Job title: Registrar
Salary: £27,711 - £30,060 C1
Hours: Full time (37 hours)
Contract: Permanent
Location: Based in Merrion House, Central Leeds
As a Registrar, you will enjoy playing a key role in delivering a variety of essential front-line services to customers at key stages of their lives. Whether undertaking birth, death or still-birth registrations, registering marriages or assisting at civil partnership and citizenship ceremonies, this is a perfect opportunity to meet and work with customers from all sectors of the community.
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
We are seeking candidates who have experience of working within the registration service and can interpret and explain legislation, policies, and procedures to customers.
As a Registrar,
* You will be creating permanent historic records so the ability to enter manual and electronic information with high levels of accuracy is essential.
* You must have excellent customer care skills with experience of working in a busy customer-facing environment and of dealing sensitively, efficiently, and professionally with customer enquiries.
* You should be flexible and be able to adapt to regularly changing demands and priorities.
* You will also be a good team player but able to work independently with minimum supervision to make decisions and meet deadlines.
* Although your main base will be in Merrion House, you will also work on a rota basis at other Community hubs across the city. You will also be required to attend marriage and civil partnership ceremonies at various locations in Leeds.
Working hours are 8.30 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, although the services do operate a limited flexi-time scheme. The role also involves working on one in four Saturdays and occasional out-of-hours (including Sunday) working for which additional out-of-hours payments are made.
About The Role
The duties of a registrar date back to 1837 although have evolved a little since then. Recruitment opportunities occur infrequently, reflecting the dedication of those delivering the service.
As a registrar, you will be dealing with customers at key stages of their lives; helping them to deal with bereavement, sharing in the joy of new births, and taking part in marriage or civil partnership celebrations. If you enjoy working closely with members of the public, there can be few more satisfying roles.
In delivering our services, you will also be representing Leeds City Council, so have the opportunity to demonstrate what a great service the council can provide to members of the local community.
And in making a permanent record of these events, you, as the registrar, will be forming part of the history of Leeds.
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.
* 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 Steve Coupe, Superintendent Registrar. Call 0113 3789595 or email Stephen.coupe@leeds.gov.uk.
This position requires a Baseline Personal Security Standard check. A Basic Check will be carried out on preferred candidates.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. 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. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, 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, candidates must consider their own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship, you'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. For more information visit Skilled Worker visa on the government website. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Purpose
* To register births, deaths, still-births, marriages, and civil partnerships.
Responsibilities
* To register births, deaths, and still-births and to be personally responsible for all associated statutory and administrative functions.
* To capture customer information for the Tell Us Once service.
* To ensure the security of registers, register pages, certificates, schedules, related documents, and fees collected.
* To ensure the highest levels of accuracy in manual records and electronic registrations.
* To register marriages.
* To identify and take appropriate action to deal with forced and sham marriages/civil partnerships.
* To attend and support the Senior registrar at Civil Partnership and Citizenship ceremonies.
* To provide a sensitive, polite, and professional service to customers and to consistently achieve high levels of customer satisfaction.
* To take customer payments, reconcile and bank income in accordance with Financial Regulations and to provide accurate and timely financial information to management.
* To use own initiative and judgement to take ownership of and resolve most customer enquiries.
* To support service delivery by managing own workload and prioritising effectively.
* To make timely returns of all events to appropriate organisations within and outside the council.
* To make registration appointments and maintain the status of bookings on the electronic diary.
* To assist in staff training, coaching, and mentoring, where required.
* To handle telephone, email, and work queue enquiries.
* To liaise with partners and stakeholders at a local and national level to provide a comprehensive service for customers.
* To have an awareness of other council services and to advise or direct customer enquiries appropriately.
* To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, and service developments.
* To handle personal information sensitively and confidentially with due regard to GDPR, the Data Protection Act, and relevant Registration legislation.
* To support the implementation of new legislation and process change to ensure that the service is delivered efficiently and effectively.
* To work flexibly to meet the needs of the service, colleagues, and customers.
* To provide a Sunday service (9.00-10.30 a.m) for emergency death registrations.
* To be flexible and adaptable to change and to assist other services as required, commensurate to grade.
* To participate in appraisals, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up-to-date knowledge and skills.
* To improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues, and appropriate CPD programmes.
* To work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve service targets, knowing when to seek help and advice.
* To contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
* Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
* Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
* 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.
* The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol, and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Qualifications
Four GCSEs (Grade A-C) or equivalent including Maths and English or other appropriate qualifications. Customer Services NVQ Level 2 desirable.
Location and working hours
Location - The registrars service is based at Merrion House, Merrion Way, LS2 8BB. The postholder will also be required to work from a variety of other locations including Leeds City Council Hubs and any building registered for marriages/civil partnerships as well as any other place where a ceremony has been arranged e.g., hospitals, hospices, prisons, and private addresses.
Hours – 37 hours per week (Monday to Friday) plus one Saturday in four on a rota basis for which a Saturday enhancement is paid and a day taken in lieu. Overtime is paid for working any other Saturdays. There may also be a requirement to attend ceremonies on Sundays and Bank Holidays for which enhancements will also be paid. Must be available to share a Sunday rota (9.00 – 10.30 am) for emergency death registrations.
Personal Specification
Method of assessment will be through one or more of the following application form, test, interview, and certificate.
Essential requirements - It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
Skills required
* Able to take ownership of and deal effectively with customer enquiries and problems.
* Able to analyse and interpret complex registration legislation and information on behalf of customers.
* Commitment to delivering high-quality customer care and meeting the needs of customers.
* Able to communicate confidently, effectively, and sensitively with a wide variety of customers.
* Able to demonstrate patience, tact, and understanding and to deal with difficult situations in a calm, confident, and effective manner.
* Good command of written English with the ability to prepare written documents in a clear and legible manner.
* Inputting electronic information with the highest levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
* Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with Data Protection, GDPR, and other relevant legislation.
* Able to work independently and to manage own workload within time constraints.
* Adaptable and flexible and able to cover other duties at short notice.
* Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Knowledge required
* Knowledge of relevant Registration Service legislation, policies, and procedures.
* 4 GCSEs (grade A-C) or equivalent including Maths and English Language or other equivalent qualification.
Experience required
* Experience of registering births, deaths, and marriages.
* Providing a face-to-face public service working to customer care standards and performance targets.
* One-to-one interviewing in situations requiring sensitivity.
* Working as part of a team, supporting colleagues to meet targets and deliver a responsive service.
* Accurately creating and updating manual and electronic forms.
* Working flexibly, adapting to and dealing with conflicting demands.
* Working with sensitive or confidential information.
* Handling cash on a regular basis, reconciling and recording fees received.
Behavioural and other Characteristics required
* Able to travel to various work locations across Leeds.
* Mature judgment, articulate and confident disposition.
* Effective and active listening skills using diplomacy and tact.
* A professional approach and presentation.
* Committed to continuous improvement.
* 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 to ensure up-to-date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development.
* Understand and embrace our values, behaviours, and codes of conduct.
Desirable requirements - It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements; however, these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.
Knowledge required
* Customer services NVQ Level 2
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