Competency framework

Our competency framework is a vital tool that we use to set out the qualities and skills that we feel are needed to carry out the various roles within the Audit Commission. It's designed to help us make sure we're matching people to the right jobs when recruiting and we also use it widely in ongoing career development.

If you search for a vacancy on this site you'll see that each job description comes with a list of relevant competencies and if you decide to apply to join us we'll ask you, as part of the application process, to tell us how you have demonstrated those qualities and skills in the past. It's not intended to trip you up, but rather assist us in evaluating your fit within our stated competency requirements, something that really can't be assessed from just a CV.

The principles that guided our thinking when we were designing the competency framework were:

1. That it encapsulates the main objectives of the Commission
2. That it is simple
3. That there is clarity and no unnecessary overlap between core competency areas

There are 3 simple core competency headings that are reflective of exactly how we see the Audit Commission facing up to the future:

• Modernising the Audit Commission
• Improving Public Services
• Developing our People.

And it is from these 3 headings that flow the 7 key competency areas:

• Developing our Services
• Managing the Business
• Leading & Developing Others
• Technically Knowledgeable & Informed
• Communicating & Relating to Others
• Using Judgement
• Understanding Clients.

Each role will require a different degree of proven ability, expertise and capability within different competencies, which will then form the guideline for recruitment as well as ongoing performance evaluation.