After the closing date
Once the closing date for a role has passed, the hiring manager will arrange to shortlist the applications with the other members of the interview panel.
It may take a few days for the panel to determine who they want to invite to interview, depending on how many applications there are for the role.
Inviting candidates to interview
The interview date is usually published in the job advert, so candidates should be aware of the date and have kept the day free.
We will email you to invite you to interview and confirm the details.
The email will come from the Recruitment Team, please reply to the email to let us know if you will attend.
If you are unable to attend, please let us know and we will try to arrange an alternative slot, but this may not always be possible.
You may be asked to bring certain documents to your interview for the panel to inspect, so please make sure you have them with you.
Interviews will usually be held in person, but may occasionally be held online. Please ensure you have a suitable device available and a quiet space for an online interview.
Candidates that have not been selected for interview will be advised by email.
The interview
There is no dress code for interview, just dress appropriately for the role you are applying for.
Please arrive in plenty of time, the panel may not be able to see you if you are late as it will affect the slots for other candidates.
The panel may ask to see certain documents, please ensure you have these with you.
You may be asked to give a presentation or complete a task as part of the interview process, this will be confirmed in your interview invitation email.
Please make sure you ask any questions you may have at the interview, but if you forget anything just contact us and we can ask for you.
After the interview
After the interview, the panel will work together to score all applicants and reach a decision on who they want to offer the role to.
The successful candidate will be contacted direct by the panel as soon as the scoring has been completed. We won’t be able to agree a start date at this point because it will depend on how quickly we can action your pre-employment clearances. Please do not resign from your current role at this stage.
Unsuccessful candidates will be advised of the outcome by email.
The offer
You will receive an offer letter from the Recruitment Team shortly after you have accepted the offer. The letter will confirm the offer that was agreed between you and the Hiring Manager and confirm the pre-employment clearances that we will require before a start date can be agreed.
We will also send you some forms to complete, these will all come to you by email from the recruitment Team.
Pre-employment clearances
All offers of employment are subject to pre-employment clearances, these will include some or all of the following:
- Proof of eligibility to live and work in the UK
- Proof of National Insurance
- Declaration of criminal record
- DBS disclosure
- Medical clearance
- Two references
- Driving licence
- Proof of qualifications essential for the post
- Social Work England registration
We will ask you to nominate your referees but will not contact them until you give us permission to do so.
Where possible, we use an on-line app, YOTI, to verify right to work in the UK. YOTI is an approved identity service provider that carries out checks digitally for British and Irish workers with valid passports.
A medical questionnaire is sent out to all successful candidates and assessed by our Occupational Health team. If they have any questions regarding your responses they will contact you direct.
Any candidate offered a role that requires them to have certain qualifications and/or membership of a professional body will be asked to provide evidence that they meet these requirements.
Once all the pre-employment clearances have been received and have been confirmed as satisfactory, the hiring manager will contact you to advise you that you can resign from your current position, and you can agree a date to join us.
Joining us
Once a start date is agreed, the Recruitment Team will work on your employee record and allocate you an employee number.
Around 10 days before you are due to start, your manager will start the ‘onboarding’ process for you.
Onboarding
You will receive details of how to log in to the Council’s employee portal ‘Myview’. Once you have logged in you will be able to carry out a number of tasks before you start.
- view and accept your contract of employment
- complete personal details that are needed for payroll purposes
- read policies and procedures, and learn more about working for Bedford Borough Council
- find out about the arrangements for your first day, things you need to bring, where to report
The onboarding tasks must be completed before you join.
Induction
On your first day, you will be welcomed into your new team and start the induction process.
You will book onto a number of mandatory induction courses, and also be invited to a session where you can meet other new staff.
All new employees at Bedford Borough Council start on a six-month probationary period, so you will have regular meetings and reviews with your line manager to make sure everything is progressing as planned.
They will provide the support and guidance you need to make sure you flourish in your new role.