A Guide to Applying for a Job at DaDaFest – October 2013
A Guide to
Applying for a Job at DaDaFest
This information is available in other formats on
request. Contact for office for more details.
Registered Charity: 1014390
Company Limited by guarantee: 2636606
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A Guide to Applying for a Job at DaDaFest – October 2013
Page
1.
Introduction
A. Commitment to Equalities
2.
Applying for a Job
A. The Advert
B. The Application Pack
C. Access Support
D. Job Description Explained
E. The Application Form
F. Returning the Completed form
G. The Diversity Monitoring Form
3.
The Selection Process
A. Positive about Disabled People
B. Preparing for Interview
Registered Charity: 1014390
Company Limited by guarantee: 2636606
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A Guide to Applying for a Job at DaDaFest – October 2013
1. Introduction
Formed in 1984, DaDaFest is a leading disability arts organisation.
Formerly known as AIM [Arts Integrated Merseyside], it changed its
name firstly in 1990 to NWDAF [North West Disability Arts Forum] to
reflect a changing society to empower d/Disabled and d/Deaf people and
becoming one of the first controlled-led arts organisations in the UK.
Due to its success, specifically with its arts projects it changed its name
to ‘DaDa – Disability and Deaf Arts’, then DaDaFest, to align with the
success of the festival – which celebrated its 11th anniversary in 2012
and now known solely as DaDaFest.
We work to empower all disabled/deaf groups and as such ensure that
right from your first contact with us; we can meet your needs and
welcome you to knowing more about our work and encouraging you to
become a part of our service.
We operate as a Registered Charity and Company Limited by
Guarantee. We are also a ‘control-led’ charity which means 80% of our
board are self-disclosing disabled or deaf people.
We have a range of benefits that includes a pension contribution
scheme, flexible working hours and a culture to listen and respond to the
needs of our workers.
If you decide to apply for a job with us, this information pack should
provide you with as much information as possible to help make the best
application you can. The guide will give you information on recruitment,
selection and interview process. It will also provide hints and tips on how
to make your application successful.
A. Our Commitment to Equalities
It is our policy to ensure that no applicant will be discriminated against in
the recruitment and selection process on the grounds of:
Actual or perceived AIDS/ HIV
Registered Charity: 1014390
Company Limited by guarantee: 2636606
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A Guide to Applying for a Job at DaDaFest – October 2013
Age
Civil Partnership
Marital Status
Nationality
Colour
Race
Ethnic or national origin
Religion/faith
Sexuality
Transgender/transsexual identity
Social Background
Gender
Disability
Please note this list is not prescriptive and we will continue to review and
revise on an annual basis, but will also take on any comments to
improve and enhance our information.
We have been awarded ‘Investors in People’, and ‘Investors in Children’.
2. Applying for a Job
A. The Advert
The first stage of the process is the advert. When you see the advert
that describes the job you are looking for, you should carefully look at
the information in terms of:
 Responsibilities
 Qualifications
 Experience
 Knowledge and Skills
From this information, you should consider how your skills and
experience match the job. If you feel they do, then you should apply.
NB: We aim to put adverts into a variety of places and ensure that the
jobs are advertised on our networks reaching as many community
Registered Charity: 1014390
Company Limited by guarantee: 2636606
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A Guide to Applying for a Job at DaDaFest – October 2013
groups as possible. We will target specific groups and place adverts into
the local job centres and other neighbourhood support centres.
B. The Application Pack
The application pack will provide as much detail as possible to help you
know if the job is right for you. It is available on the website
www.dadafest.co.uk, alternatively you can contact the office for an
application pack to be sent out to you. You should read all the
information thoroughly. Each pack will vary depending on the job in the
advert. It will also contain details of how to return your completed
application form.
Each pack will include:
 Job Description including:
o Role Profile
o Eligibility Criteria
o Key Tasks and Responsibilities
 Application Form
 The Diversity Monitoring Form
C. Access Support
It is important you let us know as early as possible if you have any
access requirements in order for us to put into place the correct support
you may need to ensure you can present yourself fully at the interview if
you are shortlisted. This can be anything from Lip-readers, hearing
loops, Personal Assistant etc. Please do contact the office is you are
unsure what this means or if you have any queries as to what your level
of support may mean.
D. Job Description Explained
The Job Description provides details of:
Family – the job family that the role profile is part of.
