The Application Process

Thank you for your interest in joining us. We have provided the following guidance to help you to complete your application form. We are a Disability confident employer so if you require reasonable adjustments with your application please contact [email protected].

It is essential you complete your application accurately, with as much relevant information as possible please read the advert, job description, person specification and visit our college publications page which has useful documents which may help your application.

The online application form is the first part of the selection process at Gateshead College and it will be used to short list for the next stage.

Please ensure that you complete all sections of the application form fully and emphasise those areas where you believe you meet the essential requirements of the role, relating specifically to the job description and person specification.

Acknowledgement of your online application will be sent to you automatically by email once you have submitted your completed form.

All updates of the progress of your application will be via email, therefore we recommend that you keep a regular check on your emails.

Closing times, unless otherwise specified within the advert, are at midnight on the closing date. Any applications received after the closing date cannot be considered.

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

We are committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all vulnerable groups (children and adults). As part of this commitment the College ensures that key Human Resource processes are maintained in line with the Governments Keeping Children Safe in Education guidelines, notably recruitment decisions, are well informed through a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about applicants and new members of staff or volunteers.

Job Description and Person Specification

The job description which is attached to the job advert outlines the duties and responsibilities of the post. You should read this carefully to ensure you understand what the job entails.

The Person Specification describes the range of skills, experience, knowledge and personal attributes that are required of the post holder. The essential requirements indicate the minimum requirements which an individual must have in order to carry out the duties of the post effectively.

The desirable requirements indicate additional criteria that would assist the post holder in performing the duties and responsibilities of the post but are not regarded as essential at the appointment stage.

Completing Your Application

We do not accept CVs as a form of application, so please apply for our vacant posts using the application process outlined below and accessible through our website.

You must ensure you complete all sections of the application form in full where possible.

Equal Opportunities and Recruitment Monitoring

We collect details of all applicant’s equality and diversity information. This information is collected to fulfil our statutory obligation and is used for monitoring purposes only.

Restrictions and Safeguarding

Please ensure that you thoroughly read and understand the declarations before you accept them.

If you have lived or worked overseas for more than 6 months in the last 5 years, you may be asked to obtain an overseas police check. Please provide this information in the Personal Details section.

Education and Qualifications

Please provide the details of your qualifications, relevant to the post, listing your most secondary (GCSE’s) first. Please then enter details of your Further/Higher education qualifications. You will be required to provide proof of any essential qualifications to the role if you are successful for an interview, and subsequently to HR if appointed.

You should also give details of any formal or practical training courses you have attended that are relevant to the post you are applying for.

Please provide details of your memberships of any professional bodies.

Employment History

You should provide details of each job that you have been employed in or volunteering work that you have undertaken.

Please provide details of the responsibilities you held in the role as well as dates you were employed, listing your most recent employment first and then working your way back from there.

You should also provide details of any gaps in your employment history in the box provided and be prepared to discuss these if invited to an interview.

Supporting Information and Supporting Statement

Please answer the questions in these sections to tell us more about your greatest achievements, contributions, and really sell yourself and tell us why you would like to work for Gateshead College and join our team.

You should also refer back to the job description and person specification to detail how you meet each criterion, giving examples where possible.

References

You should provide reference details that will cover at least your last two employments. Please ensure you have the permission of the referee before submitting your application as we may take up references prior to interview. You can request that we do not contact your referee’s prior to interview but please note this may slow down the recruitment process if appointed.

A minimum of two referees is required and they must not be personal friends or members of your family.

Please ensure that you have the full contact details for the referees that you supply, including an email address and a contact number.

What Happens Next?

Short listing is carried out by the recruiting manager, based on an assessment of the information you have provided on your application form against the essential criteria defined on the person specification. Only those candidates who most fully meet the essential criteria for the job will be short listed. Where we have vacancies with a high volume of applications, we reserve the right to utilise desirable criteria in addition to the essential for short listing purposes.

Candidates who are successful at short listing stage will be invited to an interview.

We are committed to the employment of disabled people. To demonstrate this commitment, we use the disability confident scheme which guarantees an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria as outlined in the person specification.

In addition to an interview you may be asked to undertake an assessment during your selection process, you will be told beforehand if there will be an assessment involved. It may be:

• Delivering a micro-teach to the interview panel
• Delivering a presentation to the interview panel
• In-tray exercise
• Numeracy/Literacy/ICT tests
• Group tasks

Offers of Employment

Offers of appointment are conditional upon receipt of the checks listed below:

Satisfactory References (see guidance above)

Health Assessment:

You will be required to complete a medical questionnaire which will be screened by occupational health (OH) to assess your suitability for the post. OH will determine whether any reasonable adjustments should be made to assist you at work, which may include an assessment by Health and Safety. In some cases, a medical examination may be required.

DBS Disclosure clearance:

Under the Police Act 1997 the College is authorised to gain access to criminal records information from the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS). You will be asked to complete an enhanced Disclosure Application form and for those applicants who have lived or work overseas a certificate of good conduct should also be obtained from the country of residence.

You will be unable to start your new post until your DBS application is under way and you have signed a Safeguarding Risk Assessment specific to you and your new role. This risk assessment will be in place until a DBS certificate has been sent to your home address.

Proof of qualifications:

You will be required to provide your original certificates of relevant qualifications.

Evidence of eligibility to work in the UK:

In accordance with the requirements of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 you will be required to produce evidence of your identity and eligibility to work in the UK.

Further Advice

If you need to contact us regarding your application please email [email protected] or call 0191 490 2240 or 0191 426 4338.

Good luck with your application.