Senior Business Support Assistant

Package Description

​We are really proud of the benefits we are able to offer our staff here at Milton Keynes Council, including:-

• Local Government Pension Scheme, considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates of 19.7%
• 27 days annual leave per year in addition to statutory and public holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years
• Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Our Professional Development Centre provides access to courses such as in-house management development programmes endorsed by the Institute of Leadership, Apprenticeship Programmes (junior and senior), coaching and mentoring and access to our Smarter Learning portal
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Health Cashplan
• MK Advantage benefits package – a range of savings on a wide range of retail, leisure and entertainment products and services such as Pizza Express, M&S, B&Q, John Lewis and Arriva Travel.
• SmartGo – Aimed at encouraging low-carbon transport and healthy lifestyle with discounted travel e.g. Halfords, Arriva, Europcar, National Railcards and Stagecoach.
• Homebuy Scheme (for eligible roles)
• Smarter working which provides the opportunity to work from various locations including from home for a proportion of your role (subject to business needs)
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Paternity entitlements
• Childcare Subsidy

Job Introduction

Children's Services Business Support have two exciting opportunities to join their business support hub assisting social work teams and managers.

You will work as part of a small team in conjunction with the wider business support service to deliver professional and effective support enabling Social Workers to focus on the needs of our children and families. 

We work with a variety of social work professionals across Family Support, Corporate Parenting, Safeguarding and LADO. This means you will face a variety of challenges and no two days will be the same. It can be a very fast paced environment and while you work as a team you will also need to work effectively on your own. 

This role is site based with some flexibility for home working in line with the needs of the service. 

Role Responsibilities

• To provide an effective and efficient business support service to social work teams and managers
• Prepare paperwork for, and take minutes at all relevant meetings e.g. child protection conferences, panels and statutory meetings
• Accurate inputting of information to the Council’s various databases / spreadsheets across Children’s Services
• Supporting the recruitment and induction of new staff and to conduct supervision meetings, supporting colleagues welfare and work activities and escalating any issues to the Children’s Services Business Managers
• Accurate inputting of information to the Council’s various databases / spreadsheets across Children’s Services in accordance with regulations
• Ensure that purchase orders, sales invoices and payments to carers are processed using the Council’s electronic finance systems
• Support Children’s Services Senior Officers by delivering the required level of support.  To assist in managing their diaries, organising meetings and compiling information as required
• Manage and respond to communication from professionals and families 

Ideal Candidate

• NVQ level 3 in Business Administration or equivalent or is able to demonstrate significant administrative experience
• Ability to work and communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Strong emotional resilience when dealing with sensitive and confidential issues
• Experience of using a wide range of IT applications
• Ability to be able to prioritise workload against agreed plans, deadlines and targets whilst under pressure
• Experience of taking minutes in complex or sensitive meetings

About The Organisation

Milton Keynes is a diverse, multi cultural, adrenaline packed expanding city with so much to offer on its door step. From beautiful open spaces, a busy theatre district, large shopping centre to a number of cultural and leisure facilities.

Milton Keynes Council has an array of responsibilities, such as: education, housing, highways and social services. Altogether, the council provides over 240 services to the citizens of Milton Keynes, and to meet such an extensive and diverse range of challenges we must be innovative and dynamic to provide services successfully to meet the increasing demands that will accompany the growth of Milton Keynes. How better to contribute to that continued success than through a unique and rewarding career with us.  Here at Milton Keynes Council, we pride ourselves on modelling our values, that were co-created with colleague.  We are dedicated, respectful and collaborative as we strive every day to make a difference to local people and the community we serve.  If you share our values and want to experience a fulfilling job measured on outcomes and results with great work-life balance, make a move to Milton Keynes Council.