N o rt h a m p t o n s h i re Co u n t y Co u n c i l
Ms Charlotte R Quinn
Please ask for:
Rubertine Carmen Allen
Tel:
01604 236328
Our ref:
FR1355/RCA
Request-13425-
Your ref:
Date:
15th July 2009
[email address]
Dear Ms Quinn
Freedom of Information Request FR1355
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 16th June 2009. Your request
has been dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act.
Your request is detailed below in italics.
information you hold on your policies, procedures and guidance for
the recruitment of Social Workers. Including how, when and where
job adverts are placed, how long they placed and after the closing
date how long the interview process should take. How the
shortlisting of job applications is undertaken and recorded. How
long you retain copies of job applications and related information.
How shortlisted candidates should be interviewed and what methods
of assessment and interview are used. How interview questions,
assessments and case study exercises are devised and formulated.
Copies and details of any guidance and training interviewers are
given on how to conduct interviews, record and evaluate how
interviewees respond to questions, complete assessments or case
study exercises. What procedures should be followed to inform
candidates of the outcome of any interview/assessment. What
criteria is used to make one candidate more successful or
employable than any other.
Freedom of Information & Data Protection
Northamptonshire County Council
County Hall, PO BOX 136
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE NN1 1AT
w. www.northamptonshire.gov.uk
t. 01604 236328
f. 01604 237004
e. [email address]
Our Response
I have been supplied the following information in response to your Freedom of Information
request from Health and Adult social Services which reads:-
Under the Freedom of Information Act please email me a copy of any information you hold
on your policies, procedures and guidance for the recruitment of Social Workers.
Answer: Please see attached HR Recruitment policy. We recruit Social Workers in
line with this policy.
Including how, when and where job adverts are placed,
Answer: Posts are advertised internally in the first instance. If the post remains
vacancy it is advertised on the NCC internet (jobs go public) and usually in external
media such as Community Care or the Guardian.
how long they placed and after the closing date how long the interview process should
take.
Answer: Ideally within 1-2 weeks but we have panels of interviewer so sometimes
there can be a delay to accommodate diaries.
How the shortlisting of job applications is undertaken and recorded.
Answer: There is a standard shortlisting recording document – candidates are
shortlisted against the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification
How long you retain copies of job applications and related information.
Answer: Our policy required documents to be retained for at least 12 months
How shortlisted candidates should be interviewed and what methods of assessment and
interview are used.
Answer: Panel Interview of at least 2 members. In addition a short presentation or
written piece on a current topical subject. For very senior posts a stakeholders
panel may also be arranged.
How interview questions,
assessments and case study exercises are devised and formulated.
Answer: There is a standard format for the interview. No case studies are used but
presentations/written piece will be evaluated by the panel using their professional
judgement.
Copies and details of any guidance and training interviewers are given on how to conduct
interviews, record and evaluate how interviewees respond to questions, complete
assessments or case study exercises.
Answer: The Council have a one day recruitment and selection training course and
it is normal practice that at least one panel member has been on this.
What procedures should be followed to inform candidates of the outcome of any
interview/assessment.
Answer: See HR policy
What criteria is used to make one candidate more successful or employable than any
other.
Answer: See HR policy
If you require any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact our department.
The disclosure to you of the enclosed information does not give you a right to reproduce or
publish such information without the express permission of the County Council or any
other owners of the copyright therein.
If you are unhappy with my response, you can ask the Council to review it. To do this you
write to the address below:
Paul Edwards
Head of Business Intelligence and Performance
Northamptonshire County Council
PO Box 93
County Hall
Northampton
NN1 1AN
If our internal review does not resolve the issue to your complete satisfaction, you have the
right to apply to the information Commissioner for a decision at the following address:
Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Or, if you have any complaints in respect of your information request please complete the
on-line comments form that can be found a
t www.northamptonshire.gov.uk, along with a
full set of guidance.
Yours sincerely
Miss Rubertine Carmen Allen
Freedom of Information / Data Protection Officer
Legal and Democratic Services
Enc.
