Business Support Officer

About the role

Business Support Officer Level 2 - Children's Services

Are you an organised and proactive administrator looking for a rewarding role where your work makes a real difference to the lives of children and young people?

We have an exciting opportunity to join Dorset Council's Children's Spoke Team within the Business Support Hub. This is a part-time position working 18.5 hours per week (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday), supporting a range of Children's Services functions that help ensure children and young people receive the support they need.

The role offers the flexibility of hybrid working, combining office-based working at County Hall with home working. We maintain a strong and supportive team culture through regular team meetings and ongoing communication using Microsoft Teams.

As a team, we are committed to providing a high-quality service and supporting each other's development. We value collaboration, sharing knowledge and expertise, and creating an environment where everyone feels included and supported. Dorset Council also offers excellent opportunities for learning, development and career progression.

What you will be doing

As a Business Support Officer, you will provide specialist administrative and business support to Children in Care services, helping to ensure statutory requirements are met and that children and young people receive timely support.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating and supporting statutory Children in Care reviews, including consultations, minutes and recommendations.
• Preparing agendas, papers and actions for meetings and panels.
• Processing and recording Initial Health Assessments (IHA) and Review Health Assessments (RHA), working closely with health partners.
• Coordinating Extra Familial Harm (EFH) Panel meetings, including scheduling, circulation of papers and recording outcomes.
• Maintaining and updating records, trackers and Mosaic case information to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Monitoring performance information, statutory timescales and outstanding actions.
• Producing reports and analysing information to support service performance and decision-making.
• Responding to enquiries and liaising with social workers, health professionals, families and partner agencies.
• Supporting shared inboxes and ensuring correspondence is dealt with efficiently.
• Working in compliance with data protection requirements and maintaining confidentiality at all times.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the Business Support Hub to deliver a consistent, high-quality service.

About you

We are looking for someone with excellent organisational skills, a keen eye for detail and the ability to manage competing priorities.

You will ideally have:

• Experience working in an administrative or business support role.
• Experience of organising meetings, preparing agendas and taking accurate minutes.
• Experience of maintaining databases, spreadsheets and electronic record systems.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft 365 applications.
• Experience of handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work independently whilst also contributing positively to a team environment.
• Experience of analysing information and producing reports.

Additional information

An induction programme is provided, together with training and ongoing support from managers and colleagues. There will be opportunities to learn new processes, develop your skills and work collaboratively with teams across Children's Services.

Due to the nature of the work, a Basic DBS Check is required for this role.

If you are looking for a varied and rewarding administrative role where you can contribute to positive outcomes for children and young people across Dorset, we would love to hear from you.

Further Information

We are currently working in a hybrid manner with some days in the office and some working from home. Full support and training will be provided and some tasks have been subject to change as a result. Current arrangements can be discussed at interview.
This is a job share working Wednesday to Friday, this position offers 18.5 hours per week based in Dorchester. Contact details:
If you would like an informal conversation, please contact team manager Krzysztof Cepa on 01305 224353
This post requires you to have access to sensitive information. It will be subject to a
Basic Criminal Records Check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders.

About Us

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.