Local Government Clerical Assistant

Also known as:

Clerical Assistant, Local Government
Council Clerical Assistant

Introduction

Local government clerical assistants work in a variety of departments. They carry out administrative duties to support managers and senior staff. Tasks may include dealing with correspondence, accounts and filing. Some assistants' work involves interviewing and advising the public.

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Work Activities

Local government clerical assistants perform a variety of office duties, working under the supervision of administrative and professional staff. The exact nature of tasks varies according to the department but their duties may include some of those described below.

Some clerical assistants sort incoming mail and deliver it to the appropriate people within the department. They may be required to take messages or paperwork to other departments. They put together and photocopy documents and sort, file and update records. They send emails and word process and send routine letters.

The amount of contact clerical assistants have with the public depends upon the department where they work. Some may respond to phone enquiries; others, especially those in social services and housing departments, interview members of the public.

Clerical assistants are responsible for compiling statistics on, for example, wages, salaries and rents. They record information on computer on databases or spreadsheets. In highway and planning departments, much of the information they handle is technical.

With experience, it is possible for clerical assistants to move into positions with supervisory responsibility for junior staff.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As a clerical assistant, you must be able to work well with others in a team. You must be prepared to do some routine tasks like filing and photocopying. You must be able to decide which tasks are most important.

You need good IT and numeracy skills.

If you work with the public, you need an outgoing personality and good communication skills.

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Pay and Opportunities

Salaries are linked to a national scale but vary depending on the local authority, role and responsibility. The pay rates given below are approximate.

Clerical assistants earn from around £11,000 - £15,000 a year, rising to around £16,000 - £21,000 for qualified and experienced staff.

Most clerical assistants work 35-40 hours, Monday to Friday. Full-time, part-time, temporary and flexible working arrangements may be available.

Employment is in local authority departments, for example housing and tourism, throughout the UK. There is a steady demand for clerical assistants, though there may be considerable competition for posts.

Temporary and casual work may often be available in local authority departments. Some councils operate a 'temporary register' of available individuals.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some entrants have developed skills in administrative support or customer service.

• 27% of local government clerical assistants work part-time.
• 53% have flexible hours.
• 8% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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