Call Screening Officer (Part-time hours to be negotiated)

BRACKNELL FOREST COUNCIL; Bracknell; Hybrid; GBP 15,000 - 19,000; Part time

Job summary

A local council in Berkshire is seeking part-time Call Screening Officers to join their team. You will act as the first point of contact, screen referrals, and support social work interventions. The ideal candidate excels in communication, is proactive, and can handle pressure while maintaining accuracy. Opportunities for hybrid working and professional development are available.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Paid employee volunteering scheme

Local government pension scheme

Career development opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Qualifications

• Ability to prioritise tasks effectively and remain organised.
• Comfortable in challenging professionals and the public as needed.
• Prepared to work unsociable hours, bringing resilience and professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for the public and partner agencies.
• Screen and process referrals while maintaining accurate records.
• Provide clear and accurate signposting information.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Solid ICT skills

Emotional intelligence

Investigative curiosity

Proactive attitude

Job description

Overview

Bracknell Forest Council
Bracknell, Berkshire
£15,376-18,070 per year
Permanent
Part-time

We have a great opportunity for two Call Screening Officers on a part-time, permanent basis (hours to be negotiated). At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices, including options for remote working and arrangements that allow you to work from home, dependent on the needs of the service.

About you

You are someone who thrives under pressure, with excellent communication skills, both over the phone and in writing. You can prioritise tasks effectively, remain organised, and have solid ICT skills to support your work. Emotional intelligence, investigative curiosity, and a proactive attitude are at the heart of how you operate. You are comfortable recording accurate, concise information and confident in challenging both professionals and the public when needed. You are passionate about social justice, self-aware of your own biases, and able to work both independently and collaboratively. Prepared to work unsociable hours, you bring resilience, professionalism and the ability to deal with unrestricted demand in a calm and effective way.

About the team

The Berkshire Emergency Duty Service (hosted by Bracknell Forest Council) delivers out-of-hours emergency social care across Berkshire. We are proud of the community we serve, the services we provide, and the strong networks we have built. Our team is supportive, collaborative and committed to making a difference. We value fresh ideas and give you the space to shape how we work, with excellent support from managers and colleagues. You will be given expert advice when you need it, opportunities to develop and the chance to make a real impact, both big and small, on the lives of residents.

Key responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for members of the public and partner agencies.
• Screen and process incoming referrals, ensuring accurate records are kept.
• Undertake database checks to support decision-making.
• Provide clear and accurate signposting information.
• Work as part of the team delivering crisis social work interventions.
• Be prepared to undertake training for the Appropriate Adult.

Our benefits

• 25 days annual leave increasing to 28 days after 3 years' continuous service, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
• Paid employee volunteering scheme.
• Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply)
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing.
• Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.

Our values

At Bracknell Forest Council define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know. We will work with you to support you throughout the process.

Interview date

Interviews will be held on 7th and 8th October 2025. Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment. We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note AI is prohibited during the interview; any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.

Want to ask us a question?

For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact: Shelli Read, Business Manager, Phone number: 01344 353465.

Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.

We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK. Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis. No agencies please.

Equal Opportunities

Bracknell Forest Council - Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.