidates can ask for feedback about any decision and if the explanation for non-selection does not satisfy you, then you should raise your concerns in writing to the Chair of the Recruitment Panel, details of the Chair of the Panel will be found in your Interview Letter.