School Admissions Officer in Chatham

Medway's Education and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Division is committed to supporting all children and young people to learn and grow and to achieve their potential in education. The Education and SEND Division covers a wide range of services, including school admissions, place planning, Medway Test, school transport, capital developments, high‐needs funding and support for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans, early years funding, school improvement and effectiveness, inclusion and attendance. Government ambitions for the provision of quality education and improvement plans for the SEND and Alternative Provision system are important strategic drivers for our vision for these services.

The Education and SEND Division is seeking highly driven and experienced professionals to join these teams at an exciting time of change within this sector. Successful candidates will join a supportive network of professionals within the Division and across the wider People Directorate and Council, work in partnership with providers, other agencies and strategic networks, and contribute to our journey of improvement and shape our service delivery to children, young people and families in Medway.

As a School Admissions Officer you will administer the processes for school admissions in Medway and undertake tasks as allocated by senior members of the team. This includes liaising with schools and families, handling service‐related enquiries, and ensuring they are answered effectively within agreed timescales, maintaining and monitoring data and information records relating to the work of the department.

You will be involved in the administration of:

• Co‐ordinated admissions applications (entry to Year R, junior transfer and secondary transfer)
• In‐Year admissions
• Admissions appeals for community schools
• The Medway Test

In this role you must ensure that data is accurate, up to date, usable and in accordance with departmental policies and procedures to assist in the effective management of the Department. You will also assist with the administration and delivery of other functions within the wider School Services Department as and when required.

You will be expected to utilise your skills and abilities in customer service, problem‐solving, data recording and analysis, processing requests, paperwork, archiving and organisation to provide high‐quality business support to your team and customers. This job will involve manual handling of large quantities of data that must be processed accurately and quality assured.

In return we will offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications
• Flexible working scheme
• Travel plan discounts
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers

Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. The salary offered will be at level A unless, based on an assessment against the CPF criteria, you demonstrate that you are meeting the criteria of level B or C. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.

When writing your application, it is important to identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria at level A are not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.

The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:

• Level A – essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate.
• Level B – developed competencies for those who are practiced in this role, building on level A.
• Level C – the highest level of competence; applicants must fully meet all aspects of the job profile.

You will identify, through application, how you meet the elements detailed within the person specification at either Level A, B or C. You will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation.

Important Information: Applicants must be able to demonstrate all criteria at level A, which are essential for appointment to the role. Medway Council is not able to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship, so candidates must already possess the right to work in the UK.

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement: Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age. Medway Council complies with the Equality Act 2010 and encourages people who may face discrimination to raise any concerns about potential barriers or obstacles that they might encounter in the recruitment process.

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date, you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment, will usually be sent out via email. If you require documentation in a different format such as braille or large print, please contact the Resourcing Team on 01634 332878.