Appointment of BSL representatives to the British Sign Language (BSL) National Advisory Group Review Date: November 2017
Appointment of BSL representatives to the British Sign Language (BSL) National Advisory Group This is the information that you need to apply for a place on the BSL National Advisory Group (BSL NAG). Summary The closing date for your application is 11.59pm on Thursday 28 th January 2016. You will find out if you have got an interview on Friday 12 th February 2016, and the interview dates are on the 23 rd and 24 th February 2016 in Victoria Quay in Edinburgh. The people who are successful will be told on Friday 26 th February 2016. The public announcement will take place on Monday 1 st March 2016. The time commitment for each member of the BSL National Advisory Group (NAG) will be at least two (2) days preparation before each of the five (5) Group meetings over the two (2) year appointment time frame. There will be two (2) additional introduction meetings to attend one (1) with the Scottish Government Co-Chair and the Scottish Government support person; the second (2 nd ) will be a group introduction day where everyone will meet before the actual work of the BSL National Advisory Group begins. 1
What is the BSL National Advisory Group? The BSL (Scotland) Act 2015 means that Scottish Ministers must publish a BSL National Plan saying how they will promote and support BSL. The BSL National Advisory Group (NAG) will advise Scottish Government on what should be in the National Plan. The BSL National Advisory Group will listen to the views of people whose first or preferred language is BSL, Deaf people who use BSL, Deafblind people who use BSL, and hearing parents of Deaf children. The BSL National Advisory Group will recommend what should be included in the national plan. BSL representatives will be appointed to the group for two (2) years and will oversee the development of the first BSL National Plan which will be published in October 2017. The role of the group and its membership will be reviewed after that. The National Advisory Group will meet seven (7) times between April 2016 and August 2017. What is the National BSL Plan? The national plan is likely to include things which all national public bodies will need to do. Some national public bodies will have responsibility for main concerns included in the national plan. For example, if the National Plan included something about the teaching of BSL in schools, there may be actions for Education Scotland. 2
Membership of the Group The BSL National Advisory Group will be made up of Deaf people representing others whose first or preferred language is BSL, Deafblind people (including those who use tactile BSL) and a hearing parent who will represent other parents of Deaf children as well as key public bodies. The group will be co-chaired by a person who is Deaf/Deafblind and whose first or preferred language is BSL and person from the Scottish Government. All meetings will be fully accessible to all members of the Group, and will be conducted in BSL and in English. All papers will be available in both BSL and English. The membership of the BSL National Advisory Group will be: One (1) Scottish Government co-chair (to be appointed) One (1) member from the Scottish Government Equality Unit. Eight (8) places reserved for national public bodies covered by the BSL National Plan. Which national public bodies will be involved has not yet been decided. Eleven (11) places for representatives whose first or preferred language is BSL (one will be the co-chair), with exception to the one person who will be the hearing parent of a Deaf child (the child s first or preferred language will be BSL), the group should include - Five (5) Deaf people whose first or preferred language is BSL from diverse backgrounds. 3
Two (2) families of Deaf children - one who will be a hearing parent of a Deaf child who uses BSL as their first or preferred language; the other will be a Deaf parent with a Deaf child who uses BSL as their first or preferred language. Two (2) Deafblind BSL users - one of whom will use tactile BSL [NB: Deafblind BSL users will be recruited separately please contact Deafblind Scotland dsp@deafblindscotland.org.uk for more information]. Two (2) Deaf young people aged 10-17 (or up to 20 years old if the young person has been looked after) who use BSL as their first or preferred language. [NB: These young people will be recruited separately. For more information, please contact Deaf Action at dsp@deafaction.org or by SMS on 07775 620 757 or the National Deaf Children s Society Scotland (NDCS Scotland) at anne-marie@ndcs.org.uk or by SMS on 07860 595570]. The Application Process BSL representatives applying to the group will go through a formal assessment process to make sure they have the skills needed to be an active and representative member of the BSL National Advisory Group. Although this is not a Public Appointment (because the BSL National Advisory Group is not a public body), the process will be supported by the Scottish Government s Public Appointments Team, and a member of the team will be part of the assessment process to ensure that it is fair, open and transparent. The application process will be conducted in both BSL and in English. 4
