Appointment of BSL representatives to the British Sign Language (BSL)
National Advisory Group
Review Date: November 2017
18/12/15
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 28th January 2016. You will find out if you have got
an interview on Friday 12th February 2016, and the interview dates are on the 23rd and 24th February 2016 in Victoria
Quay in Edinburgh.
The people who are successful will be told on Friday 26th February 2016. The public announcement will take place
on Monday 1st 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 (2nd) will be a group introduction day where everyone will meet
before the actual work of the BSL National Advisory Group begins.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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. ”
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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
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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
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
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.
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Interview Timetable
The closing date for your application is 11.59pm on Thursday 28th January 2016.
You will find out if you have got an interview on Friday 12th February 2016.
The interview dates are on the 23rd and 24th 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.
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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.
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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 28th 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).
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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.
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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.
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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 23rd and 24th 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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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– 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.
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1. General Skills and Personal Qualities
Knowledge, Skills, Experience
and Understanding
What does this mean
Understand issues that the  Explain problems and think of
people being represented on the
ideas to fix problems
BSL National Advisory Group  Decide what is important
face on a day-to-day basis
 Do not focus on personal
problems
 Focus on what is good for all
BSL users in future.
You have represented the views
of a group at meetings and
gatherings
 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.
How will this be tested
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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.
We will ask you to prove this in your
application by giving us an example.
At interview we will test your skills and
experience.
You will have a good
understanding of government
policy, national priorities and
local issues
 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.
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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
We will ask you to prove this in your
 You will know about the current
application by giving us an example.
opportunities and challenges
At interview we will test your skills and
facing public bodies.
experience.
 You will understand the
legislative framework.
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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.
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 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.
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