Vacancy -- Casework Officer x3

'Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location, but requests will be taken into consideration.

Provide administrative support across a range of casework, working in conjunction with Inspectors, and in accordance with desk instructions and agreed service standards.

• Manage a caseload consisting of written representation, hearing and inquiry cases.
• Validation of new cases (including, if required, establishing fee requirement and payment period, verifying right to appeal/apply interest in the land, establishing grounds and procedure) interpreting and applying current policy and relevant legislation. Ensuring that incomplete cases are re-assessed following receipt of further documentation.
• Handling of more complex queries and issues ensuring that they are dealt with in a timely manner.
• Deal promptly and courteously with oral and written complaints and non-standard correspondence/enquiries from Inspectors, Local Planning Authorities, Order Making Authorities, Agents, Appellants and interested parties by replying to or preparing a draft reply and any other tasks as required.
• Ensure cases are processed to achieve Ministerial and internal PEDW timeliness and quality targets.
• Maintaining accurate records of the progress of cases using the relevant database.
• Provide administrative support and cover for your team and other teams (as appropriate).
• Keep customers and other stakeholders up to date on the current status of the case and respond to any queries.
• Make decisions using desk instructions and guidance on matters such as validation, extending deadlines and accepting documents in a timely manner.
• Action FOI requests in line with Welsh Government and PEDW procedures.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR legislation, when you and the team are preparing all documents for publication to the PEDW Casework system and exchange with parties, in line with the legislation and internal guidelines. Ensure personal and organisational data is stored and managed in line with organisational policies and procedures.
• Promote the use of Welsh language services ensuring compliance with Welsh Language Standards.
• Where necessary, ensure time spent on casework is accurately recorded for re-charging purposes.
• Build and maintain effective and supportive relationships within teams, across PEDW and with internal and external stakeholders. Work together with others to assist the delivery of organisational strategic objectives.
• Share process improvements and efficiency ideas and solutions to enhance team and organisational performance.
• Listen and act upon feedback and take responsibility for self-development.
• Be a role model for Welsh Government and PEDW core values and behaviours.
• Promote and deliver excellent customer service.

This is a great opportunity to make an impact by bringing your valuable skills to PEDW to help improve planning outcomes in Wales and help us to enable sustainable development. The post holder will have a varied and interesting role working with a committed team across all areas of PEDW’s planning and environmental casework across Wales.

08/06/2023, 16:00

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:

• UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

• Nationality rules – GOV.UK

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

• 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.

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)

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.