Feedback and appeals

Feedback process

An applicant may seek feedback following an interview. This is at the discretion of the hiring manager due to volume of applications. Requests for feedback must be received via email within ten working days, following the outcome of the interview.

Unsuccessful candidates

Unsuccessful candidates who are withdrawn during the pre-employment stages of recruitment, may re-apply to any advertised vacancies six to twelve months after the date of their withdrawal, the exact timescale will be confirmed on relevant documentation. Candidates have the opportunity to appeal the withdrawal decision.

Appeal process

Nottinghamshire Police have an appeal process for candidates who have been unsuccessful following their conditional offer. Appeals will only be considered if received within ten working days of the notification being sent to advise that they were unsuccessful in their application.

Appeals sent after this time will not be accepted.

All appeals should be submitted in writing to the Recruitment team email: [email protected]

To submit an appeal there must be justification that there may have been:

• A failure to apply the recruitment and selection policy in a consistent and fair manner

• An inappropriate judgement or a decision that cannot be justified or evidenced

• A decision relating to medical grounds or disability discrimination:

(*please note that where medical information has informed a decision the Occupational Health Unit will be consulted) The appeal will be assessed in conjunction with the current medical standards.

The following are not grounds for an appeal:

• General frustration at non-selection

• The design, structure and content of the recruitment and selection process

• Not performing well on the day

• Disagreement with the awarded scores or scoring matrix at the assessment centre or interview

Pre-employment vetting decision

Where vetting clearance has been declined, an appeal against the decision must be submitted in writing by the vetting applicant to the Force Vetting Unit.

There are four grounds for appeal against the vetting decision:

• Further information is available that was not considered by the original decision maker

• The decision is disproportionate considering the circumstances or details of the case

• The decision was perverse or unreasonable

• No explanation has been given for the decision

The aim is for vetting appeals to be completed with ten working days of receipt of the appeal. Should the appeal decision determine that vetting is declined, there is no further right of appeal.

The process

• Acknowledgement will be made to the applicant within five working days from the receipt of appeal by the recruitment team. This will then be sent on to an independent party for a full investigation.

• Following a full investigation into the issues raised, a full and final response will be made in writing within ten working days.

If it is not possible to respond fully within this time period, you will be contacted with the reasons why and a new date provided.

Possible outcomes

• The appeal is not founded – this will include where there is insufficient supporting information to substantiate the grounds for the appeal

• An acknowledgement that alternative processes might have been more suitable, but that the outcome is not likely to have been substantially affected

• An acknowledgement that alternative processes might have been more suitable and as the selection process has not been finished the applicant will now be included in the process

• Where the recruitment, selection or promotion process has concluded the applicant must re-apply at the next process

• The selection process will be cancelled and re-run

• Any other action deemed appropriate in the circumstances

• The appeal is upheld and the candidate will continue with the recruitment process

*There is no opportunity for a further appeal.

Conclusion

Appeals will aim to be dealt with within ten working days of the date of receipt, however vetting and medical appeals could require more time dependent on their process. Candidates will be notified that the review is ongoing should there be any delays.

In all cases, appeals will only be upheld if it can be shown that one or more of the reasons of appeal have taken place.

Upon completion of the appeal, an outcome will be provided to the candidate in writing.

This is the conclusion of the candidates appeal and there is no further route of appeal.

Candidates will be advised that they will be required to wait six to twelve months from the date of their appeal conclusion before they are eligible to re-apply for any vacancy within Nottinghamshire Police.

Candidates should be cognisant of the outcome of the recruitment process and that pre-employment checks will be conducted on any future roles. Should the candidate have any other live applications, these will be withdrawn.