Business Support Officer - First Assessment Service

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

Do you want to make a difference for children and families in Bristol? 

First Response’ is the single point of entry for parent/carers, professionals and members of the public to access Children’s Social Work and Children’s Early Help Services. The First Response Team triages all contacts and referrals and makes further enquiries necessary to determine whether the child and family can be supported by universal or targeted services, or whether a referral to Early Help or Social Care is required. From September 2024 we will also be facilitating Operation Encompass notifications Home : Operation Encompass and this position has been created to assist with the facilitation of these notifications via phone and email.

As a First Assessment Service Business Support Officer, the core of your role will be the processing of information - transferring emailed referrals to our database, sharing information with schools at part of Op Encompass, creating accurate records for children and their families and supporting social workers in sending out assessment information to professionals and families. 

Operating in a fast-paced and exciting environment, you will have excellent attention to detail, and highly efficient IT skills. You will need be able to multi-task and work independently in a highly supportive environment. 

The First Assessment Service Business Support role is vital to the effective and safe functioning of the service. You will be an employee who enjoys working in a fast paced, demanding but supportive environment. You will join an established and supportive team. 

There is a high demand on the service and being able to work quickly, independently and with a focus on detail is vital to success in this role. You will provide general administrative support to the team and will undertake responsibility for rota creation, room bookings and invoice payment.

You will handle some incoming calls from professionals enquiring about whether there is social work involvement with children.

• The person ideally suited to this post is someone who can deal with high volumes of work calmly and methodically.
• This person needs to have a good level of IT literacy and be able to quickly learn how to access a new data base system and to update it.
• The process of prioritising referrals is systematic and the individual needs to be able to pick up and apply this system consistently, accurately and repetitively.
• The content of some referrals can be distressing and this person needs a level of emotional resilience (there is plenty of support, but this person needs to be proactive in seeking it when necessary).
• This person will need to be trustworthy and understand how to conduct themselves appropriately surrounding highly confidential information.
• This person needs to be able to take a proactive responsibility for their workload and to process this independently.
• The role demands a high standard of IT capability and would suit an employee who enjoys a role which primarily involves computer and database use.

Please note, that as a condition of employment, you and your household will be required to undertake enhanced police vetting as the team is based with Avon and Somerset Constabulary in the New Bridewell Police Station. For Police Vetting to be carried out without discrimination to any applicants they must have resided in the UK for a continuous period of 3 years minimum and have a 3 year minimum checkable history immediately prior to the date of your application. You must be living in the UK free of restrictions at the time of application or must be entitled to do so.

Please note that this role is also subject to a Standard DBS Check.

Fixed Term for 12 months, Full Time 37 hours per week working Monday - Thursday 08.30am - 5pm. Friday 08.30am - 4.30pm.