Planning Officer

Job summary

We’re looking for an organised and detail-focused individual who can coordinate inspection activity, manage planning data and systems, and help ensure Estyn’s work programme runs smoothly and efficiently.

By joining us, you’ll become part of a forward-thinking and evolving organisation, one that’s committed to learning, improvement, and the development of its people. You’ll also gain access to opportunities across the wider Civil Service, giving you room to grow and shape your career.

Job description

Our Planning Officers play a key role in producing and maintaining our work programme. You will be responsible for inspection planning, deployment of inspection resources, and the operational management of planning data and systems. You will support the effective scheduling and delivery of inspection and non-inspection activity, ensuring resources are deployed efficiently and in line with organisational priorities.

Key tasks include:

• Schedule and plan inspection and follow-up activity across sectors in line with the annual work programme
• Work closely with Inspection Co-ordinators and Contracts to support inspection planning and notifications
• Manage changes to inspection schedules and re-deploy resources to meet emerging priorities
• Plan and manage thematic and non-inspection activity within the work programme
• Identify and resolve resource conflicts and capacity issues
• Provide advice and support to Assistant Directors on inspection resource matters
• Manage and maintain planning and deployment systems, ensuring accuracy and integrity of data
• Develop and maintain management information to inform planning, reporting and performance monitoring
• Identify system improvements, contribute to specifications and support user acceptance testing
• Develop and apply quality assurance processes to ensure accuracy of planning and deployment activity
• Maintain accurate records relating to workforce deployment, non-working days and other operational activity
• Responsible for DBS process and contracted inspector renewal process
• Line management responsibility for Administrative Officer

Person specification

It’s essential that you:

• Are highly organised, with strong time management skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
• Can deliver accurate work to tight deadlines
• Have experience of building effective working relationships, including with senior managers and external stakeholders
• Have the ability demonstrate strong attention to detail
• Have experience of using information and data to inform decisions and improve processes
• Have good communication, literacy and numeracy skills
• Are confident using IT systems, including Microsoft Office
• Show a flexible and solutions-focused approach
• Have data management and reporting skills

It’s desirable that you have:

• Have experience of using planning or workforce management systems
• Are able to work through the medium of Welsh

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,769, ESTYN contributes £8,913 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Competitive salary and incremental points meaning that you will normally reach the maximum of the pay scale within two/three years of joining us.
• Generous holiday entitlement – 41 days away from work each year (made up of 32 days of annual leave, plus 9 public/privilege holidays (pro-rated for those who work part-time).
• Flexible working - We operate a flexi-time system, giving you the freedom to shape your working day in a way that suits you and meets business needs.
• Support for your wellbeing – We provide an hour of wellbeing time per week (pro-rated) for staff. We also provide an employee assistance programme, free annual health checks, seasonal flu jabs, a free eye care scheme and access to Health Insurance Plans through Civil Service Healthcare.
• Support for your family life – generous family friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption leave.
• Tax-free savings – Access to a cycle to work scheme.
• Special offers and discounts – Access to a range of discounts and exclusive offers through the Civil Service Social Club – Sports and Leisure, the Civil Service Motoring Association, the Civil Service Insurance Society and the Charity for Civil Servants.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability and Experience.

The selection process includes:

• A sift of applications: The panel will consider all complete applications. The information you give us in your application is important in deciding whether we will invite you to the next selection stage. Candidates will be assessed at sift on all essential criteria as per the person specification. Desirable criteria will be assessed at sift where there is a strong field of candidates as a second stage after essential criteria have been considered.

• Assessment and Interview: Candidates invited to assessment and interview will again be assessed on their skills, experience and behaviours in relation to the person specification. The assessment will consist of a 45-minute written exercise based on a scenario relevant to the Planning Officer role. Candidates will be asked to review information and complete a series of short tasks designed to assess prioritisation, attention to detail and the ability to use information to support planning and decision-making. The interview will consist of a panel interview. Including structured and scenario-based questions aligned to the essential criteria and key behaviours, assessing the ability to use planning data accurately, manage competing priorities, build effective working relationships, and apply analysis to support high-quality, timely decision-making. This will take place on 23 April at our Office in Cardiff

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Delyth Knight
• Email : Delyth.knight@estyn.gov.wales
• Telephone : 02920 446336

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@estyn.gov.wales

Further information

https://www.estyn.gov.wales/working-us/current-vacancies