Job Description

Description

To provide a first point of contact both for all external visitors arriving at the QAC Reception area and for telephone enquiries, delivering excellent customer service both face to face and over the phone. A key aspect of this role is to greet and receive all visitors to QAC, ensuring use of the Visitor Photo ID system and escorting them on site as necessary, in line with safeguarding requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Providing Reception cover to support the team and additional holiday/absence and break cover, as required. Providing a professional and effective Reception service for the charity, demonstrating excellent customer service skills as a first point of contact. Providing support with the visitor/contractor sign in/out protocols, to help ensure these are strictly adhered to and that visitors and contractors are parked in appropriate parking bays. Ensuring the Reception visitor check-in process is completed in an accurate and customer friendly manner, including the checking-in/photographic ID for all visitors, using QAC's Visitor Photo ID system. Provide assistance for visitors using the system, as required, including VI/accessibility assistance. Providing visitors/contractors with relevant information on arrival, including safeguarding information and emergency procedures. Support QAC safeguarding and security proceeding and challenge as necessary. Receiving and handling internal/external telephone calls using the Reception telephone system, in a professional manner, ensuring queries are effectively managed and directed to the appropriate person. Take initial delivery of post, including parcels and equipment deliveries and maintain appropriate records of goods received. Ensuring post is ready for external collection. Ensuring all Reception areas are maintained in a safe, clean and tidy condition and report any maintenance/cleaning issues arising. Undertaking Reception duties with due regard to confidential information and student, staff and QAC data, in line with Data Protection/GDPR requirements. Escort visitors/ contractors across campus when and where necessary. During Term Time, support the College's 333 procedures for incident management, in line with College requirements and acting as a point of contact for College response teams, calling the emergency services when required. Record any Reception incidents/ accidents and report to relevant managers, in line with QAC incident/ accident procedures.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

GCSE Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English or equivalent.

Have an understanding of safeguarding principles and how they apply to the role

Knowledge and understanding of confidentiality/GDPR

Strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Identifies with and demonstrates QAC Vision and Values and FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement)

Computer literacy, with experience of working with Microsoft Office

Attention to detail and accuracy

Customer service skills

Good communication skills and a professional telephone manner

Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with a wide range of people and students, using a range of methods.

Ability to deal calmly with difficult situations

Able to organise and prioritise own workload to meet deadlines

Able to work independently and use initiative

Positive and flexible attitude to work

Able to work effectively as part of a team

Computer literacy, with experience of working with Microsoft Office

Attention to detail and accuracy

Why work at Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham

Join our team at Queen Alexandra College!

Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of students with special educational needs? Do you thrive in an inclusive and supportive academic environment? If so, we want YOU to join our team. QAC has just gone through an exciting rebrand, dealt with a period of swift growth and academic improvement and this is your opportunity to become part of a vibrant College that is moving forward and making a real difference to the lives and futures of our students.

The newly structured Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham offers you the chance to have a positive impact as you join a committed group of colleagues in ensuring that all students achieve their aims and aspirations. We are dedicated to providing exceptional education and support to students with diverse learning needs and life experiences. Our specialist setting fosters an inclusive community where every student is valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

QAC offers a vibrant, varied and enriching educational experience for both residential and day students. Our curriculum aims to maximise adult life, independence and work opportunities for all students. Class sizes are designed to meet specific needs and support levels are high.

Joining our supportive team, you will have the opportunity to:
Work closely with students with SEN to achieve their goals Make a difference to the educational experience of young people Be a voice for students and staff in specialist education Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment, promoting academic growth, self development and self-confidence Develop your own skills, aspirations and progress your career.



