Overview and Scrutiny Officer

Overview

How you’ll make a difference

As Overview and Scrutiny Officer, you will provide effective support to the Scrutiny Commission and the Health Scrutiny Committee on all areas of activity. The Commission is key to the effective operation of local democracy, they support the delivery of council services through policy development and by scrutinising the decisions of the council’s Cabinet.

What you will be doing

• Working with elected councillors, you will provide high quality support to Scrutiny Commission and Health Scrutiny Members on procedures and processes, and more broadly in relation to the work of both the Committees to deliver local priorities.
• Regularly, you will service meetings of the Scrutiny Task, Finish and Standing groups, publish agendas, take minutes as necessary, undertake research and provide feedback to the Commission and Health Scrutiny through written reports.
• You will project manage scrutiny reviews and the development of a challenging annual scrutiny programme, including appropriate research and the drafting of well evidenced and concise reports to the council’s Cabinet.
• Throughout the civic year, you will provide advice and support to a range of Task, Finish, and Standing groups on a variety of topics such as the council’s budget, Children’s Services and climate and nature emergency.
• By participating in external scrutiny forums and networking with other local authorities, you will help to improve the council’s service through learning from best practice.  

What we need from you

• It is essential you hold a relevant professional qualification such as a Certificate in Overview and Scrutiny or Democratic Services Practice or equivalent, or have relevant experience in a similar area such as policy development, democratic services or as a policy officer.
• It is essential that you have a good understanding of local government authority processes and political sensitivities that work alongside these.
• You must be able to work flexibly as this roles involves a varied workload and frequent travel across South Gloucestershire.
• Given the elements of this role, you will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills to be able to provide high level advice to a variety of audiences.

What you need to know

• Your salary is pro-rata to hours worked.
• This is a limited term contract, due to end May 2027.
• This role is hybrid, with a mixture of working at our office in Badminton Road, Yate and from home. 

 

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 28th October 2025.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different

• We know our team work best when they have balance in their lives and we offer genuine flexibility to help them achieve that work/life balance.
• We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.  
• As part of our benefits package you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities. 

 

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.  

• We’re providing essential services across our internal network to ensure we can fully support our community.
• We’re positive and forward thinking, always looking for new and innovative ways of working work and we’re ambitious about the future.   

 

We’ve achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.      
We’re making a difference, be part of it!    

To view the full job description, please click this link: Overview and Scrutiny Officer – Job Description