Assistant Planning Support Officer – Work Experience

About the role
About the Planning Team:

The Planning Team at Dorset Council helps manage land and buildings to protect important areas, including internationally protected heathlands, two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the famous Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. They also plan for the future, making sure there’s room for homes, jobs, and businesses.

What You’ll Learn:

As an Assistant Planning Support Officer, you’ll get to see how planning helps protect special places while supporting new housing and local businesses. You’ll work with planning officers and may meet professionals like landscape architects, urban designers, conservation officers, and ecologists. You’ll learn about creating Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans, which help shape future growth and development in Dorset.

Key Responsibilities:

During your placement, you might help with:

Supporting the creation and monitoring of Local and Neighbourhood Plans, which includes research and gathering information.
Keeping track of financial contributions from developers to fund local projects like parks, roads, and schools.
Going on site visits and helping with research to evaluate different locations.
Reviewing and commenting on planning applications for new buildings, conservation areas, and listed buildings.
Helping with the processing and administration of applications.
Assisting visitors, answering phone calls, and responding to emails.
Working with legal and other sources to collect important information.
Helping with small applications and providing administrative support for tree, heritage, and landscape matters.
Using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to make and work with maps.
Working with Environmental Assessment Officers to gather environmental information and advice.
About You:

To succeed in this role, you should be:

Adaptable and willing to take on different tasks.
Someone who enjoys working with a team of people from different ages and backgrounds.
Organised and able to manage your tasks effectively.
Eager to learn new skills and willing to follow guidance from staff.
This placement is ideal if you’re interested in how towns and countryside are planned and developed. You’ll gain skills in research, customer service, and teamwork that are valuable for many careers!

Locations: Dorchester, Wareham, Wimborne (depending on nature of work, possibly across more than on location)
Hours: Mon – Fri: 09:00 – 15.30 with a minimum of 30 minutes for lunch (lunchtimes may vary)
Meals: If in the office, bring a packed lunch, or you are welcome to walk into town to buy lunch or use the on site cafe. Times of breaks to be discussed.
Travel: Transport to and from placement to be arranged by learner.
Clothing: Clean, smart-casual clothing. We will provide PPE needed. Be prepared for site visits, they will be arranged in advance. During a site visit suitable outdoor clothing to be worn including waterproof footwear.
Further Information
Who can apply?

We welcome everyone, including students, unemployed individuals, and those looking to change careers. We aim to support the local community by offering valuable work experience opportunities.

What will be expected of you

During your placement, you will work with experienced staff on real projects and tasks. We expect you to:

follow all council rules and health and safety guidelines
take responsibility for your learning and ask for help when needed
follow instructions from your placement manager
attend work at the agreed times during your placement
stay motivated and make the most of this opportunity to show what you can do
About you

What you will gain from a work experience placement

A work experience placement at Dorset Council can help you in the following ways:

confidence: get used to the workplace and build your confidence
new skills: learn new skills or improve the ones you already have
networking: meet new people and make professional connections
CV boost: show teamwork and customer service skills on your CV
references: gain valuable references for future job applications
share skills: use your unique skills to help our team
About Us
At Dorset Council, we’re passionate about making Dorset a great place to live, work, and visit. Working for us should be no exception. If you want to make a real difference in your community, a work experience placement with us is a great opportunity. Working in local government is rewarding and offers the chance to solve important challenges.

Why work with us?

Local government touches the lives of everybody, everyday. At Dorset Council, we:

provide more than 450 services to over 300,000 residents
have ambitious aspirations and are excited about our future
care deeply about Dorset and all the people who live here
know that all roles make a difference and that our employees are key to our success

Join us at Dorset Council and start making a difference in your community today.