LVJB - Trainee Valuation Surveyor

Service: Valuation
Grade scale: Grade 1 level 1 to Grade 3 level 2
Reports to: Divisional Assessor

Purpose of the job

To prepare, maintain and update an accurate Valuation Roll, Valuation List (council tax) and Electoral Register having regard to statutory requirements.

Our vision is to deliver quality in the work which we undertake, provide efficient services to all service users, and ensure completeness and accuracy of the Electoral Register, Valuation Rolls, and the Valuation (council tax) lists.

To assist in the survey and valuation of all lands and heritages in a designated geographical area for the purposes of the Lands Valuation Acts and the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and to assist in dealing with resulting proposals and appeals.

Key tasks and responsibilities

Grade 1 Level 1 – Grade 1 Level 4

Autonomously undertake the management and valuation of dwellings within new housing developments, meeting key performance indicators. Including the analysis of sales and recommendation of CT bandings, for authorisation. Under supervision undertake the survey and inspection of individual houses.

Carry out investigation work, under supervision, in relation to challenges to valuations, for example running roll queries, and proposals against council tax bandings.

Prepare plans, dimension sheets and survey reports, under supervision.

Manage an allocation of surveys, under supervision, organising survey appointments, whilst meeting key performance indicators. Interrogate various systems in respect of survey work.

Undertake, under supervision, the valuation of comparative ND subjects, from clear guidance and instruction, for example LVJB schemes of valuation, or SAA practice notes, for authorisation.

Undertake the management and valuation of dwellings within new housing developments, meeting key performance indicators. Including the analysis of sales and recommendation of CT bandings, for authorisation, under supervision.

Perform clerical duties, including filing, faxing, photocopying and mail distribution.

Assist in the survey, report writing, calculating areas, dimension sheets and sketching plans for both non-domestic (ND) and council tax (CT).

Grade 2 Level 1 – Grade 2 Level 4

Have the necessary skills to apply SAA Practice notes, LVJB valuation schemes and instructions without supervision, recognise the value significant factors and adjust for appropriately.

Assist in the analysis of costs, to enable the SAA to approve national schemes of valuation.

Appear as expert witness for Council Tax appeals, in relation to factual matters.

Collate and input data with regards to rental returns, onto analysis systems within LVJB.

Assist in the preparation of appeals for formal hearings.

Undertake, without supervision, the daily maintenance of the survey system, accept responsibility for the organisation of the team’s surveys in line with key performance indicators.

Undertake, without supervision, the survey and valuation of all house types and negotiations for CT proposals.

Undertake, under supervision, all valuation work with regards running roll in respect of subjects valued from SAA practice notes.

Demonstrate practical involvement in the negotiation of valuation schemes, whether during proposal and appeal discussions with appellants or within LVJB.

Undertake the survey and inspection, without supervision, on many subjects.

Under supervision undertake the valuation of individual houses.

Undertake the survey and inspection of more complex subject with the assistance of a qualified surveyor. Undertake the valuation of such subjects under supervision.

Undertake negotiations for CT proposals, under supervision.

Grade 3 Level 2

Work alongside all members of the team, providing guidance where appropriate, and assisting junior members of the team during survey work.

Have an awareness of the SAA, it’s working groups and committees. Attend SAA working groups as a shadow member. Undertake the collation of evidence for analysis purposes, for Scotland, to enable delivery of SAA Practice Notes.

Undertake full rental analysis, set local rates for bulk subjects, set quantum schemes and produce internal schemes of valuation, for approval. Check Revaluation valuations for bulk subjects, to ensure compliance with internal schemes of valuation.

Undertake the disposal of non-domestic rating proposals under supervision.

Appear as expert witness for non-domestic appeals, in relation to factual matters.

Appear as expert witness for council tax appeals, in relation to valuation matters.

Person specification

Safer recruitment checks

As part of our approach to good practice and safer recruitment we carry out a number of pre-employment checks

• Asylum and Immigration right to work in the UK.
• Reference check: external candidates require 2 references, one of which must be from present to most recent employer; Internal candidates require 1 reference from current line manager.
• Candidate Disclosure Scotland check, where applicable.

Please note once Grade 3 Level 2 has been reached, progression within the salary scales is only possible once you have achieved membership of the RICS.

A Trainee Valuer cannot progress beyond without achieving full membership of the RICS.

Both the person specification and behaviour framework detailed relates to a part qualified Valuation Surveyor who has not achieved full membership of the RICS.

Behaviour framework

LVJB’s behaviour framework is a set of core behaviours that defines how employees approach work to enable the delivery of key tasks for the role. The expected behaviours for this role are:

Efficient

• Punctual and conscientious in your approach to work
• Use LVJB resources efficiently, avoiding waste and unnecessary expense.
• Identify inefficiency in processes and communicate this to your manager.
• Meet deadlines and targets in your day-to-day work.
• Understand the impact of wasteful behaviours on the environment and you act to minimise this impact.
• Use of information technology to achieve best outcomes.

Flexible

• Willing to learn new tasks and accept new ways of working.
• Willing to be flexible in your approach to work to meet changing service delivery needs, deadlines, and urgent priorities.
• Help team members when they have urgent deadlines and prioritise your work accordingly.
• Understand the need for change and are open to this across your working life.

Performing

• Is polite, professional, and friendly to customers and apply customer care standards and attitudes at all times.
• Works safely to maintain the safety of yourself and other raising concerns about unsafe working practices.
• Meets standards of work required in your role in terms of quality and output.
• Uses initiative to solve problems and raise potential issues.
• Acknowledges when mistakes are made and learns from them.
• Seeks feedback on your performance to learn and improve.

Working with others

• Works alongside internal and external colleagues to meet common objectives.
• Has professional relationships with colleagues and is aware of dignity at work standards.
• Actively and respectfully listens to people in order to understand them and their views.
• Contributes appropriately to team and other meetings, and discussions.
• Presents words and views clearly in a way that other people find meaningful.
• Respect diversity and promote equality of opportunity when working with colleagues and members of the public.

Leading

• Role models the standards of behaviours expected of an employee of LVJB.
• Displays and enables leadership through sharing knowledge and skills, seeking guidance and providing support to your colleagues, team, and the wider community.
• Is aware of and adheres to professional codes of practice and LVJB’s code of conduct and understand how these impact on employment with LVJB and public perception of LVJB employees.