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City of Durham - Working for us
The City of Durham is a thriving cultural and economic centre and a vital part of a re-emerging North East region. At the Citys heart are the stunning, iconic monuments of Durham Castle and snow forming the World Heritage Site. It is founded on a thousand years of inspiration; cultural, spiritual, symbolic and creative, that still influences the lives of Durhams residents, businesses and visitors today.
The City of Durham Council is a district authority in the North East of England within the County of Durham. Our vision for the City and people of Durham is embodied in our mission statement, which demonstrates a clear intent of purpose:
"To improve the quality of life for all people who live and work in or visit, the City of Durham Council District"
Our Employer Values
In achieving quality public services for the people of Durham we firmly believe people are our most valuable asset. The council aims to create a culture in which they feel motivated and fairly rewarded and work together to create a modern local authority.
Our organisational success is dependent upon the people we employ
The delivery of consistent and effective service improvement within the Authority relies on the skills and capacity of the people who work for the City of Durham Council. Therefore, training and development continues to be at the core of the organisation to ensure that we build a skilled, high-performing workforce capable and willing to deliver demanding public services.
The Investors in People Standard provides a framework that helps us to improve performance and realise objectives through the effective management and development of our employees.
The Authority first received recognition for Investors in People in April 2002 and we have made significant process in terms of supporting and valuing staff through the development of the PDR process, team meetings, internal communication and informal/formal training. The Authority was re-evaluated against the standard in November 2005, and received positive feedback
Organisational Development Plan
Every employee has an annual Personal Development Review, which enables you and your manager to openly discuss your performance over the previous year, future targets and training requirements. Where you have identified a training and development need through this mechanism and these needs can be met through the Organisational Development Plan you will be allocated a place on the relevant course(s).
Post Entry Training
The Authority is committed to developing its employees to ensure that they have the necessary skills to carry out their role.
Where a training need has been identified by you and your Manager, which is related to your role, there is an opportunity to apply for funding to undertake an externally provided course, enabling you to gain a qualification upon completion.
Management Development Strategy
The Authority has adopted a Management Development Strategy to deliver a rolling programme of Management Development provision. The aim is to provide a modern professional approach to management and leadership within the Authority.
A key element is a joint initiative with the University of Northumbria to run a tailored Postgraduate Certificate in Public Sector Management Development in Durham.
Work/Home Life Balance
A balanced home/work life is acknowledged as a significant contribution to employee performance and contribution. The Authority offers a comprehensive range of flexible working options such as the right to request job share, part time working and flexible working patterns; further details of these can be seen by downloading the City of Durham Family Friendly policy - 246Kb Ms Word Doc.
Many of our employees also benefit from our Flexitime Scheme, which enables staff to vary their start and finish times, vary their lunch time, and use extra hours to take days and half days leave. The job profile relating to the post you want to apply for will indicate if it attracts flexitime. Further details of this scheme can be seen by downloading the City of Durham Flexible Working Hours policy - 60Kb Ms Word Doc.
Your health is important to us
The Authority is committed to the health and wellbeing of its employees and so have a number of activities to assist in this cause.
The Authority has an Occupational Health Service, which is provided by the City of Sunderland. They currently undertake activities such as Health Surveillance, Vision Screening, and assistance in health promotion, medical workstation assessments and actual medical opinions.
The Eye Sight Testing Scheme applies to all employees who are identified as being a DSE user. All users are entitled to a paid eyesight test by the Council’s designated optometrist.
To assist the Sickness Absence Procedure in retaining or assisting employees back into the workplace, we offer both Counselling and Physiotherapy services provided by external providers.
We gained the Working for Health Bronze Award from the Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust in September 2005 and the Silver Award in January 2007. We are working towards the Gold Award and hope to have been awarded this by September 2007. We will be the first Local Authority in the North East of England to have gained the Gold Award.
We operate a strict No Smoking Policy in any Council office, building or vehicle. We also actively support individuals’ personal efforts to beat the smoking habit and smoking cessation courses can be made available at request. For more details of this scheme, Download the City of Durham No Smoking Policy - 50Kb Ms Word Doc.
We offer highly competitive salary rates with excellent Terms and conditions
The applicable grade and salary range is for the post you want to apply for is linked to the job profile. Progression within the salary range is made via annual increments.
Relocation expenses may be applicable to some posts and further details of this can be provided on request.
Working hours
There is a Flexitime Scheme, which enables staff to vary their start and finish times, vary their lunchtime, and use extra hours to take days and half days leave. The job profile relating to the post you want to apply for will indicate if it attracts flexitime.
Jobs that do not offer access to the flexitime scheme normally work a five-day week of 37 hours excluding lunch hours, Monday to Friday. Normal office hours are8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30 am to 4.30 pm on Fridays.
