3. Contribute to meeting annual income target through effective promotion of our services and accurate financial procedures

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1 1. JOB TITLE Job Title: HERITAGE ASSISTANT Reports to: Public Services Manager Service: Surrey Heritage/ Cultural Services / Customers and Communities 2. JOB PURPOSE (A short statement of no more than 2 sentences, outlining the job s overall role, why it exists and what it contributes to the organisation and its values.) t To provide an effective and efficient public service to meet the leisure, information and learning needs of anyone interested in Surrey s past. To ensure the frontline of the service is accessible and welcoming to all customers in line with SCC customer care best practice. 3. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES: 1. Enable all customers to satisfy their leisure, informational or learning requirements during their visits, to the agreed standards set by the Public Service team 2. To be part of the enquiries response team, researching original sources and local studies materials in order to produce the highest standard of responses to s and letters from anywhere in the world to the standards set by the Public Services team in liaison with Surrey County Council s Customer Services Team 3. Contribute to meeting annual income target through effective promotion of our services and accurate financial procedures 4. Help educate the public in use of e-service in all areas of our information provision 5. To raise public awareness of the archives and local studies collections through exhibition work, leaflet production and outside events as opportunity allows. 6. Ensure protection of the unique archives and local history collections by giving the public correct handling instruction (in accordance with training) and following agreed security procedures 1

2 7. Assist in increasing access to historical materials by creating accurate databases of retrievable finding aids 8. To help to ensure the public and Surrey County Council are not disadvantaged by breach of legal restrictions on access to sensitive records which are often closed to public scrutiny for periods up to 100 years 9 To familiarise, uphold and promote the aims of the council s Equality and Diversity policies in the course of their day-to-day work. 4. WORK CONTEXT (A brief objective statement to illustrate the context of the job. Reference may be made to: problems faced; organising; direction received; work contacts; working environment/physical effort/strain.) The creation of Surrey Heritage at Surrey History Centre, Woking has provided a high quality integrated service for the people of Surrey and others throughout the County and worldwide with an interest in Surrey s past. The work is delivered through a number of strategic teams aligned with key professional areas and a number of operational cross-heritage The teams provide efficient planning advice, maintain and develop a comprehensive historic environment record, deliver a full range of archaeological services; develop and deliver a programme of community archaeology projects; run the county archive service and local studies libraries; develop and deliver learning services; support and deliver outreach to extend the diversity of people engaged in heritage; support Surrey museums and voluntary sector delivery of heritage services, in partnership with the districts and boroughs. teams. The service promotes engagement in heritage to the people of Surrey and more widely, through preservation and through a wide range of pioneering outreach activities including a volunteering programme and work to support new and potential entrants to heritage work, to involve both current and new users. The discovery and preservation of virtual heritage, and use of digital pathways to support participation in, enjoyment of, and learning from heritage is becoming increasingly important for the service. The service seeks to generate significant income through some of the activities. It supports County Council objectives, including the need to promote community identity and cohesion through heritage. In 2010 the archive service was judged to be 4* (top level) by the National Archive and in 2012 was awarded Archive of the Year by readers of Your Family History Magazine. At the heart of the work of Surrey History Centre is the preservation of historical documents and local studies material for access by the public, with due regard to legal restrictions on access to sensitive records. The post holder contributes greatly to the success of the public and core preservation services and has a key role to play in 2

3 public perception of the service. The majority of the working day is spent on duty, manning public help counters, which entails considerable standing or walking around the public foyer and search room. Close daily contact with public may present difficult situations and set procedures may need to be followed (calling for senior manager or first aiders for example). Close supervision of customers for security reasons requires mature personal skills The postholder will receive induction and training from the Senior Heritage Assistant There may be participation in personnel selection interviews through introductory tours and debriefing. There is regular oversight of work experience students and volunteers throughout the year. Much of the work required involves high level of unsupervised computer work both when on duty and working alone in back office on a range of projects. Each assistant has specific responsibilities with deadlines. Each assistant may be asked to help with outreach work, such as participation in talks, events, and displays. 5. DIMENSIONS (Scope and scale of work in which the job is involved in either directly or indirectly.) Financial: Indirect: increasing income to meet target through responsive paid research and reprographics service. Non-Financial: Over 10,000 customers a year. Over 1 million documents to be protected against loss or damage. Over 12,000 enquiries a year 6. PERSON SPECIFICATION Education, Training and Work Qualifications Good level of education, up to A level with high standard of literacy, numeracy and accuracy Method of Assessment Knowledge Sound historical knowledge of a wide range of sources family and local history sources 3

4 Skills and Abilities High level of IT competence,with an interest in history/genealogy and experience of spreadsheets and using the internet Good interpersonal skills Clear and logical thought processes Good team working skills Good listening skills Good organisational skills Excellent customer service skills Relevant Experience Experience of working in a local studies and archive environment Work with public in person and on telephone Other Requirements Sense of humour Great patience Flexible approach to working patterns and practices 7. JOB PROFILE APPROVALS (Manager and Job-holder(s), if relevant, agree, sign and date the profile.) Job-Holder Manager Print Name Date Print Name Date 4

5 8. GRADING DECISION (Depending on the grading process record the following) Grade: J.E. Panel Ref: Panel Date: OR Grade: Career Guide Used: Date: Manager Approval. Print Name.. 5