Our role as a membership association is to work with, and support, local councils in Cumbria and to represent their interests.

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1 Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters Carleton Avenue Penrith Cumbria, CA10 2FA February 2014 Dear Applicant, Appointment of Parish Development Officer I am delighted to enclose an application pack for this post. Local government is changing. Local (town and parish) councils have often been seen as the poor relation of local government. But more recently central government and county and district councils have come to recognise that local councils have a very important part to play in civic life. Local councils, as the most local tier of democratic local government, have a vital role in representing the views of local people, promoting the interests of the area, delivering services and helping to engender a sense of pride in their local community. Our role as a membership association is to work with, and support, local councils in Cumbria and to represent their interests. If you have any queries about the post please get in touch. Applications must be made on the attached application form. Standard CVs will be rejected. We would prefer completed applications to be ed to us at office@calc.org.uk If this is not possible then please send your application by post to the address above. Your application must reach us by noon on Friday 28th February. Interviews will take place at our Penrith office during the week beginning 3 rd March. Candidates will be expected to make a short presentation on a relevant topic which will be notified later. Thank you for your interest in the post and we look forward to receiving your completed application. Yours sincerely David Claxton Chief Officer President: Bob Mather Chairman: Keith Hitchen Chief Officer: David Claxton

2 Appointment of Parish Development Officer (Part time) In this application pack you will find: Below, details about the Association and the post A Job Description A Person Specification The application form is a separate document. We are a membership organisation that advises, supports and speaks on behalf of Cumbria s town and parish councils and parish meetings. Over 90% of the town and parish councils in Cumbria are members of the Association. CALC is funded through the subscriptions paid by its member councils and through grants received from the County and District Councils and the LDNPA. Cumbria County Council provides the Association with office space and access to IT and administrative services. For more information about the Association go to our website: CALC Staff CALC has one permanent member of staff the Chief Officer - who works part-time (Monday to Wednesday). Another four staff, including this post, are on temporary or fixed term, part-time contracts. The Parish Development Officer is based in the Penrith office (Thursday and Friday) and supports the Chief Officer. A particular focus of the role is organising the Association s Training and Development Programmes. Three Parish Liaison Officers (two based at home and one in County Offices, Kendal) manage the running of CALC s five district associations and follow up issues arising from their meetings. The Association also works with a number of freelance tutors who deliver many of the training courses. Parish Development Officer Post The Parish Development Officer is based in the CALC office, which is in the Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters building at Penrith. A job description and person specification is enclosed. The salary is 28, 127 per annum (SCP 33) pro rata for 15 hours per week.

3 Employment Conditions The employment contract will be with the. This post is dependent on the continuation of a grant payment by Cumbria County Council. Funding has been secured to the end of March Your employment will terminate on 31st March 2015 but may be extended if grant payments continue beyond that date. The hours of work include some evening and Saturday morning work. The post is not currently pensionable, although CALC will auto-enrol qualifying employees in an approved pension scheme in accordance with the Government s implementation timetable. Leave will be 23 days per annum pro rata, plus public holidays. Approved expenses incurred will be reimbursed and when the employee s own car is used a mileage rate of 45p per mile will be paid. Timetable The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 28 th February Applications should be sent to the or postal address at the end of the application form. Interviews will be held during the week beginning Monday 3 rd March in Penrith. Informal discussion For an informal discussion please telephone

4 Appointment of Parish Development Officer (Part time) Job Description A Accountable to: Chief Officer B Main Job Purpose: 1. To provide advice and support to member councils that will assist them in their local government role. 2. To assist in the development of town and parish councils in Cumbria. C Responsibilities: 1. To respond within five working days to requests from member councils for legal/procedural/financial advice, seeking advice from NALC as required. 2. To prepare and implement a training programme for clerks and councillors of member councils. 3. To provide member councils with publications and information to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities 4. To promote the national Quality Parish Scheme in Cumbria. 5. To promote the creation of town and parish councils in those parts of Cumbria where they do not exist. 6. To promote collaborative working and, where appropriate, formal grouping of parish councils. 7. To survey and keep under review parish councils activities and budgets, including functions concurrent with principal authorities. 8. To survey and keep under review parish councils aspirations to take on additional functions and to support related initiatives and pilots. 9. To support and monitor parish councils involvement in new local government community governance arrangements 10. To assist the Chief Officer in handling policy issues affecting parish councils. 11. To fulfil such other responsibilities as the Chief Officer may reasonably require consistent with the Main Job Purposes.

5 Appointment of Parish Development Officer (part-time) Person Specification Criteria Essential Desirable Education, professional General education to A A degree or professional qualifications and training level standard or equivalent qualification Knowledge, skills and abilities Relevant experience Other Proficient in the use of word processing computer software, spreadsheets and PowerPoint. A good working knowledge and understanding of local government structure and practices Ability to identify key issues and opportunities and to respond proactively Excellent verbal and written communication skills Ability to organise and deliver cost effective training programmes Experience of working in or with the public sector Ability to work on the strategic and the routine with equal commitment Willingness to work some evenings and Saturdays as required Ability to travel independently to meetings in Cumbria. Ability to work largely on own initiative, and to source, review and draw conclusions from a wide range of information. Training in topics relevant to local government A good working knowledge and understanding of local government procedures and law. Experience of working with local government officers and elected councillors. Experience of working with parish councils and communities.