Personal Assistant for the Area Dean of Burnley

Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance Ltd

Job Description

Job Title: Personal Assistant for the Area Dean of Burnley

Salary: £9521.37 per annum

Hours: 14 per week

Location: St Stephen's Church, Burnley

Responsible to: Area Dean of Burnley, Blackburn DBF

1.  Background

This is a varied role supporting the Area Dean of Burnley by providing day-to-day administrative
support to enhance their capacity in both parish and deanery roles. This role supports the Area
Dean of Burnley, who also serves as the Rector of St Stephen's & St Peter's.

If you are looking for a flexible, part-time role and thrive on communicating, organising, and
attention to detail, this could be the perfect role for you. With a wide and varied workload, the Area
Dean requires a person who is well organised, has good inter-personal and communication skills,
and is self-motivated. Computer skills are also essential. Given the sensitive nature of ministry, the
role calls for someone who can hold information in deep confidence, exercising discretion, integrity,
professionalism, and pastoral sensitivity.

 As a faith-based organisation and place of Christian worship, our beliefs are foundational to
everything we do. The post-holder will be expected to be sympathetic to these beliefs and work
actively to support the ministry and vision.

The working pattern is to be negotiated with the Area Dean. It is hoped that the new Personal
Assistant can work the fourteen hours of this role over four or five days, but we are open to other
options as well. Occasional evening working may be required. This will be agreed in advance, and
time in lieu will be offered.

2.  Responsibilities

Communication

•  Email triage – answering, forwarding, and signposting where possible, and flagging up emails

requiring a reply from the Area Dean/Rector

•  Draft emails, letters, and other correspondence on behalf of the Area Dean/Rector

•  Assist with the production and distribution of communications from the Rector/Area Dean.

•  Prompt the Area Dean/Rector to send cards and respond to pastoral situations and life events in

other ways.

•  Working with the Rector, clergy team, and laity to update the team's Facebook page and website

with information and events

•  Work with the PCC/Deanery Secretary to prepare/review and circulate agendas in advance of

meetings.

Diary support

•  Diary Management – book meetings, schedule tasks, and plan prep time

•  Ensure action points from minutes are diarised and actioned

•  Arrange appointments and home visits for occasional offices

•  Liaise with members of committees/groups led by the Area Dean/Rector to arrange meetings

when required.

•  Ensure documents for meetings are flagged in advance, and that paperwork (or an electronic

equivalent) for the day is available.

General administration

•  Ensure that GDPR practices are applied consistently across all areas of the Area Dean/Rector's

work.

•  Assist in the preparation and circulation of service rotas

•  Assist with correspondence, record keeping, and preparations for Occasional Offices (Weddings,

Funerals, and Baptisms) using the Life Events Diary (iKnow Church software program).

•  Assist the Rector in liaising with Funeral Directors.

•  Help prepare and maintain the parish mail distribution lists and rotas.

•  Set up, improve, and maintain storage systems, both cloud-based and physical, for the Area

Dean's work across the different roles he holds.

•  Assist with the preparation of monthly expense claims for the different roles held by the Area

Dean.

Ministry support

•  Ensure adequate preparation time is diarised

•  Preparation of documents, with a high standard of accuracy and presentation, using Microsoft

365 and PDF editors.

•  Create and update presentations for worship services, events, and training.

Deanery support

•  Assist in developing communication networks in the deanery, including the deanery newsletter.

•  Work with the Deanery Lay Chair to book Deanery Synod and Standing Committee meetings,

and communicate details of meetings to Synod members.

•  Minute and keep accurate records of Deanery Synod meetings.

•  Work with the Assistant Area Dean to book Deanery Chapter meetings and book visiting

speakers and venues.

•  Set up meetings, when required, between the Area Dean, parishes, clergy, and laity within the

deanery.

•  In collaboration with the Area Dean, support Churchwardens and laity in vacant parishes within

the deanery to find cover for services.

