Introduction

Cornwall Council is a unitary authority created on 1st April 2009. We merged Cornwall County Council with the six Borough and District Councils of Cornwall - Caradon, Carrick, Kerrier, North Cornwall, Restormel and Penwith.

The Council has a revenue budget of over £1bn, with 87 local Councillors representing the 550,000 residents of Cornwall, delivering services to every community across the County.

Our mission; Working with communities for a carbon neutral Cornwall, where everyone can start well, live well and age well.

Underpinning the mission are four priority outcomes.  Each outcome has an Outcome delivery plan which sets out how we are going to deliver.

1. A brilliant place to grow up
2. A thriving, sustainable Cornwall
3. Vibrant, safe, supportive communities
4. Supported by an empowering and enterprising Council

The Council has a workforce of around 5,000 and is the biggest employer in Cornwall. The Chief Executive and Strategic Directors form the Council's management team.

Council staff and services are based in offices, depots and facilities across Cornwall. Advice and information about Council services are available through our Information Service (One Stop Shops), call centre and website.

In addition, Cornwall Council has a diverse group of wholly owned companies providing:

• infrastructure
• engineering
• housing
• jobs
• social care
• facilities management
• inward investment
• transport

and other essential services to Cornwall.

Corserv Group includes:

• Cormac Solutions
• Cornwall Airport Newquay
• Cornwall Housing
• Corserv Care
• Corserv Facilities 
• Jobline Staffing
• Talent Tide 
• Corserv's Notter Bridge

Having a single Council gives Cornwall a strong and united voice when dealing with national government, regional agencies and partner organisations. This has meant that Cornwall was the first rural authority to agree a Devolution Deal with the Government. The Cornwall Devolution Deal outlines the powers that are devolved to Cornwall for transport, energy, health and social care, and heritage.

Yet, it does not mean that it's a case of "one size fits all". Different towns and villages in Cornwall have different priorities. We respond to those local needs through 12 community area partnerships.

With a competitive employee reward package that attracts, retains and motivates our employees, open plan working environment in most offices, and a can-do culture where talented people thrive, Cornwall Council is a great place to work. And, with its beautiful beaches, stunning countryside and superb community spirit, it is also a great place to live.

Why consider us?

Cornwall Council’s ambition is to be an employer of choice, a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance. Whilst still ensuring that service needs are met. 

Please be aware the flexible working policy does not apply to school based employees. It is also limited within the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service.

A few examples of our flexible working opportunities are:

• Annualised Hours – available where there are seasonal variations in demand.
• Compressed Hours – for example, full contracted hours spread over a 9 day fortnight instead of 10 days.
• Core Hours and flexi time – ability to flex working hours around core times.
• Job share – when two employees share the responsibilities of a full post.
• Part time working – for example, for family friendly/ caring reasons.
• Term Time only – working during schools terms only.
• Flexible work settings - for example, partnership buildings or hot desking across the Council.
• Home working – all I.T. equipment and access will be arranged by our Information Services team.
• Reasonable adjustments – for those applicants who are disabled, reasonable adjustments can be accommodated to support the application, shortlisting and interview process. 

Our core employee rewards and benefits include:

• Competitive salary. Cornwall Council pays employees a minimum of the Living Wage Foundation rate. (Excludes some training roles or placements).
• Defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings. This includes the option for extra voluntary contributions. 
• Generous annual leave allowance, plus: 
• bank holidays
• ability to buy extra annual leave
• family friendly leave
• pay and working arrangements.
• Payment of relevant professional fees.
• Car salary sacrifice scheme.
• Relocation scheme (for certain roles).
• Relevant learning and development opportunities.
• National award winning employee health and wellbeing programme.
• Unlimited paid time off for employees who require fertility investigations and treatment – the Council is accredited as the first ‘Fertility Friendly’ Local Authority in the UK, from the organisation Fertility Matters at Work.
• Employee assistance programme (EAP) and access to confidential counselling.
• Volunteering scheme allowing 2 days paid volunteering days per year.
• Coaching and mentoring schemes for staff.

We have an employee voluntary benefits scheme called One and All Employee Benefits. This gives employees access to a wide range of discounts to local and national goods and services. Including a salary sacrifice scheme for tech products and cycle to work.

Our commitment is to improve employee engagement and support with many initiatives, including:

• employee network forums where staff can meet and discuss topics relevant to them;
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning
• Employee Disability
• Women's
• Race Equality
• Early Careers Network
• Men's Forum
• Armed Forces Forum
• Fertility cafés
• a new employee performance management and development process
• an employee recognition scheme
• an employee suggestion scheme

We are always developing our employee rewards and benefits package. As well as this we give you the opportunity to develop your career with Cornwall’s largest employer. Coupled with the chance to live in one of the country’s most beautiful counties. We offer a lifestyle and professional satisfaction that few organisations can match.

Apprenticeships and work experience

Apprenticeships within the Council are seen and valued as high-quality pathways to successful careers, providing opportunities for new and existing employees to develop.

Apprenticeship, graduate and work experience opportunities can be found on our website or by emailing [email protected]

Developing your career with us

We know that developing and supporting our employees puts us in a great position to deliver better services to the people of Cornwall.

We place great emphasis on developing an individual’s skills and career. We have a strong track record in investing in our people and the Council has Investors in People status.

Your development begins with an induction where you find out what it means to work for a local authority. You will discover where you fit within the Council and how you can help achieve its objectives.

There may be specific training that you need to enable you to fulfil your role. You will receive an employee induction booklet and a new employee checklist. The booklet and checklist will be an initial guide to help you settle into your role.

The length and nature of any induction process depends on the complexity of the job and your previous skills and knowledge.

Our personal development planning forms part of our appraisal system. Your line manager works with you to identify any development required. This will help you to perform well, achieve your personal objectives and support your future career aspirations.

If you are joining the Council as a new manager we have a Cornwall Manager portal which will help you undertake your management responsibilities. The portal provides information; guidance and support to help you and your team achieve its results.

We have a wide range of options to support your career. These are;

• role specific,
• skills and talent based,
• mandatory training,
• management and leadership programmes, which include accredited and non-accredited options.

In turn this will help the Council to create a high performing organisation.