Personal Access Facilitator

Personal Access Facilitator

Permanent, Full Time

Up to £24,545 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Interviews will take place week commencing 5th February 2024.

The Opportunity

A rare vacancy has arisen for a Personal Access Facilitator with an energetic, enthusiastic, and adaptable approach to work alongside a member of our Policy Unit.

The post holder will support the SE&P (Senior Equalities & Partnerships) Adviser, who has visual impairment, with a variety of tasks such as; travel around the county, networking and engaging with senior public sector leaders, and providing support to administrative tasks including note reading and writing, managing communications information, data inputting and analysis and preparation of presentations and reports.

Strong IT skills are essential, especially Microsoft Teams where we would expect you to be a super user, as Teams is used extensively with recent changes to working remotely, but also including good working knowledge of Excel, Word PowerPoint, and Outlook.

The role requires excellent communication skills, professionalism, and flexibility. You will have an excellent eye for detail, a strong track record working with office systems and processes and be able to demonstrate an understanding of the social model of disability. Experience working with people with sensory impairment is desirable but not essential. The role also requires willingness to drive and working with an assistance dog.

Predominately working remotely but with an office base of County Hall in Chelmsford you will be expected to attend the office in person at least twice a month, potentially more, but you will occasionally need to travel around the county of Essex. The role is fast paced and working hours will be flexible, which will be spread over Monday to Friday. There may also be a very occasional requirement for the post holder to work evenings or weekends, or travel outside Essex.

This role is specific to meet the access needs of an ECC officer with disabilities. The role is funded entirely by Access to Work, is therefore cost neutral to ECC and is accommodated by the organisation as a reasonable adjustment in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Accountabilities

• Assist the SE&P Adviser in drafting high quality reports, presentations, visual materials and other forms of written communication. In particular, reading and summarising documents in a variety of formats, interpreting and creating diagrams, proof reading and inputting information into electronic formats.
• Undertake research and project work to assist the SE&P Adviser when required within tight non-negotiable deadlines, tailored to specific audiences and addressing the key issues.
• Plan for, facilitate and attend meetings with the SE&P Adviser including supporting their physical mobility, the visual elements of human interaction and assisting with use of visual materials. This includes driving the SE&P Adviser to meetings as and when required.
• Proactive management of the SE&P Adviser's appointments: prioritising and responding where appropriate. Booking venues and arranging for the appropriate equipment to be available. Ensuring meeting materials are available to the SE&P Adviser, e.g., agendas, briefings, and other relevant information.
• Proactively review the SE&P Adviser's inbox, prioritising and marking items for their attention, taking the initiative to resolve issues where appropriate, using personal judgement in relation to prioritisation.
• Represent and communicate on behalf of the SE&P Adviser to a wide range of internal and external partners/stakeholders when necessary.
• Ability to pay attention to detail.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Experience working with people with sensory impairment is desirable.
• Excellent communication skills in order to efficiently develop working relationship with SE&P Adviser, at times communicate on SE&P Adviser's behalf and read aloud clearly and confidently.
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage a demanding and varied workload.
• Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills to deliver tasks with conflicting deadlines
• Excellent IT skills including the ability to:
• Use Microsoft Teams extensively.
• Word process (for layout and presentational purposes) and input data into electronic systems and databases, e.g., Excel and Word.
• Design spreadsheets and databases using Excel
• Describe complex diagrams, graphs, and visuals
• Draft graphics, slides and presentations using Excel, PowerPoint, and other relevant software
• Manage inboxes and calendars
• Good analytical and information skills, problem solving, able to break down tasks and plan effectively across multi-agency dimensions
• The ability to absorb a variety of information quickly and re-interpret as necessary and ability to produce accurate work to deadline
• Experience & knowledge of local government as well as methods involved in social policy and social research
• Ability to take accurate dictation of letters and notes as well as following instructions when filling in forms.
• Understanding of disability and health and safety issues.
• Driving licence and access to a car

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.