Administration Assistant

Five Finance Recruitment; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 12,000 - 14,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing support

LifeWorks access

Cycle to work

Birthday off

Real Living Wage

Job summary

The Big Life Group seeks an Administration Assistant at the Zion Centre, Manchester, to support a psychological wellbeing practitioner and assist across the Talking Therapies service. The role is 20 hours per week on a permanent contract, with some remote working possible.

You will gain exposure to clinical administration, learn multiple databases, and handle diaries, bookings and data securely, contributing to a calm, efficient office environment.

Qualifications

• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths.
• Experience in a busy office environment.
• Experience using Word and databases, and IT systems.
• Able to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Provide personal administrative support to a psychological wellbeing practitioner.
• Assist with administration across the Talking Therapies service.
• Move between office spaces safely and manage diaries/room bookings.
• Maintain data securely and comply with data protection policies.
• Carry out other reasonable admin or reception duties as required.

Skills

Organising skills

Multitasking

IT literacy

Communication

Education

GCSEs in English and Maths

Tools

Word

Databases

Job description

The Big Life Group’s mission is to fight for equity, in health, in wealth and in life. We are a social business delivering a range of services across the North of England, covering everything from mental and physical health, addiction and criminal justice, to housing, education, family support and much more. What links them together is the way we work – The Big Life Way.

We always stand shoulder-to shoulder with people, working with them on the things that matter most to them. Everything we do is designed and informed by the needs, priorities and strengths of people and communities.

Our values

• Courage: We stand up for ourselves, and the people and communities we work alongside, even when that makes us unpopular, or challenges accepted wisdom.
• Creativity: We find innovative solutions that work, never accepting the easy option or the status quo.
• Honesty: We act with integrity, speaking the truth to ourselves and others.
• Inspiration: We are inspired by the people and communities we work with and share what we learn from them to inspire others.
• Thoughtful: We act with care and compassion and work to understand people’s experiences. We take time to listen, reflect and continually learn.
• Valuing difference: We recognise and celebrate the unique qualities, gifts, insights and perspectives that different people offer.

At Big Life, work is more than a job – it’s about standing shoulder-to-shoulder with people and communities, making a difference every day. We fight for equity in health, in wealth and in life, and that commitment starts with how our staff.

Be yourself

We want you to feel safe, respected and able to bring your whole self to work. Difference is celebrated here, and our staff networks – from menopause to neurodiversity, LGBTQI+ and more – create space to connect and support each other.

Benefits that matter

We offer more than a payslip - you’ll find wellbeing support through LifeWorks, Simply Health and mindfulness sessions, 25-30 days’ annual leave plus your birthday off, flexible working, and regular learning opportunities. Everyday perks include Blue Light Card discounts, savings schemes, cycle-to-work, free eye tests and more - little extras to make life easier inside and outside of work.

Recognised as outstanding

We’re proud to be ranked by Best Companies as one of the UK’s outstanding places to work, with a two-star accreditation in 2024.

A culture of trust and flexibility

Our people describe our culture as relaxed and supportive. You’ll be trusted to plan your own day, take breaks when you need, and work in a way that fits with your life as well as your role.

If you’re looking for more than a job - if you want to be part of a team that’s bold, creative and relentlessly committed to equity – then Big Life could be the place for you.

The basics

Real Living Wage.

Please note, annual leave and bank holidays will also continue to be on a pro-rata basis. As this position is partially funded by Access to Work, salary and hours will be subject to yearly reviews.

Hours

20 hours per week. This is a permanent contract; however, it is dependent on Access to Work funding, which cannot be guaranteed indefinitely, and is not controlled by The Big Life Group.

Annual leave

25 days (pro rata), increasing to 30 days after five years

Base

Zion Centre, Manchester. This role can also include some remote working.

Closing date for applications

Sunday, 30 August. Interviews will take place on Friday, 11 September.

We recognise that AI tools can be useful in supporting job applications, for example by helping with spelling, grammar, structure, or clarity. However, the content of your application should reflect your own skills, experience, knowledge, and ideas. You may be asked at interview to expand on or discuss any part of your application.

What you’ll be doing

You will provide personal administrative support to one of our qualified psychological wellbeing practitioners and assist with administration across the Talking Therapies service. You’ll need to be highly skilled at organising and prioritising a busy workload and multitasking.

