Student Awards Agency Scotland staff evaluation and grading information: FOI release

Information requested

Information regarding the evaluation and grading of the A3 and A4 roles within the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), specifically as part of the 2020 A Band Grade Review and in relation to the Civil Service Job Evaluation and Grading Support (JEGS) framework.

Response

Application of JEGS in the 2020 Review:

• How was the JEGS framework applied during the 2020 Grade Review?

The full JEGS points based system was not used during the 2020 Grade Review. The purpose of the project was to update all Band A job profiles and benchmark them against the Scottish Government ‘Pay and Grading Review Benchmark Guidance’ which is derived from JEGS principles but does not use numerical JEGS scoring.

Each role was profiled in conjunction with the job holder and then assessed against the benchmark criteria used across the Scottish Government. These include:

• knowledge and skills
• contacts and communication
• problem solving
• decision making
• autonomy and impact

SAAS HR and PCS (Trade Union) colleagues, both trained in job evaluation, reviewed all 22 posts.

The overall Scottish Government job evaluation policy is currently being reviewed.

• What methodology, criteria, or scoring guidance was used in applying JEGS to A Band roles at that time

As above, all 22 posts were benchmarked against the Scottish Government ‘Pay and Grading Review Benchmark Guidance’. The roles were considered against the six standard factors (knowledge and skills, contacts and communication, problem solving, decision making, autonomy and impact), which is the core Scottish Government methodology when assessing or redesigning a post.

The Band A Review commenced in November 2019. Updated job profiles were prepared by January 2020, but work paused on 8 April 2020 due to Covid-19. The project resumed in September 2020 and evaluation work continued at that point.

The SAAS Band A Review: Benchmark Paper is attached.

• Who conducted the evaluation?

A SAAS People and Performance Consultant (HR) and a PCS Group Officer who worked within core Scottish Government (and was external to SAAS) jointly benchmarked all 22 band A roles.

• Were any external consultants or auditors involved in the 2020 review?

No external consultants were used. However, the PCS Group Officer involved in the process was external to SAAS, though employed within the wider Scottish Government.

Evaluation Results and Documentation:

• What were the JEGS scores or ratings assigned to A Band roles during the 2020 review?

No numerical JEGS scoring was undertaken. Instead, each role’s rationale and outcome is set out against the SG ‘Pay and Grading Review Benchmark Guidance’ within the job profiles and the benchmark paper.

Please provide:

• The original job evaluation request or submission (e.g., Job Evaluation Request Form or Role Profile)

No individual job evaluation requests were submitted. The Band A Review was initiated by SAAS to update and benchmark all Band A job profiles.

Please note that due to system size limits, the job role profiles will be issued separately.

• JEGS scoring sheets or evaluation summaries

No JEGS scoring sheets exist. The evaluation summaries are included within the attached benchmarking paper.

• Any benchmarking comparisons with similar roles in other agencies ( ex. Social Security Scotland)

No direct benchmarking with other agencies was undertaken. All roles were benchmarked solely against the Scottish Government Benchmark Guidance. This approach is consistent with other Scottish public sector reviews.

Review or Appeal Process :

• Has the grading of any A Band roles been reviewed, appealed, or reconsidered since the 2020 evaluation?

No further review has taken place, and no formal appeals were received. Any subsequent benchmarking has been carried out on a just in time basis while the wider Scottish Government job grading policy is being refreshed.

• If so, please provide documentation of the review process and outcomes, including which teams and grades were involved, and any changes made to role grading as a result.

The SAAS Band A Review: Benchmark Paper is attached.

Regrading to B1 and Above :

• Were any staff regraded from A Band to B1 or above as part of the 2020 review?

Three posts were recommended for regrading in the benchmark paper.

• Complaints and Appeals Officer A4 to B1
• Complaints and Appeals Support Officer A3 to A4
• Counter Fraud Analysis Officer A4 to B1

In terms of regrading from band A to B, this related to 2 posts and 5 job holders.

If so:

• What was the reasoning behind these decisions?

The rationale for each regrading is set out in detail in the Benchmark Paper, including reference to the complexity of duties, levels of autonomy, analytical requirements, and alignment with SG Benchmark Guidance.

• What were the final JEGS scores or ratings assigned to these roles?

No JEGS numerical scores exist. Outcomes were based on the SG Benchmark Guidance, as reflected in the Benchmark Paper.

Please note some information in the Benchmark Paper and job profiles has been redacted under Section 38(1)(b) of FOISA, as it contains personal data that could identify individual jobholders through specific examples or contextual detail.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202500491185 - Information released - Annex

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