Vacancy -- Business Support - Newtown/Carmarthen

Working for the Civil Service

The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

Vacancy Details

Health and Social Services Group
Cafcass Cymru
Team Support - £22,150 - £25,620
£22,150
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Permanent
Mid Wales
TBC

Purpose of Post:

Cafcass Cymru is a Division of the Health and Social Services Group within the Welsh Government. Cafcass Cymru is responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children involved in family court proceedings.

Cafcass Cymru has 11 offices across Wales covered by five geographical operational areas.  The five geographical areas are:

  • North Wales
  • South Wales
  • Mid & West Wales
  • South West Wales
  • Gwent

This advert covers vacancies in the Mid and West Wales area (Newtown and Carmarthen office).

The Business Support roles in Cafcass Cymru are pivotal in providing critical support to the operational teams within the organisation and ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the operational teams.

These roles are unique across Welsh Government, supporting Practice Managers, Family Court Advisors/ Family Court Social Workers and Business Support Managers in providing an effective service to Family Courts across Wales.

This area of work deals with extremely detailed, sensitive and confidential information, as the post holders work with case related information when supporting services to vulnerable children and families during very difficult times in their lives.

Key tasks:

Key Tasks

  • To provide a comprehensive operational support service, including screening court applications and orders, formatting confidential documentation, drafting communications and minutes to a high standard, arranging meetings, monitoring incoming communications, filing and other administrative duties whilst working to tight timescales.
  • Communicating professionally and effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including courts, Police & Social Services Departments, solicitors, social work practitioners and service users.
  • Deal with sensitive telephone discussions and reception queries with service users as required.
  • Take responsibility for own data entry tasks, contributing to ensuring the validity of the data in the Cafcass Cymru case management system (IRIS), reporting errors providing support and guidance to colleagues.
  • To contribute to the maintenance of internal records, including case related information, ensuring iShare records are complete and enabling effective compliance with Data Protection and Freedom of Information requirements.
  • Take responsibility for ensuring that all confidential information is dealt with efficiently and appropriately and in line with the relevant guidance and policy documents.
  • To contribute to the smooth day to day running of the office through the handling, recording and distribution of mail, maintaining and issuing supplies of stationery and office materials.
  • The post holder may be required to undertake other duties within their team to comply with corporate obligations, e.g. First Aider, Fire Warden, DSE assessments.

Development opportunities:

This post provides the opportunity to work in a high-profile role within a child focussed organisation.  The posts offer opportunities to develop links across Cafcass Cymru, the Welsh Government and with key stakeholders.

Closing Date:

14/06/2023, 16:00

Eligibility

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

Equality and Diversity

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

Disability Confident

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Welsh Language Requirements

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

Desirable
Can read simple material on everyday topics with understanding
Can hold a basic conversation in Welsh
Can understand basic conversations about everyday topics
Can write simple work-related correspondence

Social Partnership

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

Competency behaviours required for the role

Setting Direction - Making effective decisions

  • Make and record effective decisions following the appropriate decision-making criteria, framework or guidance. 

Engaging People - Leading & Communicating

  • Act in a fair and respectful way in dealing with others.

Delivering Results - Managing a Quality Service

  • Actively seek information from customers to understand their needs and expectations and manage information appropriately.

Delivering Results - Delivering at Pace

  • Work in an organised manner using own knowledge and expertise to deliver on time and to standard.

Job specific criteria

  • A good understanding and experience of using various IT packages, including Microsoft word, Excel, PowerPoint.
  • Ability to work well as part of a Team and on own initiative, with some experience of working with external organisations.
  • An ability to monitor and store critical data securely, accurately, confidently, and responsibly.  

Assessment Process

Applications will be sifted, successful candidates will be then invited to interview.

Other Information

  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
  • For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.

Successful candidates will be required to remain in post for a minimum of 2 years before being eligible to move posts (provided they meet all other eligibility criteria applicable at that time).

Business Support staff within Cafcass Cymru provide a frontline service which operates from 9am to 5pm although flexibility of working hours is applicable according to business need.

Location of post – This advert covers vacancies in the Mid and West Wales area (Carmarthen and Newtown offices).

Cafcass Cymru staff are currently working remotely, but in the longer term we will adopt a blended and flexible approach which incorporates both office working and remote working, taking into account business need and how service users want to engage with us. Therefore, successful candidates should expect to be required to attend the specified office on a regular basis.

Successful candidates will be appointed in merit order to immediate vacancies. There is 1 role available however a reserve list will be held which will allow candidates on the reserve list to be appointed to a role within 12 months of the initial offer should a suitable post become available.

Applications are welcomed from people with a diverse range of lived and professional experiences. Cafcass Cymru is actively committed to becoming an increasingly diverse organisation which meets the needs of a diverse range of service users. This is supported by a dynamic approach to learning and development. There are a number of Diversity networks which staff can participate in, which include The Minority Ethnic Staff Network, PRISM LGBTI+ network, and the Women Together network.

Chris Fleming

How to apply

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have an impairment which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to an impairment in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Grievance and Complaints

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.

This vacancy is closed to applications.