The Highland Council
The Job Description

A Job Description sets out the details of a job – what it involves, the key duties and responsibilities (sometimes called accountabilities), its place in the service, and working relationships. The detail is drawn from a number of sources, including the immediate supervisors, observation of current job holder and job evaluation questionnaire/job overview.

The job specification must contain the following information:

	Job title
	Service Area and Section
	Grade and pay scale or rate
	Officers to whom post holders are responsible on a day to day basis and overall
	Main purpose of the post
	The key duties and responsibilities

The job description should not extend beyond 2 sides of A4 paper.

The following are sample job descriptions in the Council’s
standard format.

Service:	Education, Culture and
Sport	Section:	Catering and
Cleaning Services	

Job Title:	
Cleaning Operative			

Grade and Salary:	

Location:	

Responsible to:	
Cleaning Supervisor			

Job Purpose:	
	To clean designated accommodation to ensure that they are left in a clean and hygienic condition to written standards and oral instructions.	
Key Duties and
Responsibilities:		Clean, wash, sweep and dust designated area
including cleaning fixtures and fittings.
	Vacuum clean designated areas.
	Clean toilets and shower areas, including fixtures and fittings.
	Handle and use cleaning equipment
	Hold keys for entering and leaving designated areas, in a secure way.	

Other Duties:	
   The post holder may be required to undertake any other duties appropriate to the level of the post.

   Duties and responsibilities will vary from time to time.	

Date:	
September 2005			

Service:	Social Work	Section:	
Job Title:	Driver/Attendant		

Grade and Salary:	

Location:	

Responsible to:	
Centre Manager		

Job Purpose:	
	To transport service users on behalf of the Social
Work Service in accordance with the Driver’s Manual.
	
Key Duties and
Responsibilities:		To drive passenger vehicles to transport service
users.
	To assist care staff in the provision of services to older people.
	To carry out routine maintenance checks of council vehicles.
	To carry out safety measures, as directed, when undertaking tasks with service users.
	To report faults with the vehicle or any problems
encountered to the Centre Manager.
	To undertake risk assessment in accordance with the duties of the job.	
Other Duties:	   The post holder may be required to undertake any
other duties appropriate to the level of the post.
   Duties and responsibilities will vary from time to time.	

Date:	
September 2005		

Service:	Finance Service	Section:	

Job Title:	
Clerical Assistant		

Grade and Salary:	

Location:	

Responsible to:	

Job Purpose:	
   To provide clerical support		

Key Duties and
Responsibilities:	
   Maintain and update the ……….. system/database
   Process ……….forms and maintain the established
administration systems
   Undertake reception duties, dealing with enquiries and taking messages where necessary
   Open and record incoming mail (internal & external)
   Process orders through financial/procurement software in accordance with instructions
   Book meeting rooms for section staff
   Produce documents and spreadsheets using Microsoft
Office software, including audio typing	

Other Duties:	
   The post holder may be required to undertake any other duties appropriate to the level of the post.
   Duties and responsibilities will vary from time to time.	

Date:	
September 2005		

Service:	Planning and
Development	Section:	
Job Title:	Administrative Assistant		

Grade and Salary:	

Location:	

Responsible to:	
Area Administrator		

Job Purpose:	
To lead the clerical support team in providing an effective administrative and clerical service for the Area Administrator	

Key Duties and
Responsibilities:	
	To be responsible for the recording and distribution of the Section's internal and external mail
	To attend and contribute to section and Service meetings and take the minutes
	To be responsible for the word processing service for the section
	To prepare bulletins, leaflets and other material
produced by the section
	To order the section's office supplies and equipment and maintenance of sufficient stocks
	To oversee the work of 3 clerical staff
	To process purchase orders for the section including receipt and maintenance of the Section's inventory
	To ensure the efficient management of the Section's general office
	To be responsible for the booking of venues and meeting rooms for the section
	To maintain the section's financial records, using
bespoke software and approved ledgers and registers	

Other Duties:	
   The post holder may be required to undertake any other duties appropriate to the level of the post.
   Duties and responsibilities will vary from time to time.	

Date:	
September 2005		

Service:	Corporate Services	Section:	

Job Title:	
Personnel Adviser		
Grade and Salary:	
Location:	
Responsible to:	Personnel Manager		
Job Purpose:	   To provide the full range of professional personnel
services to managers
   To contribute to the consistent implementation of personnel policies, procedures and conditions of service	

