Administrator/ Practice Based Learning Assistant (Temporary)
Location: Home-based in Scotland with occasional travel to the Edinburgh office EH3 7QJ
Hours: 3 days per week (with the possibility of an additional day)
Pay Rate: £16.63 per hour
Contract: Fixed-term until end of October
Help shape the next generation of Social Work professionals
Are you an organised administrator with excellent relationship-building skills and a passion for supporting students? The Open University is looking for a Practice Based Learning Assistant to join its Scotland-based Social Work team.
This is an opportunity to play a vital role behind the scenes, coordinating student placements and supporting learners throughout their professional practice journey. You will work with academic colleagues, employers, sponsors and students to ensure placements are organised efficiently and that every learner has the support they need to succeed.
This role would suit someone who enjoys managing multiple priorities, working with complex information and building strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
Duties:
As a key member of the Practice Based Learning team, you will:
Coordinate practice placements for undergraduate and postgraduate Social Work students.
Maintain accurate placement records, databases and spreadsheets.
Manage shared inboxes and respond to enquiries from students, employers and academic staff.
Organise and coordinate online meetings using Microsoft Teams.
Support student recruitment, induction and placement administration.
Build positive relationships with universities, placement providers, employers and sponsors.
Assist with financial administration, including processing invoices.
Produce reports and interpret numerical data using Excel.
Ensure all records are maintained accurately and in line with GDPR requirements.
Provide administrative support to academic colleagues and contribute to the smooth running of professional programmes.
Requirements:
We are looking for someone who is organised, proactive and enjoys working collaboratively.
You will ideally have:
Degree-level education or equivalent relevant experience.
Previous administration or coordination experience in a busy environment.
Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail.
Confidence using Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Outlook, Word and Teams.
Experience maintaining spreadsheets, databases and records.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
The ability to prioritise competing deadlines and manage multiple tasks.
Experience handling confidential information and a good understanding of GDPR.
A customer-focused approach with excellent stakeholder management skills.
An understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Desirable
Applications are particularly welcomed from candidates with:
Experience within health, social care or higher education.
An understanding of practice learning or student placements.
Knowledge of The Open University and its distance learning model.
Awareness of the Scottish Social Work environment and student support needs.
Why join The Open University?
The Open University is a leader in flexible higher education, helping students from all backgrounds achieve their ambitions.
Joining our team means you'll:
Make a real difference to students entering the Social Work profession.
Work within a supportive and collaborative team.
Enjoy a flexible, home-based role with occasional office collaboration.
Gain experience within one of the UK's leading universities.
Be part of an organisation committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.
If you're a highly organised administrator who enjoys coordinating people, processes and data while making a meaningful impact, we'd love to hear from you.
How to Apply? To be considered please click “Apply” to be considered and upload your most up-to-date CV.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.
Pertemps acts as both an employment business and an employment agency on behalf of The Open University