Roots and Shoots is run by a small diverse team who bring their enormous passion and expertise to our vibrant community. The team consists of a professional, friendly and creative group of people from all backgrounds and cultures, who all put our students and the environment first. We value people highly, with a focus on equality of opportunity for all.
Receptionist
Reporting to Office Manager, £26,000 per year (pro-rata)
Actual Salary: £17,142.86 (term time only - 40 weeks per year)
Permanent role, 5 days a week on site, no option to work from home.
Roots and Shoots is an independent, award-winning educational and environmental charity based in Kennington, South London. From a derelict site in 1982, it has grown to become a well-established and respected vocational training organisation with biodiverse wildlife gardens, offering a safe haven for both people and nature to flourish.
This is a new, key role within a busy front office. This role will be a key representative of the organisation and will frequently be the first on-site point of contact for a wide variety of visitors. The Receptionist will be speaking to students, parents, venue hire clients, contractors and various other guests. The majority of our venue hire client base are national and local level government departments and charities; professionalism and high quality hospitality is extremely important.
This is a highly varied role that requires quick thinking, strong verbal and written communication skills and good technical literacy. Accurate and timely data entry is critical to the success of the role.
Being familiar with working via the Google Workspace suite of productivity tools (Gmail, Google Sheets, Google Docs etc.) is beneficial but not essential if already familiar with Microsoft equivalents.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Job Purpose
To provide professional support for the organisation in the following areas:
Front of House for all staff, students and visitors
Education Administration- Complete attendance and support tracking processes
Site Health and Safety including Fire Marshall Team and Cleaning Team
Front of House
To answer the phone and signpost callers or take messages
To have sight of the internal calendar and be aware of upcoming visitors
To assist with general public enquiries and signpost visitors to the correct areas
Visitors
To ensure all visitors sign in/out and are given the correct lanyard
To have an awareness of the venue hire calendar and signpost visitors to their hire space.
Space
To help ensure the Office is clean, tidy and complies with health and safety requirements and is a welcoming environment for visitors.
To help ensure that staff refreshments are always available.
To help ensure that toilets are stocked with toilet paper and soap.
Security
To maintain security, checking legitimacy of professionals and unexpected visitors.
To keep the front door locked, opening it for staff, students and venue hire guests.
Ad-hoc support tasks (superseded by Attendance Tracking tasks)
To provide student support when they request it, redirecting students to relevant education staff
To provide adhoc staff support when urgently required
Supporting Community Events - Work two weekend days a year at our biannual community events.
To occasionally support the Venue Hire Team - help with meeting room preparation, serving or clearing rooms
Attendance Tracking and Education Administration
To complete the morning and afternoon attendance tracker for all student training and work placements
Ensure all daily tracking is completed
Following up absences with students and their families in a timely manner in accordance with the attendance procedure
Update teaching staff using the appropriate methods
To speak to management about concerns
To play an active and positive role within the Education Admin Team
To support Education Managers with outgoing parent / carer communications.
To attend admin meetings to improve the running of the Office and Education Team
To be aware of all student travel support needs and liaise with taxis and parents if issues arise.
Fire Marshall (FM)
To act as a Fire Marshall in the FM Team to support any drills and real alarms:
To maintain FM accredited training
To ensure all registers and sign-in sheets are removed from Office during fire drills or alarms to ensure the site has been evacuated
To act as the Assembly Point FM and lead the confirmation of registers by Tutors
To play an active role in the FM Team and adhere to FM standards of practise
Benefits of working at Roots and Shoots:
Working in central London within a unique, environmentally and horticulturally-led location with a wide range of green spaces.
Job satisfaction knowing you are making a real difference to young learners from a disadvantaged background.
Great experience to have on your CV.
Safeguarding Statement
Roots and Shoots is committed to the safeguarding of its learners, staff and visitors.
Safeguarding is a priority with arrangements in place to ensure learners feel, and are safe on college premises and during off site activities.
Roots and Shoots ensures safeguarding legislation and guidance are adhered to and taken into account when developing and revisiting policies, procedures and associated arrangements.
Roots and Shoots provides a safe physical environment for its learners and staff, ensuring that premises are of a good standard. Health & Safety arrangements are in place to ensure adherence to current legislation and guidance.
Applicants will be subject to recruitment and selection procedures designed to emphasise Roots and Shoots commitment to the safeguarding of its learners and staff. The procedures include questioning at interview stage, verification of appropriate qualification, acquiring references, and necessary safety checks.
Roots and Shoots has a designated Safeguarding Lead responsible for learner protection, supporting staff in carrying out their safeguarding duties, and working closely with other services.
Roots and Shoots has policies and procedures in place to deal effectively with learner protection and safeguarding issues together with recording and monitoring processes. It is a condition of employment that all staff are trained to a level appropriate to their safeguarding responsibilities.
Roots and Shoots commitment to safeguarding is paramount to the success of learners. Trustees, senior management team and the “Safeguarding Working Group” will continue to keep abreast of developments in this area and implement arrangements to continually improve the safety and awareness of its learners, staff and volunteers.