Standards of Conduct Committee

 ‘Creating the Right Culture’ – dignity and respect in the Assembly.

The Standards of Conduct Committee has been examining the National Assembly’s code of conduct and the establishment of a new Dignity and Respect policy. Having reflected on the progress of its work and in light of the evidence heard, the Committee has agreed that it needs to better understand how the issues around inappropriate behaviour are addressed at the National Assembly for Wales.

As a result, the Committee has agreed to appoint an independent expert adviser to help the Committee navigate through the issues raised as part of this inquiry and establish a reference group to provide a robust challenge for the Committee’s proposals as they are developed.

The Roles

Expert Adviser

The expert adviser will work with the Committee secretariat to analyse the issues raised in, and provide authoritative advice to the Committee on the Creating the Right Culture Inquiry, which is considering how the issues around inappropriate behaviour are addressed at the National Assembly for Wales

Applicants will need to have expert knowledge of the subject matter and be able to provide clear, concise and impartial advice orally and in writing to politicians.

The successful applicant may be asked to:

• comment on drafts of written material produced by the Committee secretariat
• advise on sources of information and evidence
• contribute to briefing notes for the Committee
• provide advice on commissioning research
• attend Committee meetings and provide oral briefings.

Reference Group

Members of the reference group will be asked to provide the Committee with constructive challenge about the evidence taken by the Committee and to any proposals emerging from the Creating the Right Culture Inquiry.

Knowledge and skills

The Committee would like to hear from people who have expert knowledge on one or more of the following:

· sexual, or other types of, harassment;

· achieving cultural change;

· experience of the political environment.

Applicants should be well placed to advise the Committee on how to get the best range of evidence on the issues raised by the inquiry.

Particularly for the expert adviser an individual who:

• can advise on individuals, organisations and experts to consult on this subject
• is familiar with research, policy and current debates about the issue of sexual harassment
• has up-to-date knowledge of the legal and policy framework in this area
• ideally has research experience 

Further information about the inquiry is available on the inquiry page.

Time commitment

The expert adviser role is likely to run from April 2018 for around four months.

The overall commitment is unlikely to be more than around 10 days, and only in exceptional circumstances would you be asked to do more than two days' work in a particular week.

You would be paid a daily rate on the basis of work done.

Membership of the reference group is likely to run from May 2018 for around three months and the overall commitment is unlikely to be more than around 5 days and reasonable expenses will be met.

Application Process

To express an interest in either the expert adviser role or membership of the reference group, please send a CV, covering letter and a declaration of relevant interests to SeneddStandards@assembly.wales by 24 April 2018.

The covering letter should:

• set out how your expertise is relevant to this inquiry
• give an indication of the amount of time you could realistically devote to Committee work

The declaration of interests should include anything that a reasonable person might consider could influence the advice you give to the Committee.

Examples include a relevant financial interest, active membership of a relevant campaign group or political party or the involvement of a close family member in the area of specialism.