Where to go to for help with your application The Deaf Sector Partnership is a group of deaf organisations including SCoD, BDA Scotland, Deaf Action, Deafblind Scotland, National Deaf Children s Society Scotland and Deaf Connections who are working together with the Scottish Government Equality Unit and the Voluntary Action Fund to implement the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015. The Deaf Sector Partnership can provide support to anyone wishing to apply to be a member of the BSL National Advisory Group. In particular, the Deaf Sector Partnership organisations will encourage and support Deaf BSL users, including those from minority groups, to apply to become members of the BSL National Advisory Group. This may involve helping people to apply or they will provide training and/or support successful applicants to fully take part. There is a separate process for recruiting young people to the BSL National Advisory Group. This will be done through the Youth NAG. Deaf Action and National Deaf Children s Society Scotland which will gather a number of interested young people together and they will nominate two young people to represent their views on the BSL National Advisory Group. For more information about the Youth NAG and how to become involved, please contact Deaf Action Email: dsp@deafaction.org SMS: 07775 620 757 Or National Deaf Children s Society Scotland (NDCS Scotland) Email: anne-marie@ndcs.org.uk SMS: 07860 595570 5
There is also a separate process for recruiting people who are Deafblind and use BSL as their first or preferred language to the BSL National Advisory Group. Deafblind Scotland will host the Deafblind NAG and the Deafblind people who attend this group will nominate the two Deafblind people whose first or preferred language is BSL, one of whom will use tactile BSL, to the BSL National Advisory Group. For more information about this group or the process, please contact Deafblind Scotland for more information. Deafblind Scotland Email: dsp@deafblindscotland.org.uk Should a Deafblind BSL user apply through the general application process that person will be considered for one of the Deaf BSL user places, not one of the Deafblind places. 6
Application Guidance Notes Guidance Notes for Applicants for the five (5) Deaf BSL places and the two (2) parent places Please read these notes carefully before you complete your application form. Your Application Your application is very important; it will help us decide who will be interviewed. In your application you need to show us what skills you have and how they match the essential and desirable criteria in the application. You will be asked to give your name, address, date of birth and whether or not you are a Deaf BSL user whose first or preferred language is BSL (hearing family members of a Deaf child will be excused from answering this question) at the start of your application, as well as whether or not you are allowed to work in the UK and whether or not you work for a deaf organisation in the Deaf Sector Partnership. If you are applying as a hearing parent of a Deaf child whose first or preferred language, you will need to state this after you give your name and address. The other questions also apply to you. This is the information that will be used to decide if your application moves to the next stage of the process. You can send us your application in BSL on film or in English using the application form. All applicants need to answer the questions in the same order. 7
If you want to send in your application in BSL and would like to submit an English version with it, the Scottish Government will pay for a Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters (SASLI) or a National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPD) registered BSL/English Interpreter to translate your BSL application into English. You will have to provide receipts for this service. For more information about this, please contact SCoD at admin@deafsectorpartnership.net. If you do not want to do this, please send in your BSL film and the Scottish Government will translate your BSL application into English. Why? Because the application process is being carried out in both BSL and English. Completing Your Application When you are completing your application, please give examples of how you have used your skills. For example, I have excellent BSL skills and can communicate with people of all ages is not enough. You need to give an example of what you were doing with young people or older adults or with children. I set up and ran a computer class for women at my local community centre. The course lasted for 12 weeks. I had to book the room and arrange the set-up of the computers. I then had to organise the translation of the computer instructions and the manual into BSL. I had to update my knowledge by going to the local college and negotiating with the computer department to have several lessons on how to operate a PC. I ran this course three times over the course of a year once for older Deaf women, the second time for older Deaf men, and the third time for anyone of any age who is a Deaf BSL user. I arranged all the publicity and took the bookings. I also handled all the bookings and arrangements in the community centre. 8
For more information on how to complete your application form, please contact any of the organisations in the Deaf Sector Partnership. If you don t know who to contact, please get in touch with SCoD. Scottish Council on Deafness Email: admin@deafsectorpartnership.net SMS: 07490 240761 BDA Scotland Email: hco.scot@bda.org.uk SMS: 07885 367674 Deaf Action Email: dsp@deafaction.org SMS: 07775 620 757 Deafblind Scotland Email: dsp@deafblindscotland.org.uk SMS: 07584 078494 Deaf Connections Email: Lucy@deafconnections.co.uk SMS: 07958 488414 9
