Junior accessibility specialist

Band 5 · Accessibility specialist · 335 job evaluation points

UK GDaD PCF level: Junior accessibility specialist

Most often performed at Civil Service grade EO or HEO.

A junior accessibility specialist learns on the job by assisting with accessibility testing.
At this role level, you will:
develop skills while working under supervision to provide accessibility testing
understand and use different types of testing
be aware of but not responsible for assistive technology testing
engage with and contribute to the cross-government accessibility community

Contains public sector information from the UK Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (https://understand-digital-data-roles-skills.service.gov.uk/), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

Responsibilities

Test web pages, apps, and documents against accessibility standards, under supervision.
Record and explain accessibility issues clearly so teams can fix them.
Help with testing using assistive technologies, such as screen readers and magnifiers.
Help keep accessibility statements and issue logs up to date.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
Communicating informationUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: listen to the needs of design and business stakeholders and interpret information take part in discussions within a multidisciplinary team
ConsultancyUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: show an understanding of the need for consulting in your role, and its purpose work under guidance to identify what advice, guidance and recommendations might be appropriate, usually by referring to previous work by others show an understanding of how to frame problems that need to be solved
Technical understanding (accessibility)UK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: demonstrate knowledge of some details of the standards and legislation, and know where to find more information demonstrate knowledge of basic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and related common accessibility issues perform basic automated and manual checks on websites and documents, and can communicate findings and fixes be an advocate for the people affected by accessibility barriers within the context of your work demonstrate knowledge of using some assistive technology
TestingUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: correctly execute test scripts under supervision understand the role of testing and how it works
User focusUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: show an awareness or understanding of user experience analysis and its principles explain the purpose of user stories and the focus on user needs
Understanding health and care servicesThis reference	Awareness (1)	You can: describe the main parts of the health and care system and the services the organisation supports explain why patient safety and confidentiality matter in your work
Equality, diversity, and inclusionThis reference	Working (2)	You can: recognise and challenge behaviour that excludes others consider different needs when you plan your work
Clinical risk managementThis reference	Awareness (1)	You can: explain how health IT systems can harm patients, for example through wrong, missing, or delayed information report a possible clinical safety issue through the right route

Typical qualifications and experience

Some experience of digital testing, design, or development, or equivalent experience.

Band 5 outline

Knowledge: Professional or technical knowledge, typically from a degree or equivalent experience.
Autonomy: Works to broad objectives within professional standards; plans own work.
Scope: Own professional work within a team or product.
Leadership: May guide and check the work of support staff and apprentices.
Accountability: Quality of own professional work.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	4	Gives complex, sensitive, or contentious information needing persuasion, negotiation, or training skills, or highly complex information.	32
Knowledge, training, and experience	5	Expertise in a specialism, underpinned by theory or practical experience (degree level or equivalent).	120
Analytical and judgemental skills	3	Judgements on a range of facts or situations needing analysis or comparison of options.	27
Planning and organisational skills	2	Plans straightforward tasks or activities, some ongoing.	15
Physical skills	3	Developed skills needing speed or accuracy, such as advanced keyboard use.	27
Responsibility for patient and client care	1	Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.	4
Responsibility for policy and service development	2	Implements policies for own area and proposes changes to its practices.	12
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	1	Takes personal care of equipment and resources used in own work.	5
Responsibility for people	1	Shows own work routines to new or less experienced colleagues.	5
Responsibility for information resources	4	Adapts or designs information systems to others' specifications, or runs information systems for a department as the main duty.	24
Responsibility for research and development	2	Regularly does research, development, trials, or equipment and system testing as part of the job.	12
Freedom to act	3	Follows defined policies and procedures; work is managed rather than supervised.	21
Physical effort	2	Frequent sitting or standing in a restricted position, or occasional light to moderate effort.	7
Mental effort	3	Frequent concentration on unpredictable work, or occasional prolonged concentration.	12
Emotional effort	1	Rare exposure, or occasional indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.	5
Working conditions	2	Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.	7
Total (Band 5: 326 to 395)			335