RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PROCESS AUGUST 2019 - LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Guidance on Application, Written Exercise, Role Play and Interview

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PROCESS
          AUGUST 2019

     Guidance on Application, Written
     Exercise, Role Play and Interview

APPLYING TO WORK AT SPS COLLEGE
In 2017, the SPS College was awarded status as a Credit Rating Body (CRB). The term CRB refers to a
training or education provider who is authorised to determine and allocate the Scottish Credit and
Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level of any assessed learning programmes they design. This means
the College’s own learning programmes and qualifications are now eligible to sit within the SCQF,
providing credit-rated learning for staff and ensuring parity with other professions.

In order to address the gaps that exist in the College’s design and assurance processes; to ensure the
alignment of all learning and development standards to one consistent model; and to future proof the
College’s capacity to design and deliver professional qualifications, the College is restructuring, and
introducing the new role of Learning and Development Manager. Roles based at the SPS College and
establishments are the same role but based in different locations.

For this role, we are seeking applications from staff across the organisation who want to:

      –    Support the learning of others.
      –    Ensure training is informed, driven by, and best meets, the needs of those in our care.
      –    Embed and practice the SPS values in all teaching and learning.

APPLYING TO WORK AT SPS COLLEGE
It is important to understand the College is changing, and that these are
new roles – they are not the same as the previous Training Manager
roles and applicants should familiarise themselves with the SPS
Corporate Plan (2019-22) to appreciate the role of the College in the
delivery of corporate priorities over the next few years.

We have very different pressures and working arrangements to an
establishment but the College is not a place to take it easy. If successful,
you’re joining a great team, but one that works hard and will demand
your own continuing professional development.

If you have experience, expertise and most importantly want to provide
value as part of public service, contributing to the physical and mental
wellbeing of those in our care, for the benefit of families and communities
across Scotland…you should apply for this role.

ASSESSMENT PROCESS

 Stage 1
   – Application form

 Stage 2
   – Written Exercise (completed in advance of the assessment
     day)
   – Role Play
   – Teaching Session & Competency Interview

APPLICATION

 Applications will be sifted on 4 of the essential criteria:
    – Qualifications
    – Personal and Professional Development
          Don’t just tell us what courses you have done, or describe core to
           role training. Tell us how your development has prepared you for
           this role – and for developing others.
    – Designing and Delivering Training
    – Teaching Practice
          If you haven’t designed or delivered training, or have never taught
           others, tell us about the transferable skills you have by describing
           your experience of things like presenting information, preparing
           activity sessions or meetings, being an advocate, helping others to
           succeed, and supporting the learning of others.

WRITTEN EXERCISE
   The Written Exercise will measure 3 of the essential criteria:
     – Analysing Complex Information
     – Communication Skills
     – Planning Implementation and Control

   The exercise will be based on a ‘real life’ situation / work sample that
    you will be required to undertake in the role of an L&D Manager

   Please note that the exercise is not assessing your knowledge of
    policy or process and that all information you require to complete the
    exercise will be shared with you within the candidate brief.

WRITTEN EXERCISE
   A volume of information will be presented
   Read the criteria and descriptors
   Read the scenario and brief carefully
   Write clearly
   Structured and logical approach

ROLE PLAY
 Role Play exercises are commonly used in assessment
  centres to provide a ‘real life’ situation.
 The scenario will be based on a fictional job role where you’ll
  be asked to meet with an individual.
 A professional actor will play the part of the individual you
  are meeting.
 The Role Play will be filmed.
 A member of Resourcing team will take you through the
  initial brief including background information on the scenario.
 You will have 25 mins to prepare and 20 minutes for the
  meeting.

ROLE PLAY
 The Role Play will measure 3 of the essential criteria:
   – Teaching Practice
   – Building & Maintaining Relationships
   – Communication Skills
 Non-prison based scenario
 Be authentic. Behave as you feel appropriate for the
  setting you are being placed within.

TEACHING SESSION
 The Teaching Session will measure 3 of the essential criteria:
   – Designing and Delivering Training
   – Teaching Practice
   – Communication Skills
 You will only have 10 minutes to deliver your session and
  should prepare to teach the panel something you are
  passionate or knowledgeable about.

INTERVIEW
 Panel of 3 assessors
 Competency based interview that will focus on the role
  requirements as outlined in the job description and person
  specification
 The Interview will measure 4 of the essential criteria:
    –   Analysing Complex Information
    –   Personal & Professional Development
    –   Building & Maintaining Relationships
    –   Planning, Implementation & Control

INTERVIEW
   Familiarise yourself with the person specification requirements
    and consider how these relate to the Behaviour Competency
    Framework.

   Provide evidence and examples that provide evidence of how you
    have approached situations in the past and how this will shape
    your performance and behaviour in the role applied for.

   Consider how you structure your responses, you may wish to use
    the following approach:
     – Situation – Describe the task/event/activity (set the scene)
     – Behaviour – What did you do? How did you do it? Why did you do it?
     – Outcome – What was the outcome?

If you have any questions relating to this opportunity, please contact
Kate Hudson (Head of College - Learning & Development) on 01324
    710402 (int. 500402) or Rob Priestley (Head of Professional
           Development) on 01324 710490 (int. 500490).

WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR APPLICATION

                         GOOD LUCK!