Customer Service Assistant

• The Customer Service Team act as the 'front door' for customers needing assistance with all services provided by Somerset Council.
• Within our Children's team, we need a Customer Service Assistant who will input information and referrals for Children's Social Care and other children's services.
• You will be based at the Taunton Council Offices; there is the option to be based in the Yeovil area.
• This post offers hybrid working, with 1 day per week required in the office (once trained) and the remaining days can be home or office based as you wish.
• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) - pro rata for part time.
• Part time - 30 hours per week - contracted hours will typically be worked during core business hours.
• Fixed Term contract for a period of 12 months.
• If applying as a secondment, please seek approval from your line manager before applying.

Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship.

What will I be doing?

We're working to improve the lives of Families and Children here in Somerset - and you'll be a key part of that.

Your day-to-day work will involve:

• Much of this role is not customer facing and therefore may suit someone who enjoys working quietly and methodically with great attention to detail.
• You will be communicating with professionals and members of the public via email about a range of queries such as safeguarding concerns, Special Educational Needs queries, and logging Police reports and electronic referrals.
• You will be dealing with electronic referrals and emails which may result in making calls to a professional for any additional information.
• Issuing work permits, chaperone licences and performance licences.
• Liaising with social workers.

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But it will really help if you:

• Have confidence and resilience to handle high volume, sensitive and emotive interactions.
• Have good computer skills, confidence to learn new systems and use multiple technologies.
• Show enthusiasm to learn about our services, a positive and calm way of working and a problem-solving mindset.
• Display attention to detail, be methodical and have the ability to follow a process.
• Exhibit professionalism to adhere to process and understand the confidential and sometimes difficult nature of interactions we handle.
• Experience is not essential; however, if you have experience of any of our Children, Families or Education services on a personal or professional basis, please make this clear in your application.

As this is a customer related role, the postholder must be able to communicate clearly and effectively in spoken English to support members of the public. This requirement is in line with our duties as a public authority under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016.

We're proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team.

What's in it for me?

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave.
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more.

Anything else I should know?

The salary for this role is Grade 15, ranging from £20,104 to £20,420 per annum for 30 hours per week.

DBS information

This post requires a criminal background check via the basic Disclosure procedure.