Registered Charity: 1014390
Company Limited by guarantee: 2636606
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A Guide to Applying for a Job at DaDaFest – October 2013
DaDaFest has three ‘Job Families’, groupings which help define jobs by
similar purposes.
These are:
 Strategic
 Operational
 Artistic
Eligibility Criteria – the qualifications you will need for the role and
whether they are essential or preferred; the work knowledge you need,
such as experience of dealing with particular people or settings,
operating equipment, writing reports etc.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities - the main actions needed to carry out
the job, but not every single duty or responsibility.
This section identifies essential, desirable or additional qualities and
skills that we deem important or useful for the job.
Essential – the criteria necessary for the applicant to perform at a
satisfactory level from day one of the job. If you do not meet this criteria
you would not be short-listed for the interview.
Desirable – the criteria that would help you perform the job more
effectively.
E. The Application Form
The application form gives you the opportunity to ‘market’ yourself more
effectively providing the selection panel information about your skills,
knowledge and qualifications to fit the requirements of the job. The
information will help us to decide whether to invite you to an interview,
so it is important to complete it as fully as possibly.
You should read the instructions and questions being asked carefully
and answer any questions fully. You should look at and use the advert,
role profile, and other supporting information and tell us how your skills,
knowledge and qualifications match our needs.
Registered Charity: 1014390
Company Limited by guarantee: 2636606
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A Guide to Applying for a Job at DaDaFest – October 2013
You will be welcome to use extra pages if necessary, but do make sure
it is clearly marked with your name and contact details.
NB: If you need a different format [such as large print, Braille
computer disk, tape etc], do let us know as soon as possible
You must complete an application form to be considered for the job.
We do not usually consider C.V.’s and you would need to contact the
office to make a request for this to be accepted as part of the application
process stating your reasons.
F. Returning the Completed Form
Keep to the closing date stated in the application pack and advert. Late
applications cannot be accepted.
Applications can be returned by post or email. If returned by email we
will ask you to sign the form at the interview stage.
G. The Diversity Monitoring Form
The information on this form is requested, but strictly voluntary. It will be
kept confidential and not be shown to the short-listing or interviewing
panel. The reason we request it is to ensure we are working within our
Equal Opportunities Policy.
3. The Selection Process
Only after the closing date we will collect all the application forms and
start the short-listing process.
Your application will be treated fairly and equally and will be measured
against the roles and responsibilities and shortlist criteria for the post
concentrating on skills, knowledge and qualifications required.
Registered Charity: 1014390
Company Limited by guarantee: 2636606
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A Guide to Applying for a Job at DaDaFest – October 2013
Your personal details – name, age, address etc will not be disclosed to
the short-listing panel to ensure fairness with selection.
If you are not short-listed, to do let this put you off applying for another
job with us. Look at why you were not successful and try to learn from
this for future applications. Especially look at the skills you may need to
acquire and see how you can gain them for applying to future job
opportunities.
Getting to the interview stage means that your application must have
made a good impression. At this stage we are interested in you because
on paper your skills, experiences and qualifications meet the minimum
criteria for the post.
A. Positive about Disabled People
DaDaFest is positive about Disabled People which means we will
guarantee an interview for anyone self-disclosing as a disabled or deaf
person applying, as long as they demonstrate that they meet the basic
criteria for the job.
We ask in the application form to let us know if you have any additional
requirements or access support that will assist you with the interview.
These things may include a British Sign Language Interpreter, Hearing
Loop, level access etc. It is important to think through this carefully as
we aim to provide all you require to feel confident during the interview, if
you were shortlisted.
B. Preparing for the Interview
It is important that you know the date and time and location for the
interview. If you need to know any other information, do contact us.
It is important that you read any instructions carefully. Depending on the
job role you may be asked to deliver a presentation. You will be able to
use a variety of different tools to assist [Flip Chart, Power point Projector
etc]. Please let us know what you would like in plenty of time.
Registered Charity: 1014390
Company Limited by guarantee: 2636606
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A Guide to Applying for a Job at DaDaFest – October 2013
Our aim is to give you a positive interview experience and we will always
provide feedback.
Remember, do contact the office if you have any query, no matter how
small or detailed.
Ruth Gould
Artistic Director, DaDaFest
Registered Charity: 1014390
Company Limited by guarantee: 2636606
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