Key Duties and
Responsibilities:	
   Ensure implementation of and compliance with health
& safety, equal opportunities and personnel policies and procedures
   Provide advice and assistance to Service Directors, Heads of Service and Area Service Managers with the
consistent implementation and application of personnel policies and procedures including participation in
selection process, formal disciplinary, grievance
hearings and appeals
   Advise and assist Service Directors, Heads of Service and Area Service Managers regarding approved employee establishments and any restructuring proposals
   Participate in the development of corporate Personnel policies as required
   Provide reports and attend relevant Committees and
Sub-Committees as required
   Provide advice to Service Directors, Heads of Service and Area Service Managers on salary and grading matters to ensure that Council grading procedures are complied with
   Undertake specific corporate personnel projects as required by the Personnel Manager
   Undertake specific projects or investigations in support of Service Directors
   Advise and attend consultative/negotiating meetings with trade unions and foster good employee relations
with staff and trade union representatives	
Other Duties:	   The post holder may be required to undertake any
other duties appropriate to the level of the post.
   Duties and responsibilities will vary from time to time.	
Date:	September 2005		

Service:	Chief Executive’s	Section:	Policy and
Performance	
Job Title:	Best Value Adviser			

Grade and Salary:	

Location:	

Responsible to:	
Head of Policy and Performance		

Job Purpose:	
To promote the Best Value Service actively, as part of a small team, providing advice and consultancy to one or more of the Council's Services on Best Value continuous improvement, competitiveness and modernisation.	

Key Duties and
Responsibilities:	
	To carry out research and project work
	To prepare technical papers
	To provide consultancy services for specific Council functions in best value processes, techniques and performance management.
	To liaise with external partners and contacts,
including Government Departments and COSLA
	To provide general advice to managers and staff on
Best Value and performance management.
	To plan and deliver various workshops for internal Services which stimulate, develop and maintain knowledge and understanding of Best Value
	To prepare and publish Best Value information bulletins
	To undertake, either individually or as a team member, project work
	To undertake from time to time, Best Value
placements within and outwith the Council for specific periods.
	To make Best Value presentations to outside bodies.
	To make Best Value presentations to the Council and its committees and Boards.	

Other Duties:	
   The post holder may be required to undertake any other duties appropriate to the level of the post.
   Duties and responsibilities will vary from time to time.	
Date:	September 2005			

Service:	TEC Services	Section:	
Job Title:	Area Service Manager		

Grade and Salary:	

Location:	

Responsible to:	
Head of Service		

Job Purpose:	
	Responsible for managing the day to day delivery of
TEC services to the Area.
	Ensuring that services are delivered in an organised, efficient and effective manner in accordance with
Corporate and Service plans, policies and procedures	
Key Duties and
Responsibilities:		To manage a team of staff delivering TEC Services to
the area.
	To lead and motivate a workforce of      staff
	Ensure the proper management of financial and other resources, assessing priorities and allocating work accordingly
	Prepare and implement an effective operational plan,
based on the Corporate and Service plans
	Ensure the delivery of a quality service within available resources, managing competing pressures
	Work in a multi-disciplinary manner with senior staff from other Services in the Area to ensure that Area
service delivery is joined-up and consistent
	Attend and participate as a member of the Area
Management Team
	Attend and participate as a member of the Service
Senior Management Team
	Attend and advise the  	Area Committee as appropriate
	Ensure compliance with all statutory requirements
relating to the delivery of the service
	Maintain and assist with the development and implementation of policies and procedures relating to the management and provision of TEC services.	

Political Restriction	
The post is defined as being politically restricted and will, therefore, be restricted in terms of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, as amended by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, and by the Local Government Officers (Political Restrictions) Regulations
1990.	
Other Duties:	   The post holder may be required to undertake any
other duties appropriate to the level of the post.

   Duties and responsibilities will vary from time to time.	

Date:	
September 2005		

Service:	Housing Service	Section:	
Job Title:	Head of Service		

Grade and Salary:	

Location:	

Responsible to:	
Director of Housing Service	

Job Purpose:	
To manage the Council's  	service
To oversee the Council's  	functions
To deputise for the Director of Housing Service	

Key Duties and
Responsibilities:	
	To lead and motivate a workforce of      staff
	Attend meetings of Council and its Committees and Boards and contribute to those meetings as they relate to the work of the Service.
	Lead the development and delivery of the Council's
approved  	strategy
	To ensure provision of an effective and efficient service consistent with the Council's policies and in accordance with statutory requirements.
	To ensure provision of timeous and accurate advice, and when required, the interpretation of  	
	The development of the Services' performance plans, (including Service and Best Value)
	The effective management of the Service revenue budget.
	The accurate and timeous preparation of Service
estimates.
	The overall direction of the activities of the area managers as given in the attached organisation chart.
	The maintenance of internal and external relationships essential in the overall success of the
Service and the achievement of the Service's goal's	

Political Restriction	
The post is defined as being politically restricted and will, therefore, be restricted in terms of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, as amended by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, and by the Local Government Officers (Political Restrictions) Regulations
1990.	
Other Duties:	   The post holder may be required to undertake any
other duties appropriate to the level of the post.

   Duties and responsibilities will vary from time to time.	

Date:	
September 2005