County Council Jobs

County councils in various regions around the United Kingdom offer an extensive range of employment opportunities for interested individuals. The local councils can often be the largest employers in an entire region – some county councils employ well over 30,000 staff. Usually, councils divide work and services into various departments. There are online websites for each council in each county and it is possible to access the current vacancies available and apply for positions through these various websites.

What Kind of Work is Available?

County councils hire workers in a vast range of different fields and sectors. There are jobs available in fire rescue, teaching, law enforcement, social work, social care, transportation, governance, administration – the list is endless…

Most councils will divide their services under the following categories. Here is a brief description of the type of service that each department may offer.

1. Corporate – This section is essentially in charge of all of the major services provided by the council to the public. Corporate contains policy making and legal and democratic services concerned with the overall functioning of the council. Lawyers, managers, human resource experts and councilors work in this department.

2. Children, Schools and Young People – This department ensures that children in the region receive access to high quality education.

3. Community Services – This section provides services and support for vulnerable adults and individuals with disabilities.

4. Housing – Housing services exist to help families and individuals who require housing support and benefits due to a low income, unemployment or difficult social or economic circumstances.

5. Safeguarding – This department delivers services connected to law enforcement, fire and rescue and safeguarding the community.

What Skills and Abilities Are Needed?

In order to work as a public servant, it is essential to be able to communicate very well. You must be good at dealing with people at many different levels, including co-workers, supervisors and the public. You may need to be given access to confidential information so you must be very discreet. Most public service roles require strong ICT skills - you should be able to use information technology to enhance your overall productivity.

Public servants are usually required to pass security checks and must be considered to be of good character. You will therefore need good references in order to secure a job with the county council. Some jobs require British citizenship and the ability to pass a medical test.

Job Outlook for Council Positions

There are many positions available in councils throughout the United Kingdom. If you are willing to relocate, you vastly increase your chances of finding a job with the council. Recruitment occurs at council level and there are usually many programmes and initiatives in place to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants. Overall, job security is strong with public service positions. The current economic crisis is leading to cuts in government spending, but key personnel will always be needed in areas such as teaching, law enforcement, social work and so on.