Cambridgeshire County Council Graduate Scheme

Dear Kirsty,

Thank you for your request which has been dealt with in line with the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

1. How do you recruit your graduates? Specifically what documents you use
when assessing graduates and their suitability for the scheme. What are
you looking for and how do you assess this? Please attach these documents
if possible
Answer: Applicants for the graduate scheme are initially shortlisted
against the person specification which is on our website at
[1]http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/jobs/gr.... The shortlist
is then invited to an assessment centre where they undertake some formal
literacy and numeracy testing as well as preparing a report on a typical
local government subject (this year it was travel to work plans) and then
engage in a group discussion which is observed by three managers from the
Council. The discussion culminates in a presentation of the group's
findings to the observers.

The final stage of the selection process is a presentation and interview
for the applicants who make it through the assessment centre. The
presentation will be to a panel of officers who are involved in the
graduate scheme, plus some current and ex-graduate trainees. The formal
interview is with a Corporate Director and two Heads of Service of the
General Management scheme and with appropriate professionals for the other
schemes.

The documents used are the person specification (see the link above) and
the numeracy and literacy testing booklets from an accredited provider.

2. How do you choose the placements of graduates? Do you assess their
suitability for available roles or have you a pool of roles which are
filled by graduates? What level of management is involved in choosing
these roles, and what process is gone through?
Answer: Placements on the General Management Graduate Trainee scheme
result from a bidding process where all areas of the Council can submit a
bid for a graduate. The placements are normally 4 months long so
graduates undertake a variety of work during their traineeship. The other
schemes operated by the Council concentrate on the areas of their
profession (eg the Finance Graduate Trainees).

Bids made for graduates are assessed in terms of the importance of the
role to the Council's priorities as well as their suitability for
developing graduates. Within the General Management scheme the placements
are agreed with the Head of Corporate Development and the Director of
People, Policy and Law.

3. What kinds of support process do you offer your graduates? Do you offer
a buddying system or some other form of mentoring? Do you use any specific
forms of documentation around this? Is so would it be possible to see
these documents?
Answer: Mentoring is available to all employees of the Council and some
graduates do take up this option. An informal buddying system is in place
with previous graduate trainees. The General Management Graduates also
have monthly meetings with their scheme manager as well as regular
meetings with their placement manager.

4. What kind of review processes do your graduates go through and do they
have the opportunity to increase their salaries? What are the processes
for this?
Answer: Salaries are increased according the terms of the scheme. Some
increases are automatic and some are based on how well the graduate has
developed and performed. Graduate development is reviewed with the
graduate themselves as well as obtaining feedback from their peers and
placement managers. This is carried out in accordance with the Council's
overall appraisal processes for employees.

5. What kinds of opportunities are graduates offered in terms of training
and education? (ECDL/Prince 2?). Is this training offered internally or
externally?
Answer: This does depend on the scheme they are on. Most graduates will
have the opportunity for a formal qualification, this could be an
accountancy qualification or a diploma in management or perhaps leadership
in the public sector. Other training is agreed as part of the individual
graduate's development. This could include Prince 2 if the graduate
needed that level of project expertise. ECDL is available to all Council
employees although it is not usually taken up by graduates as they already
have that level of IT ability.

6. What extended package do you offer graduates? For example are lap tops
offered? pensions/ blackberry etc.
Answer; Graduates are employed on the Council's usual terms and conditions
and therefore qualify for pension in the same way as other employees.
Items of equipment will be issued depending on what they need to carry out
their placements.

7. Specifically where have graduates gone after the scheme. Do they go
into a job at a similar grade level as the scheme or higher up/lower down?
Answer: The General Management Graduate Trainees typically move up a
number of grades into a management level post. The other schemes have a
distinct progression into a professional grade.

I hope this answers your enquiry. If you have any further questions,
please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision,
you should write to Nicola Graves, Customer Service Manager c/o
Information Governance Team, Box RES1405, Shire Hall, Cambridge CB3 0AP
within 40 days of the date of this letter.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the
ICO will not undertake a review or make a decision on a request unless you
have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Council. The
Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Regards,
Clare Jenner
Cambridgeshire County Council
01223-699241

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References

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1. http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/jobs/gr...