Public appointments application guidance

Applying for a public appointment can feel daunting, particularly if this is your first time applying.

We want the process to be as open, transparent and accessible as possible. Public appointments are open to people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You do not need previous board experience to apply.

Whether your experience comes from employment, volunteering, community activity, governance roles, caring responsibilities or lived experience, it may provide valuable evidence of what you could bring to the role. The assessment process is designed to recognise different types of experience and the contribution they can make to public life in Wales. 

To help you understand the recruitment process and how candidates are assessed, we have developed a candidate guide. The guide provides practical information on the Assessment Framework, what panels are looking for, how to provide strong evidence and the support available throughout the recruitment process.

The Public Appointments Assessment Framework looks at evidence across four broad areas:

Motivation, Public Service and Integrity

This explores:

• Why you want to serve in public life
• Your commitment to acting in the public interest
• Your understanding of accountability and stewardship
• The values and standards you would bring to the role

Collaboration and Constructive Challenge

This explores how you work with others and contribute to collective decision-making.

This may include:

• Building effective relationships
• Listening to different perspectives
• Working collaboratively to improve outcomes
• Offering constructive challenge when appropriate

Curiosity, Judgement and Ethical Decision-Making

This explores how you approach problems, make decisions and exercise judgement.

This may include:

• Analysing information
• Considering risks and opportunities
• Balancing competing priorities
• Applying sound judgement in complex situations
• Considering ethical implications when making decisions

Future Awareness

This explores your understanding of the organisation, its operating environment and the wider context in which it works.

This may include:

• Awareness of future challenges and opportunities
• Understanding the Welsh context
• Interest in the organisation and its purpose
• The ability to think strategically and look beyond immediate issues

Candidates are assessed against these four areas throughout the recruitment process. Panels consider evidence from the application, interview and board simulation exercise, rather than relying on a single stage of the process.

The application form gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your experiences, skills, judgement and potential contribution.

Strong applications usually:

• Use specific examples rather than general statements
• Explain what you personally did
• Describe how decisions were reached
• Show how challenges were approached
• Demonstrate the impact or outcome achieved
• Reflect on what the example says about the way you think and work

When describing an example, focus not only on what happened, but on:

• How you approached the situation
• What information you considered
• How you worked with others
• How you weighed different options
• What informed your judgement

Panels are interested in understanding how you think and contribute, not simply what position you held or how much experience you have. experience, not background.

Drawing on different experiences

Evidence can come from many aspects of your life and career.

Examples might include:

• Employment or professional experience
• Public, private or voluntary sector roles
• Community involvement
• Governance experience
• Volunteering
• Education
• Caring responsibilities
• Personal or lived experience

You do not need to demonstrate every assessment area through formal leadership or board-level experience. Transferable skills and insights gained through different experiences can provide equally valuable evidence. 

Using lived experience

Everyone brings experiences and perspectives that may be relevant to a public appointment.

You are welcome to draw on lived experience where it is relevant to the role and helps demonstrate your understanding, judgement, values, behaviours or perspective.

Lived experience may strengthen evidence by demonstrating:

• A deeper understanding of how decisions affect people and communities
• Motivation for public service
• Awareness of barriers, risks or opportunities
• The ability to bring different perspectives to discussions and decision-making

Panels assess the quality and relevance of the evidence you provide, not where that evidence comes from. Lived experience is not a separate assessment criterion, but it can help strengthen evidence across the framework where it is relevant to the role.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to inclusive recruitment for public appointments. If you are disabled, have a long-term health condition, or specific access need, we can offer reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process.

What are reasonable adjustments?

Reasonable adjustments are changes that remove barriers and help ensure a fair and accessible recruitment experience. These may include:

• Providing application forms in accessible formats (e.g. large print, screen-reader compatible)
• Offering extra time or alternative formats for assessments
• Arranging interviews in accessible venues or via video call
• Sharing interview questions in advance
• Using plain English in communications and materials

You do not need to disclose a specific diagnosis; a description of your access needs is enough.

How to request adjustments

You can request adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Simply:

• Indicate your needs when applying; or
• Contact the Public Appointments Team at any stage if your circumstances change.

We’ll work with you to understand your needs and agree appropriate support. All information will be treated confidentially and only shared with those involved in implementing the adjustment.

Examples of adjustments

Application

Examples: Accessible formats, alternative submission methods.

Assessment

Examples: Extra time, questions in advance, plain English instructions.

Interview

Examples: BSL interpreter, written questions in advance, flexible formats.

Feedback

Examples: Written summaries, clear language, preferred format.

These examples are not exhaustive and we tailor adjustments to individual circumstances.

We are committed to increasing diversity and inclusion across public appointments in Wales.

We also want to ensure all candidates can demonstrate their full potential.

If you require any person-centred adjustments to the recruitment process, we are happy to discuss these with you.

If you’d like more information, please get in touch by email at PublicAppointments@gov.wales.

If you want to see current vacancies, you can find a list on our recruitment pages.

On these pages, you can also sign up to receive notifications about new vacancies as they become available.

You can find other public board vacancies on the Boards Wales website.