Background to Leicester and the Council
The City of Leicester:
The city has a population of approximately 290,000, of whom more than a third are of ethnic minority origin. The city is situated in a predominately rural county. There is easy access to motorways and it is on main line and cross country rail routes. House prices are reasonable compared with most parts of the country and many properties are available in both rural and urban surroundings. The city attracts musical, artistic and sporting events to suit all tastes.
Leicester City Council:
The city council is one of the unitary authorities formed following a review of local government administration in the early to mid 1990s. With effect from 1 April 1997, Leicester City Council became responsible for the provision of all local government services within the city boundaries, including social services, education and libraries. There are 54 councillors who work through Cabinet, a series of scrutiny and regulation committees and full council meetings.
Departmental Structure:
There are four departments in the council. They are Children & Young People's Services, Adult & Housing, Regeneration & Culture and Resources.
Employment Equality:
Leicester City Council is committed to applying positive action and promoting best employment equality practice in its efforts to eliminate discrimination and create working environments where all are treated fairly and with respect.
The council will take action to ensure that anyone who works for the council or who applies for a job with the council will not be treated less favourably than anyone else because, for example, of their colour, race, ethnic or national origin, religion, gender, responsibility for dependants, disability, age. marital status, sexuality or trade union activity.
This statement is applicable to all policy and practice associated with the council’s role as an employer. Most particularly it applies to recruitment and selection, employee training and development and promotion.
The council recognises that individuals or groups who face discrimination on the grounds of more than one of the above characteristics can potentially experience greater disadvantage.
Access:
Access to council buildings is being improved but still varies from building to building. There is level access to New Walk Centre, with lifts available to all floors and automatic doors to many areas.
Energy Conservation:
The city council is fully committed to all forms of energy conservation, employees are expected to have regard to this commitment when performing their official duties and when attending at their place of work.
Merit:
Under the Local Government and Housing Act, 1989, all appointments made by Leicester City Council must be “on merit”.
All recruitment decisions taken by Leicester City Council will comply with this requirement, and the way we go about appointing people is designed to help us do this.
Work Permits:
Under the Asylum & Immigration Act, 1996, it is a criminal offence to employ anyone who is not entitled to live or work in the United Kingdom. Applicants can expect Leicester City Council to ask for proof of this before any offer of appointment is confirmed.
Police Checks:
Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, 1974 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 1986, there are a number of cases where convictions, although ‘spent’, can be taken into account.
If you apply for such a post, a note to this effect will be found on the bottom of the job description. Leicester City Council will make appropriate checks before any offer of appointment is confirmed.
Protection of Children:
For posts where an employee will be working directly with children, or where there is significant, unsupervised access to children, Leicester City Council will make checks against the Police Criminal Records System, the Department of Health Consultancy Service Index and the Department for Education & Skills List 99, before any offer of appointment is confirmed.
References will normally be taken up for a candidate invited for interview unless the application form has been clearly marked to show that an approach should not be made at that time.
For candidates from within the city council, a reference will be automatically taken up from the Corporate Director of the department in which they currently work when they are invited for interview, and former employees of the council can expect that a reference will automatically be taken up from their previous department.
Medical Assessment: Any offer of appointment will be subject to a satisfactory medical assessment, which may include a medical examination in certain cases.
Politically Restricted Posts:
Posts may be politically restricted under the Local Government and Housing Act, 1989. This will apply only to all Corporate Director and Service Director posts and certain other senior or policy jobs.
Probation:
New entrants to local government will be subject to a six months probationary period on the completion of which, subject to satisfactory service, the appointment will be confirmed.
Interview Expenses:
The city council will pay certain expenses associated with attending the interview.
Salary Scales and Conditions of Service:
These are laid down by the appropriate national negotiating body, as adopted by the city council.
Employee Code:
All employees of Leicester City Council are subject to its ‘Employee Code’. This lays out the council’s expectations of all of its employees particularly in relation to the conduct of their duties or anything that may have a bearing on their work for the council.
Payment of salary is either weekly or monthly, in arrears, to your bank or building society account.
Pension:
Under various Local Government Acts, employees may joint the council’s pension scheme.
Smoking Policy
A new Smoking Policy at Appendix M1 will come into effect as at 1st January 2007.
