Casework Officer
Planning Inspectorate
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 6th May 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
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Type of role
Operational Delivery
Planning
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Number of jobs available
Contents
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About the job
Job summary
These roles are within the Operational Delivery area of the Planning Inspectorate, dealing with a wide range of planning appeals, applications, local plans and major infrastructure projects.
If you have excellent administration and communication skills and like to make a difference in a customer focussed role then we have a job for you.
For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please see the information pack attached. You can also view our careers page at Civil Service Careers
Job description
We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated, and organised individuals with excellent customer service skills.
You will be passionate about putting people at the heart of your work and making sure that we are delivering a high-quality and customer-focussed service. You will be able to work to deadlines and manage your own workload as well as being a good team-player.
You will be computer literate with experience of using Outlook, Word and Excel and be able to adapt to new technology and business procedures and be someone who pro-actively helps others and provides constructive feedback. You will be willing to undertake regular learning and development opportunities. You will work closely with our Inspectors and other colleagues within the Inspectorate and be able to build effective working relationships.
In return The Planning Inspectorate will provide you with an exciting and varied career and as investors in people give you access to a variety of learning opportunities and experiences.
You will work as part of a team processing planning appeals involving major proposals relating to housing, retail, energy, and potentially planning applications. Or you may be working as part of the team responsible for the management of Local Plan and Community Infrastructure Levy Examinations, or a team dealing with smaller householder appeals or Enforcement casework.
For full information, please refer to the job description within the candidate pack attached.
Office Attendance
All of our office-based roles are contractually located at Temple Quay House in Bristol. We encourage office attendance to foster collaboration, conversation, group creativity and employee wellbeing. You will be expected to attend Temple Quay House at least 12 times a year. Depending on your role, you may be required to attend more often than 12 times a year either permanently or temporarily to ensure we deliver our services in the most efficient and effective way for our customers. If you would like to discuss our Office Attendance in more detail, please contact us at PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
Person specification
Essential criteria
- Excellent administrative skills and good organisation.
- Ability to manage a busy and varied workload and manage conflicting priorities.
- Experience of working flexibly within a team.
- Confident in customer service skills.
- Ability to problem solve with a good eye for detail.
- Ability to prioritise and manage your own time.
- IT literate and confident in using Microsoft Office especially outlook, word and excel.
- Good standard of communication skills (written and oral)
- Proactive and positive approach.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
- Flexible working options, including flexi-time, part-time, compressed hours and home working if suitable for the role.
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
- 25 days annual leave increasing by 1 day per year up to 30 days after 5 years, plus 1 privilege day to mark the King’s birthday. In addition to the normal bank holidays.
- Generous family friendly policies.
- Fast and modern IT kit which utilises Windows 10 and Microsoft 365, enabling seamless working from home and collaboration across teams.
For full information see our Benefits information pack.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application
Complete the online application form on Civil Service Jobs which requires the following information:
- A CV: The CV section is an opportunity for you to detail your career history. It should outline the jobs you have done, the length of time you were employed within each role and a brief description of your role, responsibilities and duties which demonstrate relevance to the role you are applying for against the essential criteria. You must type, or ‘copy and paste’ into the text box called ‘Employment History’ within the online application. You cannot attach a copy of your CV.
- A Personal Statement (750 words max): The personal statement allows you to outline your suitability for the role in more depth, expanding on your CV evidence. It is an opportunity for you to provide evidence against the essential criteria listed within the candidate pack on the Person Specification page and link your answers to the listed Success Profile elements we are also assessing against .
We will assess your application on the evidence you have provided against the Essential Criteria and Success Profile elements detailed in the Person Specification in the candidate pack.
All shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome shortly afterwards.
Interview
If you are shortlisted, you will:
- Be asked to attend an interview to have a more in-depth discussion about your experience and suitability for the role
- Interviews will be a blend of behaviour and strength questions.
Candidates who are successful at shortlist stage will be sent full assessment requirements with their interview invitations.
Other Information
Shortlist Date: w/c 7 May 2024
Interview Date: w/c 23 May 2024
Interviews are currently being completed remotely using Microsoft Teams. We would like to reassure candidates that the virtual interview will not be recorded (or retained) within the Planning Inspectorate, other than usual interview protocol and in line with the Civil Service jobs Privacy notice.
We encourage all candidates to make themselves familiar with the role and what we will be assessing you against which is detailed in the Person Specification.
The Planning Inspectorate is committed to finding the right person for the job. We recruit using Success Profiles and consider the criteria you will need to demonstrate to be successful for the role, by doing this we are pushing up performance, diversifying our workforce and creating an inclusive culture.
ID and Documents
If specific qualifications/memberships are essential for the role and you are successful, you will be asked to provide accurate scanned or photographed images of the qualifications/memberships that you listed on your application prior to your start date.
We must check that any successful candidates are allowed to work for the Civil Service before we employ them. If successful, you will be asked to do a right to work check using identity document validation technology (IDVT) through the services of an Identity Service Provider (IDSP), Civil Service Jobs. If we are unable to confirm your right to work and through the IDVT we will need to do a manual right to work check using original documents with you in person.
Visa Sponsorship
The Planning Inspectorate cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates, we do not hold a Visa sponsorship licence.
Disability Confident Interview scheme
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We run a Disability Confident Interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.
To be considered for an interview under the scheme you must:
- have a disability defined by the Equality Act 2010
- provide evidence in your application that you meet the minimum criteria in the job description
- meet all of the qualifications, skills or experience defined as essential
While we will endeavour to provide you with all the appropriate information, you are the expert on your specific requirements so if you require any adjustments, you should consider the information provided about the assessment process in the candidate pack and then:
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. The earlier and more clearly you tell us what you need and why you need it, the more likely we are to be able to accommodate you in a timely fashion.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Barbara.green@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
- Email : pins.recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : pins.recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response, you receive you should then contact, Chief People Officer, via the Recruitment Team (PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk).
If you are still not satisfied with the response you receive from the Planning Inspectorate, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commission. https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/
