Business Support Officer

We're passionate about improving the future for children and young people of Suffolk. If you are too, join us as a Business Support Officer in the School Attendance Team and make a meaningful impact. Your drive will help us to continue improving and evolving. Our opportunities and support will enable you to make a difference. Reimagine the possibilities. Your role and responsibilities You'll be joining a busy and dedicated School Attendance Team within Suffolk County Council, working to support schools, families and partner agencies in improving outcomes for children and young people. As a Business Support Officer, your role will be to provide comprehensive administrative support to the Children in Employment and Entertainment (CIEE) and Children Missing Education (CME) services, ensuring applications, referrals, cases and enquiries are managed efficiently and accurately. You will support the timely processing of chaperone licences and work permits, while also assisting in identifying and tracking children missing education to help ensure they are located promptly and receiving a suitable education. You will:

• manage and respond to enquiries received through shared group inboxes
• deliver an efficient, professional, and customer-focused first point of contact
• contribute to the maintaining of specific administrative systems and associated databases or spreadsheets., Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the . Please describe a time when you successfully managed a busy workload involving multiple tasks, deadlines, or competing priorities. What approach did you take to stay organised and ensure all work was completed accurately and on time?
• Please provide an example of when you acted as a first point of contact for a customer, client, colleague, or member of the public. How did you ensure their enquiry was handled professionally and effectively?
• Give an example of a time when you handled sensitive or confidential information. How did you ensure that information was managed appropriately and in line with data protection requirements?, This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.
  
  to work flexibly as part of a team
• a good working knowledge of Microsoft packages and the ability to learn a bespoke data management system
• attention to detail and understand the need for accuracy
• to demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality and data protection
• good communication skills.
  
  You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the 'How to apply' section towards the bottom of this advert.
If you believe you can succeed in this role, even if you don't meet all requirements, please still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application. The team The School Attendance Team is committed to safeguarding children and young people across Suffolk, ensuring they are safe, supported and able to access their education and development opportunities. Together, we work with schools, families, employers, entertainment providers and partner agencies to promote children's welfare, ensure compliance with statutory requirements, and support children who may be vulnerable or at risk of missing out on education. Team members work closely together, sharing knowledge and expertise to ensure that enquiries, applications and cases are managed effectively and within statutory timescales. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone's contribution is valued and where colleagues are encouraged to develop their skills and grow within their roles. The team operates a hybrid working model, balancing office-based collaboration with flexible home working. Our office days are typically arranged to support team working, training and relationship-building, while ensuring we continue to deliver an efficient and responsive service to children, families and partner organisations. Empowering Everyone We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We're always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our .

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities. In return, you'll enjoy:
• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day