Certain positions within the Authority do require shift working and in these cases appropriate shift allowance and weekend enhancement payments will be made.
There may also be scope for part- time working within these hours, salary pro rata.
Holidays
The annual leave entitlement is 29.5 days. There is an entitlement to an additional 5 days annual leave after 5 years continuous service.
Part time employees receive a pro rata holiday entitlement
Pension
Upon appointment you will automatically be entered into the Durham County Council Local Government Pension Scheme (unless you indicate otherwise). Contributions are payable at 6% with the option of increasing this contribution if you wish. The scheme is very attractive and further details are available from the Pensions Group, Durham county Council, County Hall, Durham. Telephone 0191 383 3948
Union Membership
All employees are encouraged to join a recognised Trade Union
Probationary Period
Contracts of employment are confirmed following a six month probation period starting from the confirmed date of permanent employment. Within the role your performance, attendance and conduct will be continuously monitored by your line manager and also reviewed within your annual staff report. There are initial reviews at three and five months.
Remember we want you to be successful and will give you every opportunity and support to achieve. However, The Council reserves the right to extend the probationary period and delay incremental progression, or terminate the employment, if performance is not satisfactory.
Eligibility to apply
Anyone can apply for these positions provided you are either a British citizen, a national of a state within the European Economic Area or a Commonwealth citizen with no employment restrictions or time limit on your stay in the United Kingdom. Entry to the United Kingdom is controlled under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1998, 2004. Anyone who does not have a right of abode is subject to immigration control.
For these posts you must have no restrictions on your stay in the United Kingdom. When you attend for interview you will be required to present documented evidence of your right to work and stay indefinitely in the UK and appropriate identification and residency documents, The most usual is a valid passport and proof of address. Full details of the required document options will be provided with the invitation to attend interview.
Qualifications or Experience
The specific minimum qualifications, experience, competencies and criteria for the role are given in the Job Profile for the role you want to apply for.
You will need to provide us with as much information as possible on your application form about your experience and your competencies for the role. Competencies are the skills and abilities you have previously demonstrated to achieve results and we are particularly interested in how you describe these to us. For further guidance, please see our Interview tips.
You will be assessed for progression to interview on the information you provide on your application form. Evaluation will be against the minimum qualifications, experience and competencies required for the role, as outlined on the Job Profile. Always refer to the person specification and job role when completing your application form. Note: It is essential that you do not substitute a CV as a replacement for a fully completed application form as this will eliminate your application.
You will need to provide us with full and accurate details about your education and training, including Y.T. and apprenticeships, particularly grades achieved and, if appropriate membership details of any professional, technical or craft association. You will be required to provide proof of qualifications and will be requested to bring your original qualification certificates and documents to interview.
Referees, Disclosure and other checks
When completing your application form we want to know your full history without any gaps. Make sure you give details of your present or most recent post and include details of any previous posts, with the most recent first. Include temporary or holiday work, work experience and training schemes.
On your application form you will need to give the names, full addresses and contact details such as telephone numbers and email addresses of two persons that we can contact for references. One must be your present or most recent employer or if you have not been employed before, give the name, address and contact details of a Head Teacher or lecturer who knows you well enough to comment on your ability to do the job.
In the event you are successful through the recruitment and selection process we will contact you with a conditional offer of employment, and carryout your references and other employment check.
Certain positions will require a Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure as a condition of employment. This is to ensure the safety of all children and vulnerable adults within our care. Certain posts have been identified as requiring an Enhanced Disclosure and these are indicated on the Job Profile you are applying for.
Personal details may be checked against Local Authority Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit records for anti-fraud purposes
Other records held by the Council may also be checked.
The Local Government and Housing Act 1989 places a number of restrictions on posts which are "politically sensitive". This means that any person appointed to a post which falls within certain categories affected by the restrictions will not be able to be politically active. The job profile will tell you if the role you are interested in is politically restricted and there is further information in the Guidance notes.
Equal Opportunities
Durham City Council is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all staff. We do not discriminate on grounds of gender, ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, faith or any other factor irrelevant to a person’s work. Assessment for any purpose within the role is based entirely on the individual’s ability and suitability for the work. We are committed to providing staff of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to maximise their skills and achieve their potential. We encourage a diverse workforce and aim to provide a working environment where all staff at all levels are valued and respected, and where discrimination, bullying and harassment are not tolerated. We expect all our staff to play their part in supporting this aim.
Download the City of Durham Equal Opportunities Policy - 54Kb Ms Word Doc.
Map of local facilities in the City of Durham
Download the City of Durham Map - 250Kb Adobe Acrobat document.
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