Administrative Assistant, Children and Families - ORK10879

Orkney Islands Council; Kirkwall; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Orkney Islands Council in Kirkwall is seeking an Administrative Assistant to support the Children and Families team. The role covers broad administration and will work closely with the Senior Administrative Officer to ensure effective business support.

You will handle phone and reception, manage correspondence and case records, keep diaries, arrange travel, take minutes, and process financial tasks such as raising purchase orders. Strong IT skills and ability to work under pressure are essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support within the Children and Families team and across the Council as required.
• Telephone answering and reception; management of correspondence and case records.
• Maintain team diaries and appointments; make travel arrangements; minute taking for meetings.
• Use financial systems including raising purchase orders.
• Work under pressure to meet strict deadlines with discretion and confidentiality.
• Liaise with the public, service users, families, external agencies and professionals.

Job description

Administrative Assistant, Children and Families

Council Offices 35 hours per week Permanent

£30,060 - £30,662 £16.47 - £16.80 per hour

The above amounts include Distant Islands Allowance.

You will be reporting to the Senior Administrative Officer.

Your working pattern is Monday - Friday 0900 - 1700. We are happy to talk flexible working, where possible

The purpose of this role is to provide administrative and business support, normally within the employing service but also throughout the Council, according to demand.

We require an Administrative Assistant to join the Children and Families team within Orkney Health and Care. The successful candidate will provide all aspects of administrative support as required and will work closely with the Senior Administrative Officer to ensure that a high level of business support is provided.

Duties will include telephone answering and reception; management of correspondence, case records; team diaries and appointments; making travel arrangements; minute taking a range of meetings and using financial systems including raising purchase orders. You will already have experience of working as an effective team member within an Administration team, have excellent administration and computer skills, ideally using Microsoft Office applications.

You will need to be able to work under pressure to strict deadlines, use your own initiative, maintain confidentiality and be able to work unsupervised. We are looking for a good communicator and with excellent organisational skills as you will be part of a team liaising with members of the public, service users, families, external agencies and professionals.

The necessary qualification, experience and skills required for this role are detailed in the 'must have' section of the attached job profile. These criteria are used for decisions on shortlisting and appointment of applicants.

This post is subject to Level 1 Disclosure Scotland check.

Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 1 November 2026, with shortlisting taking place week commencing 2 November 2026 and interviews are scheduled for 20 November.

For a discussion about the role, contact Alison Stewart on [e-mail] or telephone, 01856 873535 ext.2618

We would welcome your feedback on our recruitment process.

Orkney Islands Council is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of age, gender, race or ethnicity, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity status or gender reassignment status.