Apprentice Business Support Officer

Summary

Have you experienced living in care or been a looked after child? Could you use this life experience to support others by working for a unique charity which helps young people transition from care to creating a home of their own? The National House Project is looking for a new recruit to support with the administrative running of their Crewe team.

Annual wage: £18,000 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Business administrator (level 3)
Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm, Breaks: 30-minutes
37 hours 30 minutes a week
Possible start date: Monday 27 January
Duration: 1 year 6 months
Positions available: 1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

The NHP team in Crewe want to support and recruit an apprentice business administrator who understands the experience of growing up in care because it has been a part of their own life journey and childhood at some stage. This vacancy is reserved for people who have experience of being in care (anyone who, at any stage in their life, for any length of time has been in care, or, is currently in care, or, is from a looked-after background, including adoption) You will be based at the NHP office in Crewe. However, you may have opportunities to travel to Local House Projects and attend meetings across the country. The role will also have an important function within the Care Leavers National Movement (CLNM) taking a lead in one of the regions (North, Midlands or South). The successful candidate will have a range of day-to-day duties, including:

Learning and promoting the Charity’s vision and mission
General admin including emails, filing, printing, scanning, ordering stationery
Assist and support staff with various admin tasks
Manage, maintain and review IT systems and assist with minor technical support
Assist with the management of social media, marketing and campaigns
Input data and update records
Assist with a range for research activities
Schedule appointments and events, support and participate in meetings and training events
Communicate and interact with contacts either on the phone, digital platforms or in person
Build and maintain positive relationships with customers and colleagues
Do any additional typing that may be required, including notes of meetings
Practice planning and supporting with deadlines
To maintain confidentiality and discretion at all times
Undertaking training when necessary
Work on allocated projects
Being ready for any other administrative tasks that are required

Where you’ll work

Ground Floor, South Wing 1

The Quadrangle, Crewe Hall

Crewe

CW1 6UZ

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

CHESHIRE COLLEGE SOUTH AND WEST

Your training course

Business administrator (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.
Produces accurate records and documents including: emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and present solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.
Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.
Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.
Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themself to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.
Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.
Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.

Your training plan

The candidate will follow a Level 3 Apprenticeship programme and study towards a full Standard as a Business Administrator. This training will be structured and delivered by Cheshire College - South & West. If you do not already hold GCSEs at grade A-D/8-4 in English and maths you will complete Functional Skills in the related subjects to attain Level 2 Functional Skills. NHP will provide in-house training to support the chosen candidate to broaden their knowledge of the organisation and its specific needs.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade C/4)
Maths (grade C/4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Administrative skills
Logical
Team working
Non judgemental
Patience

About this company

The National House Project (NHP) is reimagining the leaving care process and supporting young people to build interdependent, connected and fulfilling lives. The charity achieves this by providing support and expertise to local authorities around the country to set up and manage Local House Projects (LHPs) so that young people can leave care in a carefully planned way. The work began by asking young people ‘what makes a house a home’ and was co-designed with young people from the start. With a psychologically informed practice framework the approach is relational through which young people in and leaving care work together with staff to create their first home and build a long-term community of support. The first HP in Stoke-on-Trent was led by Mark Warr and Sue Hammersley who continue to lead on the on-going national project development. The Stoke-on-Trent project was set up in 2015 followed by the implementation of a further five Local House Projects in 2017. With an ambition to expand nationally, NHP was then set up as a charitable body, with the aim of rolling out the programme across England and Scotland. The organisation now supports 24 local authorities and has a plan to scale by five new projects per year. Being part of a LHP has supported young people to gain confidence, achieve successful interdependence by transitioning to full council tenancies, secure jobs and stay in college – aspirations which the NHP team want for any young person leaving care. To maximise the ownership of young people and ensure that their collective voice is heard, amplified and acted on, NHP also established Care Leavers National Movement (CLNM). It has representation from all LHPs at a regional level with these meetings feeding into the more strategic function of CLNM.

After this apprenticeship

A full-time position is not guaranteed. You'll have met a great professional network of new friends and colleagues, who will be contacts going forward. We will support you with CV prep, interviews techniques and job applications.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CHESHIRE COLLEGE SOUTH AND WEST

Sophie Cain

sophie.cain@ccsw.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000287850.

Apply now

Closes in 23 days (Monday 13 January at 11:59pm)

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