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Application Guidance

This information is to help you to understand how our recruitment process works and to assist you in the completion of your application form.

Safer Recruitment

Safer Recruitment posts involve working with children or providing a service to adults classed as vulnerable.

Safer recruitment measures include rigorous checking of information you supply about yourself in your application e.g. verifying employment history, qualifications, references, enhanced Criminal Record / Barring List Check and assessment of your suitability in light of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults.

It is important that in support of your application you comply with our requirements by completing the application in full and promptly answering any queries we may have on your application.  Failure to assist with enquiries will lead to your application not being considered.

If applying for a safer recruitment post and you have a criminal conviction(s), it is expected that if you are shortlisted, at the interview you are open and honest about your conviction(s) and disclose the issue(s) to the panel.  Please bring any information you may have regards the matter, e.g. previous DBS Certificate.

Questions about you and your identity

As an employer we are required by law to ensure you have the right to work in the United Kingdom and as such you will be asked to provide evidence of the right to work in the UK regardless of your nationality.  Please ensure you complete your personal details accurately.  Please state your nationality, i.e. the country of which you are a legal citizen.  If you are a EU/EEA/Swiss citizen please state if you have settled status, pre-settled status or you do not have such status.  

Common Travel Area (CTA) and rights of Irish nationals

The Government has made clear that the CTA and associated rights between the UK, Ireland and the Crown Dependencies will be unaffected by the UKs exit from the EU.  Irish and British citizens will continue to enjoy the freedom to travel within the CTA without the need for immigration controls or resident/work permits.  Irish citizens do not need to obtain Settled Status or Pre-Settled Status in the UK.

Application Form and Supporting Documentation Explained

A Job Description: Outlines the purpose of the job and the main duties involved.

A Person Specification: Lists the essential and desirable criteria that an applicant needs to meet. This is a key document against which applicants are measured.

An Online Application Form: A format from which we collect information about you.  We do not accept CV documents so please do not upload such documents.

Once you have completed a section of the application form, please click ‘save’ before proceeding to the ‘next’ section of your application to ensure the information entered has been saved.

Please ensure the ‘Previous’ and ‘Next’buttons are used to navigate through the application form, do not use the back button on your browser as information may be lost. 

How the Recruitment Process Works

A selection panel is formed and is composed of not less than two people, usually including the manager of the vacancy.

Equality questions asked during the application will be used for monitoring and administration purposes.  This information is not seen by the recruitment panel at the short listing stage of the recruitment process. This is designed to reduce the chances of inadvertent unfair discrimination.

When shortlisting each panel member compares the information on your application against the essential criteria on the Person Specification.  Should it be necessary to reduce the number of candidates for interview, a further review will be made against the desirable criteria.  Usually references are only obtained for shortlisted candidates.  If you specify on the application that you do not wish a referee to be contacted prior to interview you may be contacted and asked to explain why.

Providing the reason you give is acceptable to the Council we may delay taking up the reference.  Should  the reason given be unacceptable to the Council or the decision to delay taking up the reference be likely to cause an unacceptable delay in filling the vacant post, you will be contacted to be advised as to whether we intend to request references prior to interview or that your application will not be progressed any further.

WELCOME TO HARTLEPOOL BOROUGH COUNCIL RECRUITMENT WEBSITE 

From 1st July 2025, all job applications will be processed via North East Jobs.  This applies to all vacancies advertised from 1st July 2025 onwards.  Any vacancies advertised prior to 1st July 2025 will continue to be processed via this site.

We are delighted that you are interested in working for HBC.  

Please take the time to read our Application Guidance notes above.  A range of our vacancies are shown below but to view all vacancies please click on "Search" and a complete list will appear. To apply for Council vacancies, you must first create an account by clicking on “Register”.  

We only accept online applications and all correspondence will be sent via the email address you provide to us. If you would like help or advice with your application, setting up an email account or registering to use our recruitment website, you can email us at workforce.support@hartlepool.gov.uk or reach us by telephone on 01429 401804 or 01429 523546.

Once you have completed a section of the applic">Why do we have an Online Application?

We are only measuring the criteria listed on the Person Specification.  We believe that there are extremely talented people in the jobs market, including people who may not have developed their skills and abilities through a traditional academic route and gained a qualification.  In addition to qualifications we also value other qualities people have, e.g. previous job experience, research projects or personal study, voluntary work, social experience or personal life experience. 

If you state you have a qualification, you will be expected to produce the original certificate at interview for examination.  In some circumstances we may check the validity of qualifications. 

If you state you have a professional membership you will be expected to produce evidence of membership at interview for examination.  In some circumstances we may check the validity of your professional membership.

Hints and tips to help you complete your application form:

· Provide details of your full employment history and details of all gaps in employment, e.g. to have a family, because of illness, career breaks etc.

· 

Irish citizens and Crown Dependencies Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man are exempt from then style="text-indent: -17.85pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Provide details of any referees whom we can ask for information about you.  If you are employed, include details of your current employer.  If you are unemployed, give details of your most recent employer.  If you have never been employed, please provide details of others who could provide a reference, e.g. a teacher, school, college, university tutor, trainer for courses you may have undertaken.  We do not accept references from friends or relatives.

· Focus on the ‘how you meet the essential requirements’.  Take each of the criteria on the Person Specification in turn. Think about your previous experience and knowledge and give examples of where you have demonstrated the qualities required.  Simply stating that you have met each requirement will not be considered as suitable evidence.  Remember, you can use examples from your work life, study, personal life, voluntary work, social experience, vocational training etc. 

Public Sector Pension

If you are a suitable candidate and in receipt of a public sector pension then approval of appointment will be required in accordance with the Council’s Pay Policy.

Giving you a Fair and Equal Opportunity to Work for Hartlepool Borough Council

We are fully committed to providing a faiUK’s points-based immigration system and there will be no change to the arrangements for the Common Travel Area and assuch rights to work etc. continue.