By doing this role, you’ll be perfectly placed to gain insight and skills, if you’re aspiring to get into a role that involves delivering one-to-one support with service-users, such as a trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner or a wellbeing coach. You’ll learn about clinical interventions, including assessment and treatment, and how to manage risk.

Above all, you’ll gain the admin processes and functions required of a psychological wellbeing practitioner, including using multiple systems and databases.

Learn how to use a number of electronic databases used by the service

Ensure information and data is kept updated and stored securely in line with data protection and confidentiality procedures

Direct communication as necessary, by phone, email or face to face

Assist our psychological wellbeing practitioner with moving around office spaces safely

Assist with booking rooms for meetings or manage diaries, if required.

Ensure information and data is kept updated and stored securely in line with data protection and confidentiality procedures.

Carry out any other reasonable administrative or reception duties as required.

Person Specification: Administration Assistant

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate that they meet the following points, either in their application, at an interview or through taking part in a test.

Experience

• Working in a busy office environment
• Effectively communicating with a range of people, from different sectors and communities
• Forming effective relationships with customers, clients and external agencies
• Setting up and improving systems for improving processes

Skills

• Managing different workstreams at once
• Using a range of different processes and systems (electronic and paper) ensure the business area runs smoothly and effectively
• Communicating effectively with a range of people and groups
• Using IT including Word packages and databases
• Managing emotional impact during exposure to sensitive and emotional client-content
• Supporting and assisting a colleague with a visual impairment
• Safely escorting a colleague around office spaces and safely evacuate your colleague in the event of an office emergency
• Assisting a colleague with planning and scheduling of clinical appointments (where necessary)

Knowledge

• The barriers and lifestyle issues faced by the people we work with

Education

• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths

Personal

• Positive and outlook and a ‘can do’ attitude
• Personal resilience and flexible attitude in the face of difficulties
• Commitment to working within the Big Life group’s ethos and values, including have a non judgemental approach
• Commitment to personal development and willingness to regularly update skills and experience

Please us the person specification, and align yourself to each point in order to demonstrate how you are a good match for the job role.

Big Life is in the business of changing lives, creating opportunities for people who have the least. When you become part of Big Life - as a staff or volunteer - we want you to feel great about your time with us.

It's important to us that staff feel great while they work here. That partly comes from a supportive, flexible approach to managing and nurturing our staff, but also from a wide range of perks, schemes and support, which help make being part of Big Life a bit brighter:

Wellbeing passports: Everyone has things going on in their life that affect their ability to be happy at work, and Big Life's wellbeing passports help staff members to work with their manager to understand their situation, what changes at work might make a difference, and the support we can offer.

Health and wellbeing champions: Our health and wellbeing champions group is drawn from across the group, and meets regularly to look at how we can best support our staff.

Peer supporters: Staff peer supporters can help staff within the group who may be experiencing stress, anxiety, grief, or any other emotional difficulties most of us face at some point in time. Peer supporters usually have some of their own life experience to draw on, and are trained to offer support.

Employee Assistance Programme: All staff have access to help from LifeWorks, which offers support with emotional, mental, financial, or physical wellbeing. The service is confidential, 24/7, and free to Big Life staff.

Stop smoking support: Big Life staff looking to stop smoking can access the NHS SmokeFree scheme. Through the scheme, if you quit and stay smoke free for six months, you can claim a £60 of gift vouchers.

Cycle to work: Anyone looking to get fit on their way to work can access Cycle Solutions, and get a bike for their commute tax free! Through the scheme, Big Life staff can save an average of 32% on the cost of their bike.

Your Development:

Coming to Big Life to work or volunteer can be just the start of your journey. We really believe that if people have the values, the determination and the skills to progress, then we'll do everything we can to make that happen.

In fact, we've got a whole range of stories about people for whom that was the case:

http://www.thebiglifegroup.com/category/staff-and-volunteer-progression

We want to be a great employer and to look after our volunteers, so we've received formal accreditations that show our commitment:

- Investors in People (Gold Award)

- Investors in People (Health and Wellbeing)

- Mindful Employer

- Disability Confident

Real Living Wage

Hours

20 hours per week. This is a permanent contract; however, it is dependent on Access to Work funding, which cannot be guaranteed indefinitely, and is not controlled by The Big Life Group.

Employee Assistance Program, birthday extra day off work, wellbeing support, cycle to work and car lease schemes, financial advice