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- Tasks: Join us as a Senior Travel and Assessment Officer, supporting appeal hearings and taking detailed minutes.
- Company: Surrey County Council is dedicated to enhancing community services and empowering local areas.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, lifestyle discounts, and access to a learning hub.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in children's education while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in administration, minute-taking, and working with senior management is essential.
- Other info: This role offers a zero hours contract, allowing flexibility in your work schedule.
- Salary: £19.64 – £21.21 per hour, plus annual leave allowance
- Contract type: Bank
- Working hours: Bank hours
- Posted on: 1 August 2025
- Closing date: 17 August 2025
- Location: Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, RH2 8EF
Description
The hourly rate for this position is £19.64 plus an additional £2.94 per hour annual leave allowance.
We are excited to be hiring a new Senior Travel and Assessment Officer to join our fantastic \’Children, Schools and Lifelong Learning\’ Business Support service. The contractual base for this position is Woodhatch Place in Reigate, however the role is predominantly home based, with expectation you will attend the office to support occasional in-person meetings, for training and to collect your laptop.
This role is offered on a \’zero hours\’, bank contract which means there are no guaranteed hours. However, we envisage current requirements being to cover one appeal hearing each month, which will take approximately 20 hours, plus holiday cover for another administrator.
As a bank employee, you will not be expected to accept every request to work, but there is a requirement for you to accept reasonable requests to work on a regular basis.
Rewards and Benefits
- Generous Annual leave allowance
- An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Carers leave and volunteering days dependant on agreed working hours
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
About the Role
The Council provides home to school transport for some children, but in some cases where transport has been declined, parents will dispute the decision and request their case be heard at appeal. We are looking for an Administrator/Minute Taker to support these appeals.
As an experienced minute taker and meeting organiser, you will attend the Home to School Transport Appeal Hearings online via Microsoft Teams and will guide meeting chairpersons throughout the hearing. You will ensure procedures and timescales are adhered to, interjecting during the meeting to keep the chairperson on track or refer to procedures if necessary, and will take detailed notes on a laptop. You will also be responsible for additional work, both before and after the appeals, which will include gathering documents, responding to questions from panel members, attending panel pre-briefings and writing up minutes and decision letters following the hearing.
As a Senior Travel and Assessment Officer, you will need to be highly organised, willing to take responsibility and initiative, and be comfortable in setting your own priorities and meeting deadlines. You will make sure that everything is in place to guarantee that all runs smoothly for the processes and teams you support. You will be used to working with senior management and confident at speaking out and interjecting within meetings to ensure guidelines, agendas and timescales are being adhered to.
Shortlisting Criteria
To be considered for shortlisting for this position your CV and answers to the questions below will clearly evidence:
- Experience of working with senior management and arranging complex meetings, setting agendas & keeping detailed records
- Experience in taking detailed minutes, typing directly onto a laptop
- Administration experience including an awareness around working with sensitive information
- Ability to work as part of a team within existing protocols, whilst being proactive and using your initiative
- Excellent interpersonal skills, along with a high level of written and verbal communication ability
- Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and SharePoint)
- Ability to take a confident, organised, and proactive approach to your work
Application Questions:
- Please outline your administration experience
- Note taking support at complex meetings is a large part of this role. Please give evidence, with examples, of your laptop note taking experience
- Please describe, and give examples, of what experience you have working with senior management
- Please list the skills and any qualifications you have that are relevant to this job
- Please confirm that you will periodically be able to attend the office in Reigate for occasional in-person meetings, training and laptop collection
Contact Us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. For an informal discussion please contact Caroline Raper via email at caroline.raper@surreycc.gov.uk .
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 17.08.2025 with interviews to follow.
We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.
A basic DBS \’Disclosure and Barring Service\’ check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) will be required for this role.
Local Government Reorganisation
Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.
Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.
The Surrey Way behaviours are a guide that supports our council to work together effectively and deliver our best for our customers and communities, and for each other. Discover more about our behaviours .
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook also provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.
Our Commitment
Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:
- The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
- The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form
Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.
We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.
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Senior Travel and Assessment Officer (reference: SCC/TP/288140/3530) employer: Surrey County Council
Contact Detail:
Surrey County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Travel and Assessment Officer (reference: SCC/TP/288140/3530)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific responsibilities of a Senior Travel and Assessment Officer. Understanding the nuances of minute-taking and meeting organisation will help you demonstrate your expertise during any discussions or interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in similar roles or within the local government sector. Engaging with others can provide insights into the role and may even lead to valuable referrals or recommendations.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for potential interview questions by reflecting on your past experiences, especially those involving senior management and complex meetings. Be ready to share specific examples that highlight your organisational skills and ability to handle sensitive information.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on local government policies and changes, particularly those related to transport and education. This knowledge will not only enhance your application but also show your commitment to the role and its impact on the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Travel and Assessment Officer (reference: SCC/TP/288140/3530)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience, especially in administration and minute-taking. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to work with senior management and manage complex meetings.
Answer Application Questions Thoughtfully: Take your time to answer the application questions thoroughly. Provide clear examples of your note-taking experience during complex meetings, and ensure you showcase your interpersonal skills and IT proficiency.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, emphasise skills that are directly related to the role, such as organisation, communication, and IT skills. Mention any qualifications that support your candidacy for the Senior Travel and Assessment Officer position.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail, which is crucial for this role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Surrey County Council
✨Showcase Your Minute-Taking Skills
Since the role involves taking detailed minutes during appeal hearings, be prepared to discuss your experience in this area. Bring examples of how you've effectively captured key points and maintained accuracy while typing on a laptop.
✨Demonstrate Organisational Abilities
Highlight your organisational skills by discussing how you manage complex meetings and set agendas. Be ready to explain your approach to prioritising tasks and ensuring that all necessary documents are in place for smooth operations.
✨Communicate Confidently
As you'll be working with senior management, it's crucial to demonstrate strong verbal communication skills. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently, especially when discussing procedures or interjecting during meetings.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Microsoft Teams
Since the hearings will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams, ensure you're comfortable using the platform. Familiarise yourself with its features, such as screen sharing and chat functions, to facilitate smooth communication during the interview.