Referral and Advice Officer

Birmingham Children's Trust; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site parking

Hybrid working

Pension scheme

Annual leave 30 days

Job summary

The Children’s Advice and Support Service (CASS) at Birmingham Children’s Trust is recruiting a Referral and Advice Officer (RAO). The role supports the fast-paced front door service with calls and emails daily, and assists Social Work and Early Help teams.

This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham, with necessary right-to-work documentation and no sponsorship available. Onboarding includes background checks (Experian Right to Work and Digital ID verification).

Qualifications

• Experience in children’s social care and Early Help is required.
• Accurate data input and handling of sensitive records.
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written, with diverse stakeholders.
• Solid customer service skills demonstrating a Gold-Standard service.

Responsibilities

• Staff the telephone service as part of the front door.
• Process information requests efficiently.
• Support Social Work and Early Help functions within CASS.

Skills

Experience in children’s social care

Early Help knowledge

Data input accuracy

Strong communication skills

Gold-standard customer service

Safeguarding frameworks knowledge

Job description

The Children’s Advice and Support Service (CASS) is the ‘front door’ for reporting concerns about children who need support and child protection. It is also a streamlined pathway for families who require Early Help support.

CASS is recruiting a Referral and Advice Officer (RAO) to support this fast‑paced front door service which receives 250 calls and 500 emails daily.

This role is varied as RAOs staff the telephone service, process information requests and support the Social Work and Early Help functions within CASS.

We have been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection. This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Children’s Trust, with many positive highlights focusing on areas including the quality of staff leadership, partnership working, safeguarding and corporate parenting.

This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham so you must have the correct right‑to‑work documents to work in the UK. Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship.

About you

• Experience of working in children’s social care, Family support / Early Help is required and handling information and accurate data input.
• Strong attention to detail, as you will be required to maintain sensitive records, ensuring these are kept up to date on our systems and databases.
• Demonstrate strong communication skills, both verbal and written, as you’ll be required to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders and customers.
• Solid customer service skills, showing a Gold-Standard service to our customers.
• Must have knowledge or an understanding of relevantSafeguarding and Early Help frameworks/procedures and how these protect and support families.

Onboarding Process

Please note as part of our onboarding process, the successful candidate will be required undergo a series of background checks with Experian including Experian Right to Work, and Digital ID verification. These are essential pre‑employment requirements.

Our Benefits

• A generous annual leave package of 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 5 years of service and 35 days after 10 years of service.
• Free on-site parking at our offices on One Avenue Road (Aston) and Lifford House (Stirchley). We also provide onsite electric car charging ports which are free to use!
• Full access to our amazing internal employee benefits scheme including, Occupational Health services, Rewards Schemes, Benefits discounts (including the Blue Light Card), Health & Fitness and Personal Wellbeing support and much more!
• Flexible and hybrid working policy - we are well adapted to a hybrid model of working which includes a combination of time spent in the office and at home and we offer a variety of working patterns.
• Pension Scheme - You will receive a generous local government career average pension scheme in line with the local government pension scheme.

Help us to change children and young people’s lives

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.

Why Join Us

• Impactful Work - be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
• Supportive Environment - enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
• Career Development - benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Generous Benefits - take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.

Our Values

We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.

We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.

Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Safeguarding

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.

The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.

We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.