Thank you for requesting a job pack. In this pack you will find
the following:
An Application Form. Please note we do not accept curriculum
vitae (CVs). Any CVs sent to us will not be forwarded to the
recruitment panel. Applications may be submitted by email to
admin@thecareforum.org.uk
 A Job Description. This explains the duties and responsibilities of
the post.
 A Person Specification. This explains the key skills, experiences
and knowledge required to successfully undertake the work. The
recruitment panel will judge applications against this specification.
Please read it carefully and ensure your application highlights
where you meet these requirements.
 Aims, Objectives and Key Values of The Care Forum
 The Care Forum Equal Opportunities Policy
 Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. Please fill in and return
this form to us, sealed in the envelope provided. It helps us judge
our recruitment practice against our equal opportunities policy. The
information contained within will be kept confidential.
 ‘About The Care Forum’. This contains further information about
the organisation. You may also like to look at our website
www.thecareforum.org
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Additional Information
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The Care Forum currently employs 60+ staff and has a team of approximately
150 volunteers.
We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from
all sectors of the community.
Our main offices at The Vassall Centre, Fishponds, Bristol are free from
barriers and fully accessible for disabled people.
There are offices in Somerset in Bridgwater and Taunton
Annual Leave entitlement is 30 days per annum pro rata plus public and
statutory holidays pro rata.
Employees are eligible to join a stakeholder pension scheme to which the
employer contributes 6% of annual pay.
Our permanent posts are on a grading, which includes annual increments.
Applicants taking up jobs at The Care Forum start at the bottom of the grade.
A lieu time system is in operation at The Care Forum. Overtime is not
payable.
The Care Forum currently uses Microsoft Office 2013 and Sage.
The postholder will be required to travel across the Somerset and Avon area,
for which travelling expenses will be paid.
Please note the following
The enclosed application form should be returned to the Business Support
Officer, The Care Forum, The Vassall Centre, Gill Ave, Fishponds, Bristol BS16
2QQ
Email applications will be accepted at admin@thecareforum.org.uk. Short listed
candidates will be contacted by email, phone or post. In the interests of time we
regret we are unable to acknowledge other applications unless a SAE is
enclosed.
Closing date for this post is 25 January at 5pm 2016.
Interviews will be held on Thursday 4 February 2016.
Thank you for your time and interest
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Aims & Objectives
The Care Forum is an independent not-for-profit organisation working
predominantly in Bristol, South Gloucestershire Bath & North East
Somerset, Somerset and North Somerset.
Aims
The Care Forum aims to promote health and social well-being by:
 Enabling voluntary and community organisations and individuals to participate
fully and equally in the planning and improvement of services
 Empowering individuals and groups to represent themselves and make
informed choices
 Improving people's access to services.
Objectives
The Care Forum’s main objectives are:
 To be a supportive and pro-active infrastructure organisation for the
voluntary and community sector providing effective communication,
consultation and networking opportunities
 To ensure that the voice of the voluntary and community sector is heard at
a local and regional level
 To co-ordinate and facilitate the involvement of the voluntary and
community sector and individuals, working in partnership to plan and
improve health and social care services
 To promote and provide expertise on good practice in public involvement
 To empower individuals by providing independent advocacy services
 To research and provide information and advice on activities, key issues,
services and developments relating to health and well-being
 To create a positive working environment for TCF staff and volunteers and
to encourage their professional and personal development.
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Key Values
The key values that underpin all The Care Forum’s work are:
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Equalities and the principle of inclusion – The Care Forum believes that
every individual has a right to make informed choices and to have equal
access to services and opportunities
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Empowerment – The Care Forum provides support to individuals and
community groups so that they can express their views, make their needs
understood and participate in decision-making
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Independence – The Care Forum remains independent of the agencies
from which it receives funding
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Confidentiality – The Care Forum adheres to a strict code of confidentiality
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Accountability – The Care Forum is responsible to its members, the users
of its services and its funders
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Working in partnership – The Care Forum believes that working together
with other voluntary and community groups, service users and statutory
agencies fosters understanding and provides opportunities for
development
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Quality and value for money – The Care Forum offers professional
services to a high standard, using its resources efficiently and effectively
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Learning organisation –The Care Forum is constantly open to innovation
and regularly reviews its activities, performance and plans for the future.
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Equality Statement
The Care Forum complies with its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010.
It aims to be an anti-discriminatory organisation committed to the promotion of
equality and diversity and the elimination of all forms of discrimination and
oppression on the grounds of age, disability, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual
orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, race, ethnic
origin, colour, nationality, national origin, religion or belief. We oppose all forms of
unlawful and unfair discrimination and aim to challenge oppression in all its
manifestations both as an employer and in service delivery.
