This process takes place when all interviews have been completed. It is an opportunity for each of the candidates to be considered in turn in order that a decision can be reached on who should be appointed.

The comments of panel members and evidence for their decisions are recorded and form part of the interview notes which are kept for a period of 6-12 months after the interview has taken place.

It is important that these notes are as comprehensive as possible and clearly indicate the reasons and evidence for the decision of the panel. These will be used to give feedback to unsuccessful candidates and may be called upon to defend decisions reached in cases of complaint.

The Chair of the Panel will have responsibility for ensuring that candidates are suitable for appointment.  The Chair may decline to make an appointment where s/he considers that it is not in the interests of the University to do so.

Where Heads of Department receive communication from dissatisfied unsuccessful applicants they are advised to contact the Human Resources Department.

KEY POINTS

• There should be no discussion of candidates’ performance in between interviews.  Evaluation of candidates should only take place once all candidates have been interviewed.
• Panel members should note relevant comments on the candidate evaluation form under each criteria during the course of the interview. This will help to compare candidates and ease the discussion. This form is L9158 Interview Candidate Notes .
• The Chair of the panel will invite the panel members to discuss each of the applicants in turn against the criteria set out within the person specification. Each panel member will score each candidate and following discussion the Chair will record the consensus score reached on the Panel Score Summary, ( L9160 Panel Summary Form (july 09) ).
• Panel members must back up their comments with evidence from the interview or from the supporting documentation.
• The Total score reached for each candidate should be transferred to  L9160 Panel Summary Form (july 09)  by the Chair of the panel and the decision of which candidate should be offered the post should be recorded.
• The Chair of the panel will also be required to sign L9160 and add any further information which supports the decision reached. Voting should only take place where no consensus on an appointment can be reached between two or more candidates.