•  Work with the Clergy Appointments Officer to set dates for pre-Section 11, Section 12 & interview

panels for vacant parishes.

This list of responsibilities is not intended to be exhaustive and is subject to review in consultation
with the Area Dean.

3.  Key relationships

Burnley Deanery
•  Parish Clergy
•  Deanery Lay Chair
•  Clergy with Permission to Officiate (PTO)
•  Assistant Area Dean and Chapter Clerk
•  Churchwardens of vacant parishes

Central Diocesan staff
•  Archdeacon's Personal Assistant
•  Clergy Appointments Officer

4.  What we are looking for:

The Benefice of St Peter & St Stephen
•  Authorised Lay Ministers
•  Local Lay Minister
•  Churchwardens
•  PCC Secretaries
•  Parish Safeguarding Officers
•  Parishioners

Person Specification

Criteria

Criteria Assessed by:

Essential   Desirable   Interview   Application

Experience, knowledge, training, and
qualifications

Qualification in administration at level 3 or above

 GCSE grade C or 4, or above, in English and Maths
(or equivalent).

Minimum of two years' successful experience in an
administrative role.

Highly competent in the use of Microsoft 365,

Competent in the use PDF editors and iKnow
Church software, or have a willingness to learn.

Knowledge of Church of England structures and
processes or a willingness to learn

Experience of working in a context requiring a high
degree of confidentiality.

Experience of working with a wide range of people
from different backgrounds.

Personal attributes

A good communicator in written, online, and oral
capacities, able to adapt communication effectively
for a wide variety of audiences

Highly organised and able to work independently
and collaboratively in handling a diverse workload.

A thorough attention to detail.

Desire to support others in meeting deadlines.

Ability to solve problems and a willingness to adapt
to changing needs and priorities.

A kind and compassionate presence who is able to
work with discretion and confidentiality, and manage
appropriate boundaries

Comfortable to use language of the Christian faith in
documents and correspondence.

Sympathy with the aims and practices of the
Church of England

 A commitment to safeguarding children and
vulnerable adults, and ensuring the application of
Church of England safeguarding policy is integral to
all projects.

 
5.  Outline of Terms and Conditions

Employer: You will be employed by the Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance

Salary: £9172.80 per annum

Term of Appointment: Fixed term – 2 years. With the opportunity to renew the contract, subject to
funding.

Hours: 14 hours per week. The post holder may be required to work additional hours to meet the
reasonable requirements of the role. They will be entitled to time off in lieu for attending meetings
outside normal office hours, which may include evenings and weekends.

Location: The post holder would be based at St Stephen’s Church, Burnley. Following the
completion of a successful probationary period, home working (for a proportion of hours) may be
agreed with the line manager suiting the needs of the organisation.

A mobile phone and a laptop will be provided.

Pension: Member of the Royal London Pension Scheme, 10% Employer contribution 2% minimum
employee contribution.

Benefits: Found here

Annual leave: Entitlement of 25 days (not including statutory bank holidays) in the first year of
employment rising by 1 day per completed calendar year up to a maximum of 30 days per year.
Pro rata for part time employees.

The holiday year runs from 1 January to 31 December. Additional discretionary days (non-
contractual) may be given between Christmas and New Year.

References: Appointment will be subject to the receipt of satisfactory references.

Probationary period: The appointment is subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month
probationary period.

Notice Period: During the six-month probationary period four weeks' notice is required on either
party. Thereafter you will be required to give 12 weeks' notice should you wish to resign.

Expenses: Working expenses are paid at the diocesan rates.

Right to work: The post-holder must have the right to reside and work in the UK.

The Diocese of Blackburn believes that diversity enables us to thrive and develop and is
committed to race equality, welcoming applications from UK Minority Ethnic/ Global
Majority Heritage backgrounds

The Diocese of Blackburn is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected
to share this commitment.

For an initial conversation about the role please contact:

Fr Andrew Holmes, Area Dean of Burnley  andrewinburnley@gmail.com