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Equality and Diversity Policy
The Care Forum recognises discrimination in all its forms to be a major barrier to
the achievement of genuine equality and therefore identifies elimination of
discrimination as a priority. We will not tolerate discrimination on grounds of
gender, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, race, colour,
nationality, religion, age, disability, HIV positivity, working pattern and maternal
and caring responsibilities or any other grounds.
In policy development, it is our aim to develop and implement anti-discriminatory
strategies and positive action programmes, and to improve these policies
throughout our sphere of influence.
The Care Forum will endeavour to establish a broad base for consultation
amongst staff members and trustees, to identify priorities and needs in
developing its anti-discriminatory policies, strategies and practice.
The Care Forum will regularly monitor and review the composition of its trustees,
staff, membership and service user groups with an aim to encourage a broad
base representation of all those groups amongst its membership.
The Care Forum is keen to promote awareness of equality and diversity issues
amongst its members and service users (which include individuals and voluntary
and community organisations) and encourage them to operate within an antidiscriminatory framework and to challenge oppression.
As an employer, The Care Forum will ensure that all staff is treated without bias
and equally in terms of pay and remuneration.
Any actions by staff or others which are not compliant with this policy could lead
to disciplinary action or cancellation of contracts.
Any member of staff who feels that they have been treated detrimentally and not
in line with this policy should use the grievance policy as a step towards resolving
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the matter. Any person not working for the organisation, should use the
complaints procedure.
This policy applies to:
 All staff employed by The Care Forum irrespective of funding agent
 All members of The Care Forum Executive Committee
 All volunteers of The Care Forum
 All aspects of The Care Forum’s promotional, advice giving,
developmental, networking, joint planning and campaigning functions.
 All providers contracted by The Care Forum
The policy will be reviewed annually by the Equalities Strategy Group, supported
by a general manager.
Whilst all the work carried out in the name of The Care Forum should be carried
out with in line with this policy, the following Care Forum policies and procedures
are also governed by this policy:
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Harassment
Age Discrimination
Redundancy
Recruitment
Employment of people with a criminal record
Whistle-blowing
Work Life Balance
Complaints Procedure
Training.
The policy is governed by the Equality Act 2010.
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Confidential
(please put in a separate envelope)
Equal Opportunities in employment – Monitoring form
This information WILL NOT be used or seen by those involved in the
selection process. It will be separated on receipt and treated as
confidential.
The Care Forum aims to offer equal opportunity in employment. To assist us with
the monitoring for this policy and for that purpose only, please provide the details
below.
Please tick where appropriate:
1.
What is your ethnic group
 White British
 White Irish
 Gypsy / Traveller
 Any Other White Background
 Dual Heritage White and Black
Caribbean
 Dual Heritage White and Black
African
 Dual Heritage White and Asian
 Any other Dual Heritage
background
 Asian or Asian British Chinese
 Asian or Asian British Indian
 Asian or Asian British Pakistani
 Asian or Asian British
Bangladeshi
 Any other Asian or Asian British
background
 Black or Black British Caribbean
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 Black or Black British African
Somali
 Black or Black British African
Other
 Any other Black or Black British
background
 Any other ethnic background
 Prefer not to say
2.
Disability is defined by the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) as:
A ‘physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse
effect on the ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’.
Do you consider yourself to have a disability as defined by the Disability
Discrimination Act (1995)?
 Yes
□ No
□ Prefer not to say
If yes what is the nature of your disability?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3.
What is your religion?
 Christian
 Muslim
 Sikh
 No religion
4.
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What is your Sexual Orientation?
Lesbian/ gay
Bisexual
Heterosexual
Prefer not to say
5.
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What is your Gender?
Female
Male
Prefer not to say
6. Are you Transgender?
 Yes
 No
 Prefer not to say
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What is your Age?
18 or under
19-25
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65-74
75-84
85 and over
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□
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Hindu
Jewish
Any other religion
Prefer not to say
8. Your marriage or civil partnership status
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Never married and never registered in a same sex civil partnership
Married
Separated but still legally married
Divorced
Widowed
In a registered same-sex civil partnership
Formerly in a same-sex civil partnership which is now legally dissolved
Surviving partner from a same-sex civil partnership
9. Do you have any caring responsibilities. e.g. children, people with physical or
learning impairments, elderly relatives? (please tick)
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10.
Yes
□No
How did you hear about this post?
Please specify the name of the website, newspaper etc.
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