The Council’s Corporate Parenting Strategy is being revised and republished for 2020. It sets out how the Council as Corporate Parent will provide every opportunity for its looked after children and care leavers. This includes reducing the number of care leavers who are not in education, employment or training. One of the ways the Council can support this is by offering a guaranteed interview to every care leaver who meets the essential criteria of the person specification when applying for a job within the Council.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, will be treated fairly. The Council, together with local partners signed the Herefordshire Armed Forces Community Covenant in May 2012.

In 2018, the Council received the Silver Award from the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme. The Council is now actively working towards the Gold Award.

As part of its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, the Council already encourages job applications from Armed Forces Veterans and Reservists. This was not, however, stated in any of the Council’s existing HR procedures meaning it was therefore necessary to make a small amendment to the ‘Guide to Resourcing’.