Apprentice Visiting Services Assistant
WAG AND COMPANY NORTH EAST FRIENDSHIP DOGS LTD
NORTHUMBERLAND (NE46 4DL)
Closes in 31 days (Friday 13 June 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 13 May 2025
Contents
Summary
Working in a small customer service centre in Hexham, you will support the Visiting Services Team to deliver outstanding customer service, signposting and supporting our applicants, volunteers and referrers through Wag’s processes and recording everything efficiently and accurately on our information systems.
- Wage
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£15,600 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
£8 per hour.
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
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37.5 hours per week. Days and shifts tbc.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
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Monday 1 September 2025
- Duration
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1 year 6 months
- Positions available
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1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
Under the supervision of the Senior Visiting Services Advisor and in line with Wag’s procedures/processes your daily duties will cover;
- Support volunteer recruitment; actively engaging with community groups to promote opportunities to become Wag befrienders. -Subject matter expert on all procedures and policies
- Effectively guiding applicants through the volunteer recruitment process to ensure that they remain engaged with Wag and feel supported
- Ensuring CRM records of hundreds of volunteers and placements are auditably maintained.
- Managing and updating care & medical requests to visit and placement information, including data accuracy of placement locations etc.
- Undertaking DBS check renewals
- Harvesting and writing Wag stories of visiting
- Digital filing of Wag assets
- Engaging with current volunteers on Facebook/WhatsApp groups.
- Working effectively as part of a small team delivering your part of the organisation’s success in accordance with our values
- Ultimately developing to conducting online ‘Getting Started’ volunteer induction sessions. Priorities may change - we rely on the flexibility of everyone
Where you'll work
NORTHUMBRIA HOUSE
FRENCH GARDENS INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
HEXHAM
NORTHUMBERLAND
NE46 4DL
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
DERWENTSIDE COLLEGE
Your training course
Business administrator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.
- Produces accurate records and documents including: emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and present solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.
- Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
- Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.
- Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.
- Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themself to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.
- Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.
- Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.
Your training plan
Business Administration Level 3 Qualification Completed fully within the workplace, the successful candidate will work closely with a training consultant to complete their apprenticeship training. This is a blended approach of both face-to-face and online (Within the workplace).
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade GCSE Grade 4 (or equivalent))
- GCSE Grade 4 (or equivalent) (grade Maths)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
Other requirements
Our annual fundraiser, ‘Walk for Wag’ at Derwent Reservoir & Waterside is held on Saturday 13th September 2025. Wag staff volunteer their time to support this event.
About this company
Wag and Company is the only visiting dog charity befriending older people in their own homes as well as in care or medical establishments across the North East. With an hour or two most weeks, our professionally assessed volunteers and their special pet dogs (Visiting Wag Teams) provide elderly people, often in poor health, bereaved and isolated, with something to look forward to, some human company for a chat and a cuddle with that much missed furry friend... Our small staff team based in a donated office in Hexham are currently supporting over 400 Visiting Wag Teams.
http://www.wagandcompany.co.uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
28 days holiday + 1 day off if your birthday falls on a working day. Free onsite parking. Enhanced sickness absence pay.
After this apprenticeship
We are projecting growth in our volunteer befrienders – to 600 Visiting Wag Teams by March 2028. There is potential for this post to become a permanent role/growth and development into a Visiting Services Advisor (subject to funding / service need).
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
DERWENTSIDE COLLEGE
Apprenticeship Recruitment Team
apprenticeships@derwentside.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000320260.
Apply now
Closes in 31 days (Friday 13 June 2025 at 11:59pm)
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