Our benefits include;

Schedule 1 Benefits (reviewed annually and/or as appropriate)

Academic Year 2024/25

Access to on site car parking Use of QAC Fitness Centre (subject to opening hours) Cycle to Work Scheme (Salary Sacrifice) 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme Helpline (BHSF) Access to Education Support Free Helpline for Teachers & Education Staff QAC Mental Health First Aiders & activities to support health and wellbeing BHSF Benefits Package including Healthcare Plans, discounted shopping/services Annual Flu vaccination/voucher Access to other benefit/discount schemes (which may be subject to charge) e.g. Blue Light Card, TOTUM (NUS), Charity Worker Discounts, Discounts for Teachers Dell Advantage programme - a free programme that offers savings to students, parents and all staff at QAC - up to 20% off. https://www.dell.com/en-uk/lp/dell-advantage Health and Wellbeing Services (Occupational Health/Counselling) Free Tea/Coffee and Staff Room facilities Dining Room facilities with hot/cold food (free meal provided for those supporting students at mealtimes) Additional discretionary concessionary/closure days as part of leave entitlement (including closure over Christmas/New Year period) Reward and Recognition Policy - Living the Values Awards (team & individual) and long service Enhanced/Occupational paid leave e.g. maternity/paternity (subject to qualifying criteria) Occupational sick pay (based on length of service) On site wellbeing activities (e.g. yoga, meditation) Support for training/ CPD (either by way of study leave and/or funding) Flexible working arrangements including Flexible Working Policy Agreements, Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) in prior agreement with line manager.
This list is not exhaustive and may be subject to review and/or change.



We look forward to receiving your application and knowing more about your qualifications, skills,

personal qualities and experience that you would bring to the role and to QAC. Please take time to review the job description above.



Please upload a CV/Resumewith details of your full employment history (since leaving school,
including education, employment and voluntary work) including reasons for any gaps in

employment. This should also include a statement of the personal qualities and experience you

believe are relevant to your suitability for the post and how this meets the job description and

person specification requirements. Your CV/Resumewill be re-produced in a standard format by
the system (without personal identifiers) to assist us in our anonymised shortlisting process.

Under Section 7 of SVGA 2006 it is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from

engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. The College's Safeguarding Policies are

available here



As part of our commitment to safer recruitment, and in line with updated guidance published in

September 2022, we will carry out an online search of all shortlisted candidates. This search may

enable us to identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and publicly available for review online, which we may wish to explore with you in further detail during the interview process. As part of your application we have asked you to provide the account names, usernames and/or handles for any social media platform that you use, as well as the names of any websites that you own, post on, or contribute to. A Google search will also be conducted. These checks will only be conducted if you are shortlisted for interview. Please see our safer recruitment and selection policy for further information.

About Queen Alexandra Charity

Queen Alexandra Charity (QAC) provides education, residential support, community services and enterprises in support of young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities.



Education is provided through a national residential College that supports a diverse range of student/client abilities and needs. Our College provides education, training, routes to independent living and employment through an innovative, holistic approach to learning and support. It offers a vibrant, varied and fun educational experience for both residential and day students. Our curriculum aims to maximise adult life, independence and work opportunities for all students. Class sizes are small and support levels high.



We have educational and learning sites based in Birmingham, one of Europe's most welcoming and vibrant cities, with a rich and diverse culture. Our main site is based in Harborne, a pleasant leafy Birmingham suburb, on a friendly and green 8-acre campus with excellent facilities and resources. In addition we also have Pinewood Campus which is located on a business park and is designated to employment progression.



Clients within our Residential Services programme still require support and the aim is to deliver a service that provides them with the means to live independently/semi independently into the future. Many clients are either in education, voluntary work or paid employment not linked to QAC directly.



Our Community Services based at our Umberslade Campus in Stirchley include a supporter worker service, women's group, men's group, LGBTQ plus group, Saturday Socials, The Night Owl Experience (disability friendly night club visit in Birmingham City Centre).

All students, clients and staff are supported within safe and well-resourced environments.



QAC makes a positive difference to the lives and learning of people with disabilities and learning difficulties. We have high expectations of staff, students and clients whilst being responsive, innovative and collaborative. Our Charity values drive how we work with students, clients, stakeholders and as a team.

We continue to attract and retain staff of the highest calibre, who are proud of QAC's achievements and who wish to be an integral part of ongoing and future successes.

As Leaders in Diversity which drives the culture at QAC and we warmly welcome applications from individuals who share our values, from all backgrounds, to add to our committed and diverse team.