Working for Bury Council
We value individuality in our workforce and aim to make the best use of each employee's skills, knowledge, talents, ability and experience.
We recognise the value of a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. Increased diversity within our workforce leads to creativity and innovation through an increased sharing of knowledge, skills and life experiences.
Inclusion in recruitment
Our recruitment process is open and fair for everyone. We encourage all sections of the community to apply for our jobs, particularly those who are currently underrepresented in our workforce, including people from racially minoritised communities, disabled people, neurodivergent people, LGBTQI, carers, care leavers and military veterans.
To demonstrate our commitment to supporting the recruitment of underrepresented people we have been awarded high level awards recognising our inclusive approach to recruitment and employment. These are:
- Disability Confident Leader Status
- The Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award
Our recruitments can be flexible with application and assessment methods that are appropriate to the roles available which encourage a wide range of candidates to apply and be the best they can be during recruitments. We actively encourage people to ask for adjustments if they need these to support their application or during the recruitment.
We will ask you to complete an equality monitoring form when you apply for a job with us and we'll keep your answers strictly confidential at all times.
This form is not seen by our recruiting teams and we only use the information for statistical monitoring only, no one will be personally identified from the form. This helps us respond to any inequalities that might occur so that we can continue to have recruitment practices that are fully inclusive.
Guarantee Assessment Scheme
We offer a guaranteed assessment scheme for candidates who meet all the essential criteria for a role and are:
- Care leavers
- Carers
- Disabled
- Military Veterans,
We may also extend this guaranteed assessment scheme to candidates with other characteristics and backgrounds in specific recruitments.
This will be dependent on other factors such as having a significant under representation of a characteristic within the recruiting team or department or when there is a genuine occupational requirement to appoint someone with a specific characteristic or background. This will be highlighted on the vacancy advertisement.
To be considered under the guaranteed assessment scheme you should select this option on the online application form if you are applying through Greater Jobs or by notifying the recruiting manager directly.
Inclusion in employment
We're committed to providing a working environment where our employees are treated with dignity and respect and are valued for the different skills and abilities they bring into the workplace. Bullying, harassment or anti-social behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated.
Employee groups
We have equality related colleague groups which were established in partnership with NHS Bury, Persona, Unison and ourselves. These are:
- Disabled Employee Group
- Group of Ethnic Minority Staff (GEMS)
- LGBT+ Employee Group
- Women’s Employee Group
The groups' functions are to:
- Be a support network for colleagues
- Promote awareness and education for equality topics
- Celebrate the diversity of Bury
- Provide advice and guidance from a lived experience perspective
- Be a critical friend to the Council
All of these groups are available for consultation, provide scrutiny of council services and provide advice and guidance to colleagues and managers.
Colleagues can attend at least six employee group meetings in paid work time, subject to operational requirements.