INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job Title: Child Employment & Entertainment Licensing Officer

Salary: C1 £28,598 - £31,022

Hours:37 hours – occasional weekend and evening work when required

Contract: Permanent

Location:Leeds (with travel across the city as required)

About the Role

We are looking for a motivated and organised Child Employment & Entertainment Licensing Officer to join our Child Employment and Entertainment Team.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the safeguarding of children and young people across Leeds. The team is responsible for ensuring children engaged in employment, performances and entertainment activities are safely supported and protected through the effective administration and enforcement of licensing legislation.

Working closely with employers, production companies, schools, parents, chaperones and partner agencies, you will help ensure that child employment and entertainment activities comply with legal requirements and safeguarding standards.

What You Will Do

In this role you will:

Process and issue child employment, entertainment, chaperone and related licences.
Provide advice and guidance to employers, schools, production companies and families on child employment and entertainment legislation.
Investigate and respond to enquiries relating to illegal child employment and licensing matters.
Conduct visits and inspections relating to child employment and entertainment activities.
Support safeguarding arrangements for children engaged in employment and performances.
Maintain accurate records and databases and produce statutory reports.
Work with a range of internal and external partners to promote compliance with legislation and regulations.
Support service improvement and contribute to the development of new initiatives and projects.

These duties reflect the core responsibilities outlined within the job profile.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

Has excellent organisational and time management skills.
Can prioritise competing demands and work to deadlines.
Has strong administrative and ICT skills, including experience using Microsoft Office applications.
Can communicate confidently with a wide range of people.
Has experience dealing with enquiries and providing advice and guidance.
Can work independently using initiative and sound judgement.
Understands the importance of confidentiality and handling sensitive information appropriately.
Is committed to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare.
Can build positive working relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders.
Is flexible and able to undertake occasional evening and weekend work when required.

Why Join Leeds City Council?

At Leeds City Council we are committed to being the best city council in the UK and creating a workplace where people can thrive. We offer:

A competitive local government pension scheme.
Flexible working arrangements where service needs allow.
Generous annual leave entitlement.
Learning and development opportunities.
Employee wellbeing support and assistance programmes.
The opportunity to make a real difference to children and families across Leeds.

Safeguarding

Leeds City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

If you have any questions about the role/would like an informal chat, please contact Team Leader, Alison Foster (Alison.Foster@leeds.gov.uk) or Early Help Localities Lead, Anna Bedford (anna.bedford@leeds.gov.uk).

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose: Work with the team leader to ensure that licences for children in entertainment are prepared and issued under the appropriate law and regulations. The role may be required to undertake certain duties outside normal working hours including evenings and weekends.

The Child Employment & Entertainment team is a statutory safeguarding service responsible for ensuring that all children and young people aged from birth to 16 years of age are safeguarded and are free from exploitation when engaged in employment or performances, by ensuring the child licensing regulations are promoted and enforced accordingly

Responsibilities

liaise with organisations connected with the employment of children to collect and provide information, ensuring that all children and young people aged from birth to 16 years of age are safeguarded and are free from exploitation when engaged in employment or performances, by ensuring the child licensing regulations are promoted and enforced accordingly
Undertake a range of admin duties and review and modify processes to enhance the efficiency of the
Work with high levels of accuracy for tasks such as checking documents and recording numerical and alphabetical information
Work on own and manage workload using initiative and judgement to adhere to time scales and deadlines.
Deal effectively with referrals and queries in respect of illegal child employment.
Investigate referrals, and queries concerning the illegal employment of children where appropriate.
Advise employers of the city byelaws and child licensing regulations, and to undertake visit to employers regarding the employment of
Ensure licences for children in employment and entertainment, chaperone licenses, Body of Persons Licenses (BOPA) and work/volunteer licences are prepared and issued ensuring the child licensing regulations are implemented.
Generate invoice for chaperone Application licences on CIVICA, to check payment has been made, send invoice, raise a credit note if required for applicant.
Contribute to development of new initiatives in Child Employment and Entertainment Licensing matters and to liaise with schools, employers, the health authority, environmental health and other Local Authorities in respect of the implementation of the law and regulations for children in all areas of employment and entertainment licensing.
Contact organisations connected with the employment of children and collect and provide
Gather initial evidence, where appropriate, and present to the Child Employment Team Leader at the point of legal intervention relating to investigation of referrals and queries concerning the illegal employment of children.
Collate statistical information and provide related reports from data collected from the registration of children in employment and entertainment licensing.
Advise and liaise with agencies and provide information concerning child employment and entertainment licensing issues.
Undertake inspection of accommodation for children living in lodgings, whilst working in entertainment, on behalf of other Local
Undertake supervision visits, in pairs, of children working in entertainment in the city on behalf of the Local Authority and other Local Authorities, where appropriate, in accordance with Child Employment legislation and regulations.
Undertake interviews for applicants applying for a chaperone licence and/or private tutors and approve the issuing of their licences
Contribute to preparation of training materials regarding child employment and entertainment
Undertake specific project work as necessary, in relation to child employment and entertainment
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Process DBS applications including being the ID verifier.

Qualifications demonstrating ability in numeracy and literacy or equivalent knowledge is essential

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Able to travel throughout Leeds City Council boundaries and move location within the service working at different sites /areas depending on need.
A flexible approach to working hours with the ability if required to work out of normal hours including evenings and weekends.
Able to work effectively as part of a team and to demonstrate organisational and time management skills prioritising own and team’s work to meet conflicting deadlines
Able to work within and interpret financial policies and procedures ensuring value for money
Able to develop constructive working relationships and work in partnership with others to deliver work
Able to communicate appropriately with a wide range of people, through a variety of different methods
Able to use initiative to develop solutions to day to day issues and problems
Able to use information technology e.g. word, spreadsheet, database etc.
Able to accurately enter and retrieve data and information from digital and manual systems producing reports and data in a regulated service
Able to process documentation using Microsoft office software and other information systems.
Able to understand the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals and work with care when handling important, personal documentation.
Able to learn new processes and procedures to contribute to effective development of the service.
Knowledge and understanding of child licensing regulations relating to performances and the employment of 13 to 16 years old who wish to work on a part time basis.
Knowledge of the information needs and core business of the
Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and the Local Authority’s processes for reporting and investigating concerns/allegations.
Knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, policies with ability to interpret and apply them consistently.
Understand responsibilities in terms of Health and Safety, security, confidentiality and data protection
Understand diversity issues within local communities.
Aware that children and young people in employment and entertainment must be licensed, as determined by legislation and of the role this plays in protecting both young people and the public.
Experience of dealing with enquiries and offering advice using a variety of formats.
Experience of dealing calmly but firmly with challenging clients.
Experience of using initiative, taking ownership, responding and solving problems in line with recognised procedures.
Experience of using Microsoft Office software.
Experience of achieving performance targets and deadlines; prioritising and completing tasks on time.
Experience of taking payment over the phone or handling cash, cheque or card payments.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

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