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(Referral Information Officer) (Ref: CSC/26/734/CD)

Directorate: People (Childrens, Adults, Public Health, Education and SEND)

Department: Children’s Services

Salary: £26,654 per annum

Hours: 37 per week

Location: Broadside

Working style: Hybrid – Works part from (insert office venue) and part from home.

Closing Date: 09/08/2026

How would you like to be part of an enthusiastic, fast paced, friendly team while making a difference to the children and young people of Medway? We have an exciting opportunity for the right person to join the First Response Team as a Referral Information Officer.

This is a demanding and business‑critical role supporting safeguarding services for children and young people in Medway. The postholder will act as the first point of contact for members of the public and professionals raising safeguarding concerns and will be responsible for the accurate recording of complex and sensitive information to support effective decision‑making.

You will be required to:

• Act as the first point of contact for incoming safeguarding referrals via telephone and electronic systems, maintaining a professional, calm, and confidential approach at all times.
• Accurately record complex and sensitive information clearly and in real time, recognising the importance of precision and completeness in safeguarding contexts.
• Ensure information is documented to a high standard to support professionals in decision‑making.
• Provide comprehensive administrative support to multiple teams within a fast‑paced statutory service.
• Prioritise and manage a high‑volume workload, working both independently and as part of a team to meet service demands.
• Handle potentially distressing information professionally and appropriately, in line with safeguarding procedures and data protection requirements.

Requirements for the role:

• Experience of recording information that directly supports effective decision‑making, where accuracy is critical and errors or omissions may have serious consequences.
• You will be educated to GCSE level or equivalent in English and Maths, together with NVQ3 in Business Administration and/or equivalent experience.

The successful post holder will be subject to a Standard DBS check.

If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager, please call Georgina Hawes, Team Leader on 01634 331203.

Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. This means that the salary you will be offered will be at level A unless, based on an assessment against the CPF criteria, you demonstrate that you are meeting the criteria of level B or C. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.

When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.

The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:

Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.

Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.

Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.

Level A

First Response are seeking a Referral Information Officer to join the team at level A. This is the entry point of the role, so you will need to be able to demonstrate the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to get you started, but you will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. All elements of level A listed within the person specification are essential. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs.

Important Information-

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate all criteria at level A which are essential for appointment to the role.
• Medway Council is not able to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship, so candidates must already possess the right to work in the UK.
• For further information, and for details of the benefits of working for Medway Council, please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.
• Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.
• Please note, we prioritise applications from current Medway Council redeployees. We will let you know if this post is to be filled by a redeployee as, in this instance, your application will unfortunately not be taken forward.
• We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.