Recruitment Pack
WALC, Local Councils’ Assistant

Job Title:

Local Councils’ Assistant

Hours:

10 hours per week – ideally split over three days, includes occasional evening and
weekends

Salary:

£6,993.11 gross per annum plus optional 7% employers pension contribution

Contract:

Fixed term (March 31st 2027 with possible extension). Start date January 2026

Location:

The role will be a combination of office and off-site work,
with some home working. Office based in Hopton Park, Devizes.

This recruitment pack contains:

Information about the role (page 2)

•
•  Job description (page 3)
•  Person specification (page 5)

To apply for the role, please complete the application form and return to Nicky Theobald by email:
ntheobald@communityfirst.org.uk or by post: Community First, Unit C2 Beacon Business Centre,
Hopton Park, Devizes, SN10 2EY

Application Deadline
18th November at Midday

Community First is an equal opportunities employer.

About the Role

Job Title: Local Councils’ Assistant

Hours: 10 hours per week – ideally split over three days, includes occasional evening and
weekends

Salary: £6,993.11 gross per annum plus optional 7% employers pension contribution

Location: The role will be a combination of office and off-site work, with some home working.
Office based in Hopton Park, Devizes.

Supervisor: Wiltshire Association of Local Councils, Local County Advisor

Community First

Community First is a registered charity (288117) based in Devizes. As a member of Action with
Communities in Rural England, we support communities across Wiltshire and Swindon. Our Patron
is Her Majesty The Queen.

Wiltshire Association of Local Councils (WALC) supports and advises parish, town and city councils
in Wiltshire and Swindon as they in turn support the communities in which they serve. Local
Councils, as the first tier of local government, are in a position where they can really make things
happen and make a difference in their communities.

WALC endeavours to support and encourage Local Councils by offering guidance, advice and
training to councils in membership.

WALC has an Executive Committee made up of councillors from across Wiltshire and Swindon.
WALC has membership on a variety of regional and local partnerships making sure the voice of
local councils is heard, bringing the relevant issues to the fore whenever necessary. WALC has
successfully lobbied Government in the past on issues important and central to parish and town
councils in Wiltshire and enjoys representation on the NALC National Council and its various
committees, offering a local voice at a national level.

Due to the nature of the work, you will be required to undertake a satisfactory DBS check.

If you would like to find out more about this position, please contact Ian Nockolds, Local County
Advisor on: inockolds@communityfirst.org.uk or 07739 084867.

Closing date: 18th November at Midday

Interview dates: 27th November

Community First is an equal opportunities employer. Registered Charity No. 288117.
Please contact us if you would like a hard copy application form, or if you require any assistance in
applying for this post.

Community First is an equal opportunities employer. Registered Charity No. 288117.

Community First – Recruitment Pack

Page 2

Job Description
Wiltshire Association of Local Councils (WALC)
Local Councils’ Assistant

Job Purpose

To assist the Local County Advisor to enable local councils to act within their legal framework.

The post holder will support the Local County Advisor to deliver a comprehensive information and
advice service to the Wiltshire Association of Local Councils with the gathering and dissemination of
information relating to Parish and Town Councils.

WALC organises a range of training courses for member councils, for their councillors and council
officers, some provided directly by the Local Councils’ Adviser and others bought in from outside.
There is regular communication with the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and with
other county associations, most particularly with those in the South West. The Local Councils’
Adviser and the Chairman or other designated representative of the Association regularly attend
conferences and other meetings held by NALC, either remotely or physically as circumstances
permit.

Main Responsibilities

•  To provide assistance in meeting all administrative responsibilities within the post holder’s area

of work.

•  To prepare correspondence, reports, agendas and other documentation.

•  To take and draft the minutes of Executive Committee meetings, which are generally held in the

evening some three or four times a year.

•  To support the organisation of conferences, seminars, training and workshops.

•  To acknowledge and log incoming enquiries in the absence of the Local Councils’ Adviser,
providing basic information where appropriate and ensuring timely referral or follow-up.

•  To support the compilations of the monthly newsletter to the WALC membership of news, advice

and events.

•

 To carry out other work or contribute to projects which may support the local councils’ service.

•  To provide cover for the Local Councils’ Adviser during periods of annual leave.

General Duties

The post-holder will contribute to achieving the overall mission of Community First.

•  Support the Wiltshire Association of Local Councils and carry out other such general duties as

determined by the WALC executive committee.

•  Assume financial responsibility for own operational budget

•  Participate in the team working approach of Community First

Community First – Recruitment Pack

Page 3

•  Take responsibility for her / his own development, inform the line manager of any development

needs and take part in prescribed development activities

•  Work within the agreed policies and procedures of Community First

•  Carry out such other general duties as shall be determined by the Deputy Chief Executive. Support
other members of staff as required by the workload and by absences due to leave, sickness etc.

•  Ensure that office security is maintained and confidences are not breached.

Community First is committed to Equal Opportunities and the post holder is expected to be familiar
with the Equal Opportunities Policy and to complete his or her duties in a manner consistent with
this policy.

This job description does not form part of the contract of employment but indicates how the contract
should be performed.  The job description will be subject to review and amendment in the light of
experience and in consultation with the post as part of the annual appraisal process.  The
responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time without changing the general
character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed.  Such variations are a common
occurrence and would not in themselves justify the re-evaluation of a post.  In cases, however,
where a permanent and substantial change in the duties of the post occurs, consistent with a higher
level of responsibility, then the post would be eligible for re-evaluation.

Community First – Recruitment Pack

Page 4

Person Specification
Local Councils’ Assistant

e
c
n
e
i
r
e
p
x
E
&
e
g
d
e
l
w
o
n
K

,
s
l
l
i
k
S

)
s
l
l
i
k
s
l
a
n
o
s
r
e
p
r
e
t
n

I

&
s
l
l
i
k
s
g
n
i
v
l
o
s
m
e
l
b
o
r
p

,
y
t
i
v
i
t
a
e
r
C

(

Essential

Desirable

Relevant qualification or two years relevant
experience.

Understanding and experience of using
Microsoft Office 365

Experience within the
voluntary / community
sector.

Experience and/or
understanding of updating
WordPress websites or a
willingness to learn

Understanding and experience of working with
remote meeting platforms, such as Microsoft
Teams and Zoom

Experience in delivering
administration tasks in an
office setting

Have an understanding of Local Councils and
their roles within the community.

Experience of how Parish
and Town Councils work

Experience of organising physical and remote
events and training courses

Experience of organising
event booking systems

Experience of working with agendas and
production of minutes of meetings.

Experience in organising
training courses

Ability to travel around the County

Well-organised, confident and self-motivated.

s
e
t
u
b
i
r
t
t
a
l
a
n
o
s
r
e
P

m
a
e
t

i

,
s
p
h
s
n
o
i
t
a
l
e
r
g
n
d

i

l
i

u
b

,
e
v
i
t
a
i
t
i
n
I
(

Ability to set own priorities and meet
deadlines.

Ability to cope under pressure.

)
,
.
c
t
e
a
t
a
d

,
t
n
e
m
p
u
q
e
,

i

g
n
i
k
r
o
w

Ability to keep confidences and act with tact
and discretion.

Tidy and well organised.

Flexible approach to working hours and new
areas of work.

A desire and ability to work in a team setting.

Good written and verbal communication skills

Community First – Recruitment Pack

Page 5