NDCS Scotland Email: anne-marie@ndcs.org.uk SMS: 07860 595570 We will provide application information in your preferred format. Please keep a copy of your application. What we will do with your application Your completed application will be assessed against the essential skills, knowledge, experience and understanding for this appointment to see whether you are a suitable person to become a member of the BSL National Advisory Group. Your application will be scored to decide if you will be offered an interview. Applicants who are not selected for interview will be told. If invited to interview and you have a disability, let us know how we can meet your needs 10
If invited to interview you will be asked questions to show that you can prove that you meet the essential and desirable skills, knowledge, experience and understanding required for this role. You will be asked to give a short presentation to demonstrate one of your skills or an issue that the National Advisory Group could address. You will be told about this in your invitation to interview. All applicants invited to interview will be advised of the outcome of their interview. Please let us know the best way to contact you. If you are successful, you will be invited to accept the appointment. Everyone interviewed will be given feedback on their interview even if not offered a place on the group. It will be based on how you got on in relation to the skills and knowledge required. If we have any unanswered questions about the information you give us, we may check this. This could be information about your qualifications, work or who you are representing. If you are invited to join the BSL National Advisory Group, you will be asked to sign a form to confirm you understand the work of the group and what it means to be a member of the group. 11
Interview Timetable The closing date for your application is 11.59pm on Thursday 28 th January 2016. You will find out if you have got an interview on Friday 12 th February 2016. The interview dates are on the 23 rd and 24 th February 2016 in Victoria Quay in Edinburgh. Let us know if we need to make reasonable adjustments so that you can take part in the selection process. Please also tell us if you need to use an alternative format. Eligibility Are you entitled to apply to become a member of the BSL National Advisory Group? Individuals applying must fit with the skills, knowledge, experience and understanding that membership of the BSL National Advisory Group needs from its members. You must be legally entitled to work in the UK to apply to sit on the National Advisory Group. You must be living in Scotland when you apply and for the two (2) years that you will be a member of the BSL National Advisory Group, if you are selected. 12
You must be aged 18 or over to apply to join the BSL National Advisory Group. Young people aged 10-18 (or up to 20 years old if looked after) will be recruited through a separate process. Individuals employed by organisations in the Deaf Sector Partnership are not allowed to apply. 13
Submitting your application Please send your completed application, electronic, paper or filmed version to the Scottish Council on Deafness (SCoD). SCoD will let you know when they receive your application. Email/upload BSL applications to admin@deafsectorpartnership.net Email written applications to admin@deafsectorpartnership.net Post applications with the correct postage to Scottish Council on Deafness, Central Chambers Suite 62, 93 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 6LD. Please mark your application envelope NAG: Private and Confidential. At the closing date for applications 11.59pm on Thursday 28 th January 2016 SCoD will check each application to make sure that all the people applying are entitled to apply to become a member of the BSL National Advisory Group (the eligibility check). 14
Late applications will not be considered. As the application process is being carried out in both BSL and in English, once the eligibility check has been done, all applications that are sent to SCoD in BSL without an English translation will be translated into English; and all applications in English will be translated into BSL. The Scottish Government is paying for this to happen. Interviews/Expenses You can claim reasonable expenses for attending for interview, including dependent carer expenses. It is expected that you use public transport if possible; we will refund standard/advance fares. You must provide receipts or invoices for all expenses that you are claiming for. When an overnight stay is necessary, you must contact SCoD in advance, for confirmation of what you can claim, and how to claim. Publicising Appointments If you are appointed, we will share the following information in a press release: your name; a brief summary of the skills and knowledge you bring to the role; the period of appointment. 15
Complaints What happens if you are not happy about the process? If you apply to join the National Advisory Group and feel that you have not been treated fairly in the assessment process, you can complain to the Scottish Council on Deafness who will independently review the process and the outcome. If you are still not happy, your complaint will be further investigated by the Scottish Government Co-Chair. Applications and records of the recruitment process will be kept by the Scottish Government. Selection Panel The selection panel will be: Independent Chair: Lynne Hawcroft Deaf Sector Partnership: Avril Hepner (BDA Scotland) Deaf Sector Partnership: Frankie McLean (Deaf Action) Independent Monitor: Kirsty Walker (from the Scottish Government Public Appointments Team: to ensure the process is fair, open and transparent). There will also be two (2) BSL/English Interpreters present at the interview. 16
