Vacancy -- Appointment of Chair - Interim Youth Work Board

The Interim Youth Work Board is being set up to take forward a commitment announced by the Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning in her Written Statement on ‘Youth Work in Wales: moving forward together’ published 21 March 2018.

Role of the Board

The Board will focus on youth work provision. In particular the Board’s remit will include:

• Advise on the development, implementation and monitoring of the new youth work strategy to ensure young people in Wales are able to access the services they are entitled to.
  
  
• Advise on the implementation of recommendations from the Children and Young People & Education Committee ‘snapshot’ Inquiry into Youth Work (July 2016) and other reviews and evaluations as appropriate.
  
  
• Support and strengthen partnership working between the statutory and voluntary sector
  
  
• Oversee the sufficiency of services in each local authority area, including delivery of services through the medium of Welsh
  
  
• Advise on the continued appropriateness and distribution of grants to deliver the services required
  
  
• Consider the European Policy around youth work in particular in relation to Erasmus+
  
  
• Commissioning research into youth work in Wales
  
  
• Provide clear strategic advice to the Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning
  
  
• Provide constructive challenge and scrutiny of the Welsh Government’s policies and proposals for the provision and delivery of youth work services ensuring young people are central to the advice/decisions.

 

When established the Board will also advise the Minister on the implementation of the recommendations from Our Future: the independent Review of Extending Entitlement by Margaret Jervis MBE DL.

 

This is a new Board. The role of the Chair is to:
 

• Support the appointment of Board members
   

• Ensure children and young people are at the heart of the work of the Board
   

• Provide strategic direction and confident, clear leadership to the Board. Supporting and encouraging members to play an active role on the Board, within the Nolan’s Seven Principles of Public Life
   

• Develop a clear work plan for the Board to achieve the role of the Board as set out by the Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning
   

• Be accountable to the Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning for the delivery of the Board’s performance and delivery of targets/work plan
   

• Ensure the Board as a whole plays a full and constructive part in the development and roll out of the new Youth Work Strategy for Wales

 

The Welsh Government acknowledges the importance of developing and growing bilingual capabilities in public appointments in Wales, and welcomes applications from candidates who demonstrate their capability to work in both English and Welsh.  The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the recruiting body of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

To be considered, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the qualities, skills and experience to meet all the essential criteria for appointment.
 

Essential

• Broad expertise in and understanding of statutory and voluntary youth work provision at community, local, regional and national levels. Including the challenges facing the youth work sector;
  
  
• A clear understanding of the importance of the Welsh language to the delivery of youth work provision in a bilingual Wales;
  
  
• Experience of chairing a board or committee as well as clear understanding of and commitment to Nolan’s ‘Seven Principles of Public Life’;
  
  
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
  
  
• An outstanding record of achievement in your field demonstrating leadership and influencing skills;
  
  
• A proven track record in building highly effective relationships with a range of stakeholders including Ministers, board/committee members, young people and public and community/voluntary sectors; 
  
  
• Proven ability to make sound judgements in strategic decision making;
  
  
• A clear understanding and commitment to equality issues and challenging discriminatory practices.
  
  

Desirable

• Welsh Language skills: the ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable. All candidates should demonstrate a positive awareness and understanding of the importance of the Welsh language in a bilingual Wales with an appreciation of the Welsh Government's policies and strategies for the language.  

02/05/2018, 23:55

Terms of appointment
The appointment will be made by the Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning.

Duration of appointment
The appointment will be for a period of 2 years. The appointment can be terminated early by either party by giving one month’s notice in writing.

Time Commitment
A minimum of 12 days per year, which will include: 

• The Chair will be expected to meet the Minister 2/3 times a year as a minimum.
• The Board will meet at least four times a year; however more regular meetings are likely to be needed in the first year for recruitment and policy consideration reasons.
• Attendance at key events, as agreed with Welsh Government officials’ e.g. annual Youth Work Week Showcase event/s and national youth work conference.
  
  

Assistance for Disabled Members
Where appropriate all reasonable adjustments will be made to enable members to effectively carry out their duties.
 

Eligibility 
You will be expected to demonstrate high standards of corporate and personal conduct. All successful candidates will be asked to subscribe to the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies.

In particular applicants are required to declare whether they are aware of anything in their private or professional lives that would be an embarrassment to themselves or to Welsh Government if it became known in the event of appointment.

You will be asked to declare any private interests which may, or may be perceived to, conflict with the role and responsibilities as Chair of the Interim Youth Work Board, including any business interests and positions of authority outside of the role in the Interim Youth Work Board.

Applicants should also note that being Chair of the Interim Youth Work Board is a disqualifying post for membership of the National Assembly for Wales under the National Assembly for Wales (Disqualification) order 2015. The National Assembly for Wales (Disqualification) Order 2015

Any conflicts of interest will be explored at interview.  If appointed, you will also be required to declare these interests on a register which is available to the public.

 

Security clearance
Before being confirmed in post the appointee will need a Disclosure and Barring Service check (which replaces CRB checks).  More information is available here on DBS checks.

 

Standards in public life
You will be expected to demonstrate high standards of corporate and personal conduct. All successful candidates will be asked to subscribe to the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies; you can access this document at:

http://www.bl.uk/aboutus/governance/blboard/Board%20Code%20of%20Practice%202011.pdf.

Diversity Statement

The Welsh Government believes that public bodies should have board members who reflect Welsh society - people from all walks of life - to help them understand people's needs and make better decisions.  This is why the Welsh Government is encouraging a wide and diverse range of individuals to apply for appointments to public bodies.  Applications are particularly welcome from all under-represented groups including women, people under 30 years of age, black, Asian and minority ethnic people, disabled people, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. 

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - Positive about Disability

The Welsh Government operates a Positive about Disabled People scheme and welcome applications from people with disabilities. The scheme guarantees an interview to disabled people if they meet the minimum criteria for the post.  The application form also enables you to detail any specific needs or equipment that you may need if invited to attend an interview.

Contacts:

For further information regarding the selection process, please contact: 

Shared Service Helpdesk

Tel: 03000 255454

Email: PublicAppointments@gov.wales. 

To apply for this role, click on the ‘Apply’ button below. The first time you apply for a post, you will need to complete a registration form for the Welsh Government’s online application system.  You will only need to register once, and you will be able to keep yourself updated on the progress of your application, and any other applications you make, via your registered account.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll be able to access the application form.  To apply you will need to submit two supporting documents. The first, a document outlining how your knowledge, skills and experiences meet the criteria for the role as outlined in the information for candidates.  This document should be no more than 2 sides of A4.  Your application may be rejected if you exceed this limit.  The second document is a full, up to date CV.  The two documents should be uploaded to the ‘Reasons for applying’ section of the online application form.

In your application, you will also be asked to provide details of any activities which have helped you to develop skills that would be useful in a public appointment role, and list the organisations for which you undertook these activities.  We also need to know about any political activity that you’ve undertaken over the last 5 years. 

It is recommended that you register for an account and access the application form as soon as possible so that you see how the application form is structured, before starting to prepare your evidence.  You don’t have to complete the application form all in one go.  You can save your responses, and log in and out as required, until you’re ready to submit – just follow the guidance in the application form.

If you’d like to apply for this opportunity 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.

If you need any further assistance in applying for this role, please contact the Welsh Government’s Corporate Shared Service Centre Helpdesk on 03000 255454 or email PublicAppointments@gov.wales.

For further information about Public Appointments in Wales, please visit www.gov.wales/publicappointments.