<h4>Job summary</h4><p>We are recruiting four Proofreaders to join our Inspection Quality & Complaints Administration Team. </p><p>The postholders will report to the Inspection Quality Officer (Operations) and will be responsible for ensuring that inspection report cards across all remits are accurate, consistent, and free from spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting errors prior to publication. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals with exceptional attention to detail and strong written communication skills to play a key role in supporting the quality of our published inspection materials.</p><p>This is a fantastic opportunity to further your experience in Ofsted’s well-established team. The post holder will work with high-achieving professionals at all levels, surrounded by a friendly and supportive team. They will have access to amazing benefits, such as flexible working hours, the Civil Service Pension Scheme, and 32.5 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays. We offer a hybrid working model, so you may also choose to spend a proportion of time working from home.</p><h4>Job description</h4>Please refer to the job specification for further information.<h4>Person specification</h4>Please refer to the job specification for further information.<h4>Behaviours</h4><p>We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:</p><ul><li>Delivering at Pace</li><li>Communicating and Influencing</li><li>Making Effective Decisions</li><li>Working Together</li></ul><h4>Technical skills</h4><p>We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:</p><ul><li>Experience in proofreading documents written by colleagues at all levels and providing feedback for improvement, with strong knowledge and familiarity in applying an organisation’s preferred house style.</li><li>A high level of concentration, accuracy and attention to detail to deliver work under pressure. Ability to motivate self throughout the day with limited direction and supervision, making sure service levels, timeliness and quality is maintained.</li><li>Communicating effectively with stakeholders, explaining processes and giving accurate information in response to enquiries.</li><li>Strong IT skills including knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite, using PDF and tracked changes and preferably including SharePoint</li></ul><h4>Benefits</h4>Alongside your salary of £26,840, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills contributes £7,775 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. <a href="https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/memberhub/joining-the-pension-scheme/benefits-of-the-pension-scheme/" target="_blank"> Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.</a><p>Full details of the benefits available can be found in our <a href="https://view.pagetiger.com/ofsted-offer" target="_blank">Ofsted Offer</a> brochure.</p><p>Ofsted is devoted to <strong>equality</strong>, <strong>diversity</strong> and <strong>inclusion.</strong> Within our <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsted-strategy-2022-to-2027/ofsted-strategy-2022-27#strategic-priorities" target="_blank">Ofsted Strategy 2023-2027</a> we have stated that we will improve the representation of under-represented groups across the organisation and publish our progress on this annually. We are always looking to expand on our diverse workforce by recruiting candidates from varied backgrounds and differing experiences. We are proud to be a <strong>Disability Confident – Leader</strong>, we continually engage with our 5 staff networks for protected characteristics, and highlight the work of our <strong>Equalities,</strong>Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Group. We ensure all candidates are treated with fair and open competition, with all appointments being made on merit and we use our Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) to provide assurance to all candidates of this.</p><p>Ofsted is committed to maintaining employee health and wellbeing, whether it is physically, emotionally, financially or socially, and offers a range of benefits to support employees in this. Such benefits include the option to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme, professional and personal development opportunities, 32.5 annual leave days per annum (plus eight days public holiday) and access to counselling and advisory services.</p><h4>Things you need to know</h4><h4>Artificial intelligence</h4>Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our <a href="https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/artificial-intelligence-and-recruitment/" target="_blank">candidate guidance (opens in a new window)</a> for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.<h4>Selection process details</h4>This vacancy is using <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles" target="_blank">Success Profiles (opens in a new window)</a>, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.<p><strong>Application and Shortlisting:</strong></p><p>The selection panel will assess your application based on your evidence you have provided against the essential/desirable criteria as set out in the job specification.</p><p>Use the STAR model (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to present your evidence.</p><p>You will also be asked to provide information within the “Employer/Activity History” section of the application form. This information is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV setting out your career history (this may be used in the sifting process).</p><p><strong>Assessment and Interview:</strong><br>Candidates who pass the benchmark at the shortlist stage will be invited to an assessment and interview where you will be assessed against a mixture of the Civil Service behaviours and on the technical/experience skills as detailed in the job specification.</p><p>If we receive a high number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted based on the following lead criterions:</p><ul><li>Experience in proofreading documents written by colleagues at all levels and providing feedback for improvement, with strong knowledge and familiarity in applying an organisation’s preferred house style.</li><li>A high level of concentration, accuracy, and attention to detail to deliver work under pressure. Ability to motivate self throughout the day with limited direction and supervision, making sure service levels, timeliness and quality is maintained. </li></ul><p>Applicants who meet this initial eligibility criterion will be invited to progress to the next stage of the selection process. If required, a further full sift will be undertaken, where all applications that passed the initial sift will be assessed against the complete set of essential criteria outlined in the job description.</p><p>The assessment consists of two parts: a written exercise and a grammar assessment. Full details will be provided on the day of the interview and assessment.</p><p>Assessment and Interviews will be held during the <strong>week commencing 6 April 2026</strong> at <strong>Piccadilly Gate, Manchester</strong>.</p><br><br>Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.<h4>Security</h4>Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-baseline-personnel-security-standard" target="_blank">baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window)</a> checks.<h4>Nationality requirements</h4><p>This job is broadly open to the following groups:</p><ul><li>UK nationals</li><li>nationals of the Republic of Ireland</li><li>nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK</li><li>nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families" target="_blank">European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)</a></li><li>nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)</li><li>individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020</li><li>Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service</li></ul><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules" target="_blank">Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)</a><h4>Working for the Civil Service</h4>The <a href="http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/" target="_blank">Civil Service Code (opens in a new window)</a> sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.<br><br>We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's <a href="https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-principles/" target="_blank">recruitment principles (opens in a new window)</a>.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.<h4>Diversity and Inclusion</h4>The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-people-plan-2024-2027/civil-service-people-plan-2024-2027-html" target="_blank">Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window)</a> and the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy-2022-to-2025" target="_blank">Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window)</a>.<h4>Apply and further information</h4>This vacancy is part of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans" target="_blank">Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window)</a> initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.<h4>Contact point for applicants</h4><h4>Job contact : </h4><ul><li>Name : People Services Delivery Team</li><li>Email : <a href="mailto:jobs@ofsted.gov.uk" target="_blank">jobs@ofsted.gov.uk</a></li><li>Telephone : 03000 131 487</li></ul><h4>Recruitment team</h4><ul><li>Email : <a href="mailto:jobs@ofsted.gov.uk" target="_blank">jobs@ofsted.gov.uk</a></li></ul><h4>Further information</h4>If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should email Ofsted recruitment at <a href="mailto:jobs@ofsted.gov.uk" target="_blank">jobs@ofsted.gov.uk</a> in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: <a href="https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recrutiment" target="_blank">https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recrutiment</a><br><br><h4>Attachments</h4><a href="https://files.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/admin/fairs/apptrack/download.cgi?SID=b3duZXI9NTA3MDAwMCZvd25lcnR5cGU9ZmFpciZkb2NfdHlwZT12YWMmZG9jX2lkPTEyODM4NTAmdmVyaWZ5PTY2ZDMwOTE5ZTA2NjY1YWIxOWZkMzI0MjFlOGQ1YzFiJnJlcXNpZz0xNzcyNjg1MDc2LTg1MjgzM2VkNjBkYzRlZjNhNGZmMzk2ZjY3YTA3MjFmMWU2OWExYjU=" target="_blank">Job specification - Inspection Quality Proofreader (Operations) Opens in new window</a> (pdf, 191kB)