Our Recruitment Process
The Six Phases
At The Action Group, we know that recruiting a new member of our team is one of the most important steps for both our candidates and their prospective new teams. For this reason, we want both the people we support and our candidates to know how this process looks like. Our recruitment practise adheres to the Care Inspectorate ‘safer recruitment’ guidelines and is designed to protect those for whom we provide services.
All candidates interested in a career with us should apply by filling out and submitting an application form for the relevant vacancy by the closing date. Application forms are completed online. If you require any assistance with the application process or need accessibility support, please email us at recruitment@actiongroup.org.uk or call us at 0131 285 5207.
Phase 1: Application
We will check that your application meets The Action Group’s values as well as the job description and person specification criteria. If so, your application will be shortlisted and we will contact you within a week to schedule an interview. Please note that, due to the high amount of application we receive, we will only be able to contact candidates that have been successfully shortlisted.
Phase 2: Shortlisting
Shortlisted candidates will be invited via email to a panel interview. All the instructions needed prior to attending the interview will be provided in this email. Due to COVID restrictions, our interviews and written assessments (if applicable) take place via Microsoft Teams.
Phase 3: Interview
As an employer, we care for both the people we support and our team members. For this reason, after the interview and relevant written assessment has been completed, we revise all the paperwork and make a final decision. If you are successful, HR will send you a provisional offer of employment via email. This email will contain information about the next steps in the process.
Phase 4: Selection
The pre-employment checks we carry out are:
• Proof of ID/right to work in the UK.
• Two references (one of them must be from your current or most recent employer).
• Five years employment history (including the clarification of any employment gaps).
• Occupational Health questionnaire (and referrals where appropriate).
• SSSC registration and qualifications check.
• Satisfactory background checks with the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.
Due to the nature of the work we do our standards are high and if we are not satisfied with any behaviour, action or due diligence check, we will withdraw our provisional offer of employment.
Phase 5: Checks
Once we have received all the relevant paperwork and are satisfied with the checks, we will be in touch to let you know that your application is complete and your contact details will be passed to our Head of Services for team allocation. The Head of Services will revise your location preferences, availability, and interview notes to match you with a team and will contact you to discuss and agree on a start date. If we were unable to accommodate your preferences, this will also be discussed as soon as we are aware of this. If you applied for a casual role, the Casual Worker and Volunteering Coordinator would be the one contacting you to agree in a start date with us.
