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Your application

An application form is an opportunity to showcase your skills and experience to give yourself the best chance of being shortlisted for our vacancies. For some of our roles we also accept CVs.

Whichever method you're using to apply, make sure you tailor your application to suit the job you're applying and give yourself the best chance possible of being shortlisted.


Search for jobs

Our managers shortlist candidates for interview by comparing the skills and experience within a candidate's application form or CV to the required skills and experience within the job and person profile associated with the vacancy.

All of the job adverts on our jobs website will have the associated job and person profile attached alongside the advert, so make sure you tailor your application to suit the job you're applying for.

Remember to complete all parts of the application form. If you think some parts don't apply, please write 'not applicable' or 'N/A' in the spaces provided.

We'll not make any assumptions about you or your skills and abilities, so if you don't tell us about them, we won't know. If you think a covering letter would support your application, then please attach one.

Don't just focus on core responsibilities - highlight achievements, speak about projects you've worked on or anything else relevant that you feel will support your application.

We don't use any keyword searching software to support us with our shortlisting. If you submit and application then we guarantee it'll be read in full by one of our managers.

If you're submitting an offline application, remember to save a copy of your application before you submit it and make sure your application gets to us by the closing date. Applications received after the closing date will not normally be considered.

Referees

You can choose for us not to contact your referees until you've accepted an offer of employment with us, so please don't let this stop you from applying.

If possible, please provide an email address for your referees as this will speed things up if you're successful.

Types of application form

There are 4 different application forms, depending on the type of job you're applying for. Many of our jobs require you to fill in the standard version.

But there are some jobs, for example, cleaners, caretakers, catering assistants, care workers, school crossing patrols, and road workers, which use a shortened form.

Teaching posts also have their own version of the form.

Most apprenticeships use the apprenticeship form.

CVs

Our hiring managers occasionally will choose to accept CVs for roles which are not subject to safer recruitment procedures.

You may have a CV ready and good to go. But it's still really important to make sure that the skills and experience within the CV are in-line with the requirements of the vacancy you're applying for in the job and person profile.

Medical questionnaire

To ensure you're safe and healthy at work, all our appointments are subject to medical clearance via our in-house occupational health team. If you're successful at interview, you'll be asked to complete a confidential medical questionnaire.

Right to work in the UK

The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 requires that we check your documents to establish your eligibility to work in the UK before you start work with us.

We ask all candidates to bring proof of their right to work to their interview whether it is taking place in person or via a video call. If you're successful at interview, copies of this documentation will be kept on your personnel file. Please see the guidance attached to this page.

Checking of right to work documentation is lawfully acceptable if carried out via video call until 30 September 2022.

Disclosure of criminal records

If you're the successful candidate for one of our eligible jobs, we'll ask you to give us details of any criminal convictions or investigations which involve you.

We'll only take them into account if we consider them relevant to the job you've applied for. So having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent you from obtaining a post.

Jobs which have access to children or vulnerable adults require the post holder to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, the results of which will be discussed with the recruiting manager.

If you've anything to declare, you should inform the recruiting manager who will discuss the issue with you. A senior manager will be required to make the final decision on whether the appointment can go ahead. All cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided.

A record of the decision-making process will be held on your personal file for the duration of your employment and treated in the strictest confidence.

How you can help us

Applying for a job can sometimes be a long process and if you're the successful candidate we are keen to enable you to take up your post as soon as possible.

We ask you to respond to us as soon as you can, for example if you need to fill in a DBS application, or arrange a medical examination, and when signing and returning your contract.