Applicants will be asked in the application form to say if and how they know anyone on the selection panel. What will happen at your interview? The dates for interview are the 23 rd and 24 th of February 2016. The interviews will take place at the Scottish Government Offices at Victoria Quay in Edinburgh. You will be given an interview time on either of these 2 days. The interview will take place in BSL. An exception will be made for the hearing parent of the Deaf child who will be given the choice of being interviewed in BSL or in English. The interview will be interpreted into English for the independent monitor s benefit. You will be asked to give a short presentation at the start of the interview. The selection panel will ask you questions on your presentation and your application. You will have a chance to ask questions at your interview. You will be told whether or not you are successful and will get feedback on your interview. 17
Support and Development If you are successful at interview and accept the appointment, you will be invited to a meeting with the Scottish Government co-chair of the National Advisory Group and Hilary Third of the Scottish Government Equality Unit to discuss what s expected of you and your role within the Group. You will also be invited to an introduction to the BSL National Advisory Group session which will take place within one month of appointment which will provide information/training about your role as a BSL National Advisory Group member. There will be an ongoing group review process. You can ask for and receive support for preparation for the BSL National Advisory Group meetings from any organisation in the Deaf Sector Partnership; this includes gathering the views of the Deaf people you are representing and going over any paperwork for the meeting. If you find that you have a skills gap when on the BSL National Advisory Group, you can discuss this with the Deaf Sector Partnership to identify appropriate training or additional support. 18
APPOINTMENTS TO THE BSL NATIONAL ADVISORY GROUP APPLICANT GUIDANCE PERSON SPECIFICATION Role of the BSL Representatives on the National Advisory Group 1. To work alongside public bodies to advise Scottish Ministers on the development of the BSL National Plans and National Progress Reports. 2. To link with others whose first or preferred language is BSL to understand their views and priorities. 3. To represent the views of others whose first or preferred language is BSL in developing the national plan and compiling the national progress report. 4. To contribute to discussion and finalising of key documents such as: o List of most important issues to discuss with the people being represented on the BSL National Advisory Group o Best way to engage with the people being represented on the BSL National Advisory Group o Draft National Plan and consultation questions/approach o Recommendation for National Plan based on consultation responses 19
o Final BSL National Plan 5. To help communicate the work of the National Advisory Group to the people being represented on the BSL National Advisory Group. The BSL National Plan will reflect the views/needs of the people being represented on the BSL National Advisory Group in Scotland and what the Scottish Government and national public bodies can realistically deliver over the next five year period. The National Plan will be drafted by matching the priorities of the people being represented on the BSL National Advisory Group with what is possible in terms of resources from the Scottish Government and national public bodies. What skills, knowledge, experience and understanding do you need? It is important that the BSL representatives on the BSL National Advisory Group have a mixture of skills, knowledge, experience and understanding. All representatives need to have some general skills so they can make a full contribution to the work of the National Advisory Group, these can be from: your own personal life experience or by being a member of a formal advisory group; or through being active in your community, or in a voluntary capacity or in a job role. 20
these are listed in the General Skills and Personal Qualities section below and we have explained exactly what we will be looking for and how they will be tested. Deaf and Deafblind BSL users make up a diverse community with a wide variety of skills, knowledge and experiences, and we want this diversity to be reflected on the BSL National Advisory Group. We are looking for a range of experience/knowledge/skills. You will need to show that you have all of the general skills and personal qualities and at least one of the additional skills/experiences. If you have more than one, you should give details of all of them in your application. 21
