Administrative Officer

Administrative Officer 
Salary: £25,000 per annum, pro rata
Location: Edinburgh
Contract/Hours: Permanent / Part Time – working 8 hours per week on a Friday

Closing date for applications is midnight of Tuesday 20^th October 

Benefits:  

• Over 7 weeks inclusive paid leave and the option to buy or sell leave 
• Excellent training and the opportunity to undertake professional training for some roles
• Flexible maternity, paternity and adoption packages 
• Up to 5% employer contribution and life assurance cover 
• Blue Light Card eligibility with discounts at 15,000 national retailers 
• As part of our commitment to staff wellbeing, you’ll receive a paid annual Wellbeing Day to use however you choose, supporting a healthy balance between work and life.  

At Action for Children, we offer more than just a job. Join us and you’ll be part of a team dedicated to giving children safe and happy childhoods. See how your skills can make a real difference, helping solve the problems children and young people face every day.

A bit about the role

As an Administrative Officer, you’ll be a valued and trusted part of our Edinburgh Gilmerton Road Short Breaks team. Your support will help the service run smoothly every day, ensuring colleagues have the reliable, high‑quality assistance they need to provide the best possible experience for children, young people, and families.

This is a varied and meaningful role where you’ll provide administrative support across the team, building positive working relationships with colleagues and partner agencies. Your calm, organised approach will help keep everything on track behind the scenes.

About the Service 

Gilmerton Road Short Breaks offers a safe, welcoming and nurturing space for children and young people aged 5–18 who have learning disabilities and behaviours that may challenge. Our aim is to give each young person a positive, meaningful short‑break experience where they can relax, have fun and feel truly supported. 

During their time with us, young people are encouraged to build confidence, develop new skills and enjoy opportunities that help them grow. Their short breaks might include time in the community — a trip to the beach, a visit to the zoo, or simply enjoying playtime in the park — as well as activities within the service that help them socialise, learn and gain independence.

We work closely with CAMHS ID and our Behaviour Consultants to create thoughtful, consistent support plans that meet each child’s needs and bring clear, positive outcomes. Everything we do is centred around providing a warm, structured environment where young people feel valued and understood.

What you do could make a difference

It’s a great opportunity to build your administrative experience while providing a valued support service to a friendly, welcoming team. You’ll be the first point of contact for internal and external visitors, helping everyone feel supported and ensuring they have a positive experience. It’s a role that brings real job satisfaction and a strong sense of purpose.

As an Administrative Officer, you’ll:

• Bring a calm, professional and intuitive approach to your work, handling tasks with sensitivity and confidence.
• Communicate clearly and warmly, always aiming to deliver an excellent standard of customer service.
• Work efficiently and stay organised, meeting deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Show enthusiasm for learning new processes and share good practice with others.

Let’s talk about you

• Business Administration S/NVQ is welcome but not essential — relevant experience is equally valued.
• Highly organised, with strong attention to detail and the ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Confident in taking responsibility for your own tasks and leading on specific pieces of work when required.
• Skilled in using IT systems including SharePoint, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and bespoke databases.
• Experience providing administrative support to senior managers, often managing competing priorities.
• Fully committed to achieving the best outcomes for children and young people.
• Able to handle confidential and sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.

Why Action for Children?

Every child should have a loving home, food, warmth, the chance to grow and learn - the support to cope with life’s challenges. But too many children don’t. By bringing your passion and unique skills and experience, you’ll help us change that where it really matters. 

We've been driven by love to take action for children for over 150 years, giving them the protection and practical help they need. A lot’s changed since 1869. But what children really need, hasn’t. So as long as children need us, we’ll be here. 

Will you join us?

How to apply

Contact: Please submit an application via our careers page. If you have any further questions, you can contact Laura McCarthy at [email protected] quoting reference 13777 

Our Commitment to Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism

At Action for Children, we are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to thrive. We know that racism and discrimination create barriers, and we are taking active steps to challenge these inequalities in our organisation and in the communities we serve.

We strongly welcome applications from people who are Black, Asian, or from other racialised and ethnically marginalised communities, as well as disabled people, who are currently under-represented in our workforce. We are committed to removing barriers in our recruitment processes and ensuring fair access to opportunities.

We also encourage applications from men, who are under-represented in our Children’s Services roles. We recognise that people hold multiple identities, and we value the richness this brings to our team.

Want to get to know Action for Children better?

Job description

Action for Children Employee Benefits

AfC Commitment Statement

Find out more about Action for Children here: Action for Children and on LinkedIn, Facebook or YouTube to get to know us better. 

The difference is what you do. You can learn more about why we do it, by checking out our 'Driven by Love' video.