HORSHAM DISTRICT COUNCIL JOBS
Why work for Horsham District Council?
Horsham District is an attractive area of 530 square kilometres of the Sussex Weald, with many pleasant towns and villages, inviting landscape and a considerable architectural heritage. It spans from the Surrey border in the north to the South Downs - and in places is just a few miles from the English Channel. More than 125,800 people live here. Horsham, in the north-east of the area, which with its immediate environs has a population of around 45,000, is the principal commercial and administrative centre. It retains many aspects of its market town past, yet has been carefully renovated and developed to provide excellent shopping and cultural opportunities. Horsham District Council is located here, serving the whole of the Horsham District.
Although much of the District is rural, agriculture, pharmaceutical, financial services and electronics are important industries. There are a number of business parks and industrial estates throughout the area. There are two designated areas of outstanding natural beauty, the South Downs and the High Weald.
How to reach Horsham
Good communications exist by road, rail and air. The A24 and links to the M23 and M25 provide direct routes to London and beyond, and to the south coast ferry ports and the channel tunnel. Network South Central operates rail services to East Croydon, London Bridge and London Victoria, and to Bognor Regis, Portsmouth and the West Country from seven mainline stations in the District including Horsham, Amberley, Billingshurst and Pulborough. London-Gatwick International Airport is about 12 miles from Horsham Town, to the north-east.
The District Council
There are 44 District Councillors who represent wards throughout the area which contains 32 parishes, each of which has a parish council. There are around 550 employees, providing directly or, through commercial operating companies, an important range of local services including environmental health, planning and building control, housing, leisure, refuse collection, cleansing and community development.
A strong team spirit exists amongst employees and Councillors, embodied in the Council’s Vision statement Key Themes of which are:
- Managing Our Resources
- Building Sustainable Communities
- Securing Affordable Homes
- Promoting Good Health
- Helping Business to Succeed
- Protecting Our World
- Helping You to Have Your Say
The Council
Horsham District Council is one of seven District Councils within the County of West Sussex. We adopted a Leader and Cabinet model of Executive Management, and have a Cabinet of eight Elected Members. The Chief Executive and two Directors form a Corporate Management Team supported by an Operational Management Group comprising a number of Heads of Service.
Code of Conduct
The public is entitled to expect the highest standards of conduct from all employees who work in local government. We have adopted a Code of Conduct which outlines existing laws, regulations and conditions of service and provides further guidance to assist the Council and our employees in their dayto-day work. The Code applies to all Horsham District Council employees and will be included in all appointment details.
Council Offices
Our Offices are based on the edge of Horsham Park and within a few minutes walk of the Railway station and the Town Centre. Equal Opportunities As an equal opportunity employer, we aim to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability,
race, colour, nationality or ethnic origin, or is disadvantaged by conditions, requirements or practices which cannot be shown to be justifiable. Positive About Disabled People (PADP)
We guarantee to invite for interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum job requirement criteria.
Medicals
Shortlisted applicants will be required to complete a medical questionnaire and return it at the interview stage. This may be passed to the Council’s Doctor who may need to see you before an appointment can be confirmed.
Asylum and Immigration Act 1996
In order to comply with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 applicants will be required to produce official documents to confirm their personal details. These will be identified and requested prior to the commencement of employment.
A minimum requirement if invited to attend an interview for a post will be to produce an official document showing a National Insurance number or, if this is not possible, a passport or a letter from the Home Office confirming the status of the applicant.
Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Check
Some of our posts which involve working with the young, elderly or vulnerable groups require the successful applicant to be subject to a check by the Criminal Records Bureau. When this is the case this requirement will be stated in the job advertisement and in the further details sent with the application form.
Resettlement Scheme
If you need to move house to take up a post with the Council, you may be eligible to participate in the Resettlement Scheme. This can include removal costs, professional fees, lodging and travel costs while maintaining two homes, and other related expenses. A limited mortgage subsidy scheme is available if you are moving from an area where house prices are lower than in Horsham.
Pensions
You will on appointment become a contributing member of the Local Government Pension Scheme (L.G.P.S) unless you opt out in writing Infomation about us Main Reception, Park North, North Street. prior to commencing your duties.
Leave
The annual leave year is normally from 1st April to the following 31st March and entitlement in days is as follows:
| Grade | Basic | After 5 year Service |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | After 5 years service | |
| Up to SCP 21 | 22 | 27 |
| SCP 22 - 28 | 24 | 27 |
| SCP 29 and above | 26 | 27 |
| Line Managers | 30 | 30 |
| Directors | 32 | 32 |
A proportionate entitlement applies for part years.
General Conditions of Appointment
Appointments are subject to the National Joint Council for Local Government Services, Joint Negotiating Committees for Chief Officers, or other appropriate negotiating body. These are supplemented by various locally agreed conditions.
Notice
To terminate your employment you are required to give notice as follows:
| Position/Grade | Notice Period |
|---|---|
| Up to SCP 34 | One month |
| Principal Officers | Two months |
| Directors/Heads of Service | Three months |
Where circumstances arise that require your post to be terminated the Council would, after the probationary period, give you at least one month’s notice. After 4 years this increases to one week for each year of service up to a maximum 12 weeks.
Sick Pay
Employees are eligible for sick pay if absent through illness. The allowance varies with length of service from one month’s full pay and (after completing four months service) two months half pay, to a maximum of six months full pay and six months half pay after five years service.
Hours
Normal hours of work are 37 hours per week, 8.45 a.m. - 5.20 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8.45 a.m. to 4. 20 p.m. on Friday. In some Departments a flexitime scheme is in operation.
Training and Development
We are committed to a high level of training and development to enable staff to gain the skills, qualifications and experience to achieve their full potential.
Car Allowances and Loans
Some posts carry essential or casual car allowances. Car loans on favourable terms are available to essential and casual users. A car loan with your present authority may be transferred to Horsham. Loans are also available to assist with the purchase of Motor Vehicles, Motor Cycles and Cycles. We have adopted a comprehensive Travel Plan which
includes the introduction of interest free loans for the purchase of season tickets and bicycles. On-site parking will only be available for designated essential users.
Salary
Starting salaries are normally set at the bottom of the advertised scale, rising by annual increments to the top of the scale, unless there is a valid reason to do otherwise. The first incremental increase is paid after 6 months service or on 1st April next, whichever is the later. Thereafter increments are paid on 1st April. In career grades there are bars to progression which may be passed by specified achievement. Salary scales are revised nationally each April. Salaries are paid by Direct Credit transfer on the 20th of each month.
Applications
Please complete the application form as fully as possible. You may include additional information (but no more than 2 sides of A4). Please return your application by the advertised closing date. If you wish to make a general application, please send in a letter with your name, address and brief details of your experience, qualifications and type of employment sought. This will be kept for 6 months and we will send you details of any suitable vacancies arising during that time.
Click on a link for more details on our location, the business and performance plans.
For more information on the benefits of living in our area visit the ‘your area’ page of this web site. Whilst online, why not investigate the many reasons why Horsham District Council has been awarded EXCELLENT status.
Contact the Personnel Services Department.
Personnel Department
Park North
North Street
Horsham
West Sussex
RH12 1RL
e-mail: personnel@horsham.gov.uk
24hr. Answerphone (for requesting application forms) (01403) 215134
Telephone: (01403) 215133
Fax: (01403) 215589
For more information on the benefits of living in our area visit the ‘your area’ page of this web site. Whilst online, why not investigate the many reasons why Horsham District Council has been awarded EXCELLENT status.