Job title: Admissions and Family Information Service Coordinator
Hours: 37
Contract:Permanent
Location: Hybrid, Merrion House
Internal vacancy. Applications will only be considered from existing Leeds City Council employees.
As our Admissions and Family Information Service Coordinator you’ll thrive on working in a fast paced, statutory service. You’d be responsible for ensuring that children can access early years and school places. The post holds overall operational responsibility for three teams in Children and Families: School Admissions, Family Information Service and School Appeals team. Each has its own priorities, statutory deadlines and policies.
It’s about working restoratively as a team to ensure children can access to school and early years places under the statutory regulations in a seamless, fair and equitable way.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region and we seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As the Admissions and Family Information Service Coordinator you will bring to the role:
* Ability to build effective, positive relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, instigating and influencing collaborative working to achieve shared positive outcomes for children, families and communities.
* Ability to deputise for the Lead, including positively represent the work of the Children and Families Service, Admissions Team, Family Information Service, and School Appeals Team in a local, regional and where appropriate national context.
* Ability to effectively lead a team, establishing a shared vision of, and motivation to deliver services that achieve the best possible outcomes for children, families and communities.
* Ability to manage and implement an information strategy to ensure the services are accessible to all, using varied and appropriate channels of communication including digital solutions and social media.
* Experience of developing policy practice and guidance documentation.
About the role
The role is integral to the Admissions and Family Information Service and acts as deputy for the Lead officer. This is a varied and challenging role, where every day is different.
As the next Admissions and Family Information Service Coordinator, you’ll need to ensure all teams are meeting their statutory deadlines and responsibilities and be able to strategically lead, explore new digital solutions and efficiency improvements.
The role is in a fast-paced ever-changing area. In recent years, there have been significant expansions of early years funding and new DfE prioritisation of school attendance.
The teams are made up over 30 staff and you’ll be working with them as well as many other internal LCC services and external partners, including collaborating with 270 schools providing support and challenge and a wide variety of early years providers.
You’ll also have contact with parents and families, leading on the service information and publicity strategy. You’ll oversee complaints resolution, including referrals made to the School Adjudicator and Local Government Ombudsman.
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 Chris Sutton, Lead for Admissions and FIS. Call 0113 3783579 or email christopher.sutton@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 recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. 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 support the Lead Officer for Admissions and Family Information Service to ensure that the Admissions Team, the Family Information Service and School Appeals meet their core duties, providing effective line management and support to the three teams and acting as a deputy as required for the Lead Officer.
Responsibilities
* To deputise for the Lead Officer for the Admissions and Family Information Service as required.
* To ensure the effective delivery of the statutory functions in relation to the Family Information Service in line with the Childcare Act.
* To ensure the effective delivery of the statutory functions of the Admissions Team in line with the School Admissions Code.
* To ensure the effective delivery of the statutory functions of the School Appeals team in line with the School Admissions Appeals Code.
* To manage and implement an information strategy to ensure the services are accessible to all, using varied and appropriate channels of communication.
* Lead all aspects of people management across the teams, supporting a climate of high performance, shared accountabilities, learning and continuous improvement.
* To promote Leeds as a child-friendly city locally and nationally.
* To take responsibility for publicity and marketing strategies, including social media, to ensure promotion of the teams and other services of Leeds City Council and its partners to families and relevant organisations working with families.
* To forge new and maintain existing partnership agreements within Leeds City Council and external partners in the Statutory and Voluntary Sectors.
* To develop and maintain networks with other agencies including childcare providers, Ofsted, colleges, National Association of Family Information Services, Yorkshire & Humber Admissions Group and other national and local agencies.
* To engage in regular consultation with parents, families and professionals to provide feedback on the effective delivery of the service and to implement any identified changes.
* To support the Lead Officer in the management of the Free Early Education Entitlement budgets for 9-month-olds, 2, 3 and 4-year-olds, ensuring financial compliance and long-term sustainability.
* To ensure the smooth running of the Free Early Education Entitlement process including liaising with parents, providers and professionals.
* To undertake any other reasonable tasks or responsibilities required by the service.
* 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.
Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.
* Excellent organisational and time management skills.
* Ability to write and/or coordinate contributions to a concise, clear service plans which focus on outcomes and are accessible to stakeholders of all kinds.
* Ability to undertake quantitative and qualitative research including analysing findings.
* Ability to communicate highly effectively with children and families, with colleagues, and with partners, using a range of methods.
* Ability to build effective, positive relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, instigating and influencing collaborative working to achieve shared positive outcomes for children, families and communities.
* Ability to positively represent the work of the Children and Families Service, Admissions Team, Family Information Service, and School Appeals Team in a local, regional and if appropriate national context.
* Ability to effectively chair meetings.
* Ability to effectively lead a team, establishing a shared vision of, and motivation to deliver services that achieve the best possible outcomes for children, families and communities.
* Ability to effectively manage the performance of Family Information Service, the Admissions Team and School Appeals Team.
* Ability to provide effective supervision of Family Information Service, Admissions and School Appeals Team senior practitioners.
* Knowledge and understanding of relevant national and/or local statute, policy and best practice guidance, including: the Children’s Act 2004; the Childcare Act 2006 & 2016, School Admissions Code, Early Education and Childcare Statutory Guidance.
* Knowledge of the Leeds Children Young People Plan priorities and outcomes.
* Knowledge of Ofsted policies and guidelines.
* Knowledge of methods of collating and analysing performance management information in support of service improvement.
* Knowledge of Data Protection legislation.
* Knowledge of project management principles and techniques.
* Understanding of the significance of barriers to accessing information.
* Knowledge and understanding of ICT as a means for communication, data analysis, research and information provision including specialist software packages as required.
* Knowledge and understanding of performance management techniques.
* Experience of delivering projects to a brief on time and within budget.
* Experience in delivering an information service.
* Experience of working across a number of services, within the Directorate/Council to improve directorate/corporate outcomes.
* Experience of managing a team.
* Experience of managing performance.
* Experience of managing a budget.
* Experience of managing competing priorities to good effect.
* Experience of chairing meetings attended by multiple agencies.
* Experience of developing policy practice and guidance documentation.
* Experience of producing clear and concise written and verbal reports on complex and sensitive issues.
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics
* 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.
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