Senior Business Support Assistant

The Methodist Church in Britain; England; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Flexible and hybrid working

Health and wellbeing support

Paid volunteering opportunities

Job summary

Somerset Council is seeking an organised administrator to support the Prevention and Youth Justice Service. You will handle enquiries, staff the duty phone, and maintain confidential electronic records for legal processes, while coordinating meetings and volunteers.

The role requires strong Microsoft 365 skills, good communication, and experience with sensitive information. Hybrid working and 1–2 office days weekly are offered.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 or 5 GCSEs including English and Maths at grade 4/C or above, or equivalent.
• Administrative experience, working effectively as part of a team.
• Experience engaging with professionals, partner agencies and the public.

Responsibilities

• Act as a key point of contact, answering enquiries, managing shared mailboxes and signposting people to support.
• Staff the Duty phone, taking messages, helping callers and arranging volunteer support for young people.
• Maintain accurate, timely records, including uploading information to children's electronic records for legal processes.
• Build relationships with families, carers, professionals, partner agencies, volunteers and colleagues.
• Keep processes on track through record keeping, spreadsheets, management information and service reporting.
• Organise meetings, panels, venues and volunteers, including taking clear and accurate notes.
• Provide administrative, interview and basic systems support to colleagues across the service.

Skills

Microsoft 365

Spreadsheets

Client management systems

Strong communication

Handling sensitive information

Organised

Time management

Education

NVQ Level 2 or 5 GCSEs including English and Maths at grade 4/C or above

Job description

This post sits in Somerset Council's Business Operations team, supporting the Prevention and Youth Justice Service, including the Education Engagement and WAVE teams. The work is front‑line and organisational: answering enquiries, staffing the duty phone, keeping children's electronic records up to date, and arranging meetings, panels and volunteers. What sets it apart is the fast‑paced handling of sensitive information, with hybrid working and 1–2 office days a week. Visa sponsorship is not offered, so applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.

What the job involves

• Act as a key point of contact, answering enquiries, managing shared mailboxes and signposting people to support
• Staff the Duty phone, taking messages, helping callers and arranging volunteer support for young people
• Maintain accurate, timely records, including uploading information to children's electronic records for legal processes
• Build relationships with families, carers, professionals, partner agencies, volunteers and colleagues
• Keep processes on track through record keeping, spreadsheets, management information and service reporting
• Organise meetings, panels, venues and volunteers, including taking clear and accurate notes
• Provide administrative, interview and basic systems support to colleagues across the service

What's required

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2, or 5 GCSEs including English and Maths at grade 4/C or above, or equivalent

Experience

• Administrative experience, working effectively as part of a team
• Experience engaging with professionals, partner agencies and the public

Skills & knowledge

• Confident using Microsoft 365, spreadsheets and client management systems
• Strong communication skills
• Handling sensitive and confidential information appropriately
• Organised, accurate and flexible, prioritising competing demands and meeting deadlines
• Following agreed processes and producing consistently high-quality work

Checks & eligibility

• Right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship

Nice to have

• Experience of minute taking

What's offered

• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase additional annual leave
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Flexible and hybrid working where service needs allow
• Health and wellbeing support, including confidential employee assistance
• Paid volunteering opportunities