The city has a population of approximately 290,000, of whom more than a third are of ethnic minority origin. The city is situated in a predominately rural county. There is easy access to motorways and it is on main line and cross country rail routes. House prices are reasonable compared with most parts of the country and many properties are available in both rural and urban surroundings. The city attracts musical, artistic and sporting events to suit all tastes.
Leicester City Council:
The city council is one of the unitary authorities formed following a review of local government administration in the early to mid 1990s. With effect from 1 April 1997, Leicester City Council became responsible for the provision of all local government services within the city boundaries, including social services, education and libraries. There are 54 councillors who work through Cabinet, a series of scrutiny and regulation committees and full council meetings.
Departmental Structure:
There are four departments in the council. They are Children & Young People's Services, Adult & Housing, Regeneration & Culture and Resources.
Employment Equality:
Leicester City Council is committed to applying positive action and promoting best employment equality practice in its efforts to eliminate discrimination and create working environments where all are treated fairly and with respect.
The council will take action to ensure that anyone who works for the council or who applies for a job with the council will not be treated less favourably than anyone else because, for example, of their colour, race, ethnic or national origin, religion, gender, responsibility for dependants, disability, age. marital status, sexuality or trade union activity.
This statement is applicable to all policy and practice associated with the council’s role as an employer. Most particularly it applies to recruitment and selection, employee training and development and promotion.
The council recognises that individuals or groups who face discrimination on the grounds of more than one of the above characteristics can potentially experience greater disadvantage.
Access:
Access to council buildings is being improved but still varies from building to building. There is level access to New Walk Centre, with lifts available to all floors and automatic doors to many areas.
Energy Conservation:
The city council is fully committed to all forms of energy conservation, employees are expected to have regard to this commitment when performing their official duties and when attending at their place of work.
Merit:
Under the Local Government and Housing Act, 1989, all appointments made by Leicester City Council must be “on merit”.
All recruitment decisions taken by Leicester City Council will comply with this requirement, and the way we go about appointing people is designed to help us do this.
Work Permits:
Under the Asylum & Immigration Act, 1996, it is a criminal offence to employ anyone who is not entitled to live or work in the United Kingdom. Applicants can expect Leicester City Council to ask for proof of this before any offer of appointment is confirmed.
Police Checks:
Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, 1974 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 1986, there are a number of cases where convictions, although ‘spent’, can be taken into account.
If you apply for such a post, a note to this effect will be found on the bottom of the job description. Leicester City Council will make appropriate checks before any offer of appointment is confirmed.
Protection of Children:
For posts where an employee will be working directly with children, or where there is significant, unsupervised access to children, Leicester City Council will make checks against the Police Criminal Records System, the Department of Health Consultancy Service Index and the Department for Education & Skills List 99, before any offer of appointment is confirmed.
References will normally be taken up for a candidate invited for interview unless the application form has been clearly marked to show that an approach should not be made at that time.
For candidates from within the city council, a reference will be automatically taken up from the Corporate Director of the department in which they currently work when they are invited for interview, and former employees of the council can expect that a reference will automatically be taken up from their previous department.
Medical Assessment: Any offer of appointment will be subject to a satisfactory medical assessment, which may include a medical examination in certain cases.
Politically Restricted Posts:
Posts may be politically restricted under the Local Government and Housing Act, 1989. This will apply only to all Corporate Director and Service Director posts and certain other senior or policy jobs.
Probation:
New entrants to local government will be subject to a six months probationary period on the completion of which, subject to satisfactory service, the appointment will be confirmed.
Interview Expenses:
The city council will pay certain expenses associated with attending the interview.
Salary Scales and Conditions of Service:
These are laid down by the appropriate national negotiating body, as adopted by the city council.
Employee Code:
All employees of Leicester City Council are subject to its ‘Employee Code’. This lays out the council’s expectations of all of its employees particularly in relation to the conduct of their duties or anything that may have a bearing on their work for the council.
Payment of salary is either weekly or monthly, in arrears, to your bank or building society account.
Pension:
Under various Local Government Acts, employees may joint the council’s pension scheme.
Smoking Policy
A new Smoking Policy at Appendix M1 will come into effect as at 1st January 2007.