Job title: Senior Administration Assistant
Salary: B3 - £25,584 - £27,269 Pro Rata (Including Secure Unit Allowance)
Hours: 18.5 Hours
Contract: Permanent – Job Share
Location: Adel Beck Secure Childrens Home
Are you an experienced administrator with a passion for supporting services that make a difference in young people’s lives?
We are seeking a
Senior Administration Assistant to join our dedicated team. Under the guidance of the Office Manager, you will deliver high-quality administrative and financial support, ensuring compliance with national standards and local authority procedures.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions .
About You
As a Senior Administration Assistant, you’ll thrive on working in a fast-paced environment and you will bring to the role:
- Strong IT skills (Word, Excel, databases, email, internet).
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Experience in minute-taking, diary scheduling, and handling enquiries.
- Proven ability to maintain accurate databases and administrative systems.
- Understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding, and equal opportunities.
About The Role
As our next Senior Administration Assistant, you’ll play a vital role in supporting the day-to-day operations of Adel Beck Secure Children’s Home. You’ll thrive in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same, and your work will directly contribute to the care and rehabilitation of young people aged 10–18.
You’ll be responsible for delivering high-quality administrative and financial support, ensuring compliance with national standards and Leeds City Council procedures. From managing data and processing payments to attending high-level meetings and taking minutes, your attention to detail and proactive approach will help keep everything running smoothly.
What We Offer You
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How To Apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role contact Megan Sheridan – Office Manager via email
[email protected]A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates . Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy .
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy .
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Special conditions this post is subject to a higher-level check with the Disclosure & Barring Service. Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.
Job Purpose:
Adel Beck is a 24-bed Secure Children’s Home licensed by the Department for Education and managed by Leeds City Council. We provide integrated care, education, personal development, and health services to young people aged 10–18 who are either remanded or sentenced by the courts, or whose behaviour cannot be managed in other settings. Our vision is to inspire positive change in
Attitude, Behaviour, Learning, and Emotions, helping young people contribute meaningfully to their communities and reduce youth offending. Under the supervision of the Office Manager, you will deliver efficient and effective administrative services that meet regulatory standards, including:
- Children’s Homes Regulations
- Youth Justice Standards
- Leeds City Council policies and procedures
You will also manage financial tasks such as purchasing, invoicing, and payment processing using LCC systems, and attend high-level meetings for minute-taking.
Responsibilities
- Act as the main point of contact for enquiries, providing assistance, taking messages, and referring information to the appropriate service area.
- Maintain a positive, customer-focused attitude and culture at all times.
- Perform administrative duties with high levels of accuracy, including document checking, data input and retrieval, and report production.
- Identify problems and areas for improvement, offering practical solutions.
- Support staff and assist in the development of new team members.
- Use initiative and judgement to provide outcomes and solutions for customers.
- Manage your own workload independently, meeting deadlines and prioritising tasks.
- Carry out administrative tasks such as filing, faxing, photocopying, cash handling, mail handling, diary management, and arranging and minuting meetings.
- Analyse and collate data to produce accurate reports.
- Understand and apply legal, financial, audit, and operational requirements in daily work.
- Adhere to the Council’s Equal Opportunities and Health & Safety Policies.
- Participate in training and development activities to maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills.
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role as required.
- Willing to abide by the Council’s Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety Policies.
- Willing to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications
Essential Requirements: Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.
Candidates must demonstrate the following:
Skills & Abilities
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and other database programs, email, and internet use.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills (face-to-face, telephone, and written).
- Active listening and effective questioning skills.
- Ability to handle challenging or demanding individuals professionally.
- Team player with the ability to work independently.
- Strong organisational skills and ability to meet strict deadlines.
- Competent in developing and maintaining manual and digital administrative systems.
- Skilled in arranging meetings, preparing agendas, and taking accurate minutes.
Experience
- Experience using IT systems including Word, Excel, Access, and databases.
- Proven experience in data inputting, retrieval, and report generation.
- Experience in general administrative duties (filing, faxing, photocopying, mail handling).
- Experience in diary management and scheduling meetings.
- Experience working both independently and as part of a team.
- Experience handling enquiries in person and over the phone.
- Experience working in a time-sensitive environment.
Essential Behavioural & Other Characteristics
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
- Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Desirable Requirements: Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements; however, these may be used to distinguish between candidates:
- Knowledge of National Standards for Youth Justice Services
- Knowledge of Children’s Homes Regulations 2015
- Knowledge of the Secure Estate for children and young people
- NVQ/QCF qualification in Administration, Business Administration, Computer Skills, or equivalent (or willingness to achieve within 6 months of appointment)
- Experience working in a service catering to the needs of children and young people
- Experience working directly with young people
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