Senior Admissions Officer - Req24486

Internal vacancy. Applications will only be considered from existing Leeds City Council employees.

As a Senior Admissions Officer you’ll thrive on working in a fast-paced environment, supporting schools and families to ensure children are able to access a school place across the city. It’s an opportunity to make Leeds a child friendly city. A city where children are valued, supported, enjoy growing up, and look forward to a bright future. 

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 Admissions Officer, you will bring to the role:

• Good communication skills in dealing with a wide range of people, e.g. parents, school based staff including headteachers.
• Good organisational, mediation and interpersonal skills.
• Confident manner in explaining the complexities of the allocation system.
• Ability to plan their own work and meet deadlines.
• Ability to manage effective change. 

About the role 

As our next Senior Admissions Officer you will have a varied role, involving downloading new applications in bulk, checking and verifying application information, running allocation processes and investigating fraudulent applications.

You will be explaining the admissions rules to schools and families, and responding to queries from families, school staff or Councillors. You’ll also work with other LCC teams and use a variety of databases, so that we can ensure we keep children safe and children thrive by having a full education. 

The role is integral to our School Admissions team as we receive around 30,000 applications each year. The next 12 months is an exciting time to join the team, as this role is a vital part of the in-year team who are moving to a more coordinated application process.

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. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. 

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Laura Collier Admission & FIS coordinator (call  0113 3789766 or email Laura.Collier@leeds.gov.uk) or Laura Hunter, Admissions Manager  (call 0113 3787883 or email Laura.Hunter@leeds.gov.uk). 

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - 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 and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job description

Job purpose 

To take responsibility for the administration of the school admission process and development of admission systems.  To be a point of contact for schools on all aspects of admissions, and provide a lead on issues within your area of responsibility. To represent the local authority at independent admission appeal panels as required. 

The Admission Team is based on staff working across all areas in order to broaden experience as well as the responsibilities listed below.   

Responsibilities

• Acting as key point of contact for headteachers, other CS teams and partner agencies
• Take a lead role in the allocation of school places
• To support the embedding and dissemination of change in team procedures
• To maintain and development the team procedure manuals
• To investigate fully allegations of fraudulent admission applications
• To support the administration of the allocation process of the annual cycle round for primary, junior and secondary.
• Daily contact with parents over complex issues connected with the transfer process.
• Liaising with external agencies as appropriate.
• Maintaining and making effective use of statistics.
• To carry out all duties to ensure the allocation system runs successfully.
• Reviewing all procedures each year in conjunction with the Admissions Manager to ensure they reflect any necessary changes
• To provide a high standard of customer service.
• To work collaboratively within the team providing supervision and training to other members of the team as required.
• To support the production of high quality publicity information.
• Advising parents and school based staff on the whole range of admissions issues. 
• To be part of the team of officers that present appeals to the independent appeals panel.

The job description includes a wide range of duties which are compatible with the grade of the post. The extent to which the full range of duties is undertaken will vary from time to time in accordance with the requirements of management for the organisation and allocation of work.

Qualifications

• Education to degree level or equivalent, including some management component

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Good organisational, mediation and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to mediate and negotiate in difficult circumstances.
• Good communication skills in dealing with a wide range of people, e.g. parents,  school based staff including headteachers.
• Sensitivity in dealing with stressful and difficult situations. 
• Ability to develop administrative systems.
• Ability to contribute to a team approach within the Admission section.
• Confident manner in explaining the complexities of the allocation system
• Ability to plan their own work and meet deadlines.
• Ability to manage effective change
• Ability to speak in a public arena including school appeals and Panel meetings with Headteachers
• A good knowledge and understanding of the legislation that underpins the admission process, for example the 1998 Education Act, 1996 Education Act, Education and Inspections Act, Schools Admissions Code, Schools Appeals Code, statutory instruments.
• An understanding of the issues facing local authorities, local communities and the education service.
• Knowledge of the role of planning and performance management in support of continuous improvement.

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 equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities. 
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade. 
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies 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 It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post.  Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates. 

• Previous experience in an admissions or education environment.
• Previous experience in present appeals of public speaking.
• High level IT skills
• Skills in written communication e.g. effective letter writing course or similar.
• Working knowledge of GIS.
• Previous experience of managing projects.