1. General Skills and Personal Qualities Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Understanding What does this mean How will this be tested Understand issues that the people being represented on the BSL National Advisory Group face on a day-to-day basis You have represented the views of a group at meetings and gatherings Explain problems and think of ideas to fix problems Decide what is important Do not focus on personal problems Focus on what is good for all BSL users in future. You will be a Champion or role model for the people being represented on the BSL National Advisory Group in Scotland You will represent the views of all BSL users never just your own. Tell a story of your how you will do this in your application. At interview do a short presentation. You will be given the topic in your invitation to come for an interview. We will ask you to prove this in your application by giving us an example. At interview we will test your skills and experience. 22
You have excellent communications and networking skills. You can involve people in debates and take part in constructive group discussions. You will be able to explain the National Advisory Group views and what it does to the people being represented on the BSL National Advisory Group You are confident in expressing your views and opinions in a group setting You can give examples to prove your views and opinions. You can work as part of a group You respect the views of others. You can communicate with lots of different people and in different situations. You are flexible and are comfortable in informal and formal settings. You are confident asking questions on proposals and can debate on issues. We will test your skills during the interview if you are shortlisted. We will ask you to prove this in your application by giving us an example. At interview we will test your skills and experience. 23
You can work as part of a group to achieve agreed goals. You can put forward your views in a clear way. You can listen to the views of others. You can help others to think about different option in a professional way. You can work with a group of people from different organisations who have different roles and views. You are a positive person who can find solutions to problems You can see positives and negatives when looking at problems and their solutions. We will ask you to prove this in your application by giving us an example. At interview we will test your skills and experience. 24
2 Additional skills/experience (you will need to show that you have at least one of the following skills) Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Understanding What does this mean? How will this be tested? You understand and have experience in equality, diversity and accessibility You will have a good understanding of government policy, national priorities and local issues You will have knowledge/understanding of issues affecting minority communities or particular groups of BSL users, linked to age, disability, ethnic group, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity as well as issues for BSL users living in rural and remote areas. You will have knowledge of politics in Scotland and Scottish Government policy which affects the people being represented on the BSL National Advisory Group and National Public Bodies We will ask you to prove this in your application by giving us an example. At interview we will test your skills and experience. We will ask you to prove this in your application by giving us an example. At interview we will test your skills and experience. 25
You will have a good understanding of the strategic environment in which public bodies work in Scotland You will understand how decisions made by the UK government at Westminster affect Scottish Government, national public bodies and the people being represented on the BSL National Advisory Group in Scotland. You will understand local government structures and how they contribute to the development of the national plan You will know about the current opportunities and challenges facing public bodies. You will understand the legislative framework. We will ask you to prove this in your application by giving us an example. At interview we will test your skills and experience. 26
Expectations of BSL National Advisory Group members Members of the BSL National Advisory Group have a duty to help the group achieve its purpose, which is to inform the development of the first BSL National Advisory Group. Being a member of the group is an important role and you will be expected to act with honesty and integrity. This means: You must declare any private interests relating to your work on the BSL National Advisory Group, and report any possible conflicts of interest to the co-chairs of the group. You must be driven solely by public interest and you must not act in order to gain financial or other material benefit for yourself, family or friends. You must respect fellow members of the group and the role they play, treating them with politeness at all times. Working in this way will help to maintain and strengthen the public's trust and confidence in the role of the group and its members. Examples of conflicts of interest or private interests would be your husband/partner is a civil servant and works in the Scottish Government Finance Department; Your wife/partner works for NHS Health Scotland as a senior statistician. Your partner is a BSL/English Interpreter and has a contract with the Scottish Government. Your daughter is an MSP. Your son works for an MSP in opposition. Your daughter is a Policy Officer for COSLA. 27
You have several thousand shares in a VRS/VRI company that has a contract with the Government. You are a Director of a VRS/VRI company that has a contract with a National Public Body. You are a Board member of a Health Board or another Public Body. 28