Business Support Administrator - Fostering

What will you be doing?

 As a Business Support Administrator, you’ll be at the heart of our operations, ensuring everything runs like clockwork. Your responsibilities will include: 

•    Coordinating administration for foster carer recruitment, assessment and approval processes.

•    Maintaining accurate, secure and up-to-date records relating to foster carers, children and service activity.

•    Monitoring and tracking statutory checks, references, approvals and compliance requirements.

•    Supporting DBS processes as a Counter Signatory, ensuring applications are processed accurately and confidentially.

•    Providing administrative support to meetings, panels and service activities, including arranging meetings, preparing agendas, taking minutes and maintaining action logs.

•    Preparing professional correspondence, reports and documentation.

•    Supporting training and development activities for foster carers and staff.

•    Processing invoices, expenses, petty cash and corporate card reconciliations in line with financial procedures.

•    Producing and analysing information from databases and management systems to support performance reporting and service planning.

•    Managing enquiries from foster carers, applicants, colleagues and partner agencies in a professional and responsive way.

•    Supporting office systems, room bookings, procurement, supplier liaison, filing and archiving processes. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.

About you

 We are looking for someone who has strong administrative experience, excellent attention to detail and the ability to work effectively in a busy service environment.

You will be confident managing records, handling confidential information and supporting a range of administrative processes. You will have excellent communication skills and be able to build positive collaborative working relationships with colleagues, foster carers, applicants and partner agencies. 

You will need to be organised, flexible and able to prioritise work to meet deadlines. A professional approach to customer service, confidentiality, safeguarding and data protection is essential. 

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore subject to an enhanced DBS certificate. It is also a regulated activity and will be subject to a Barred List check 

When applying please ensure your supporting statement details how you fulfil the essential criteria set out in the person specification as this will be used for shortlisting. You will need to provide a full employment history including any gaps since leaving full time education

Our benefits

We are committed to continuous improvement, building a skilled, knowledgeable, and flexible workforce alongside promoting innovation and creativity whilst keeping children, young people and families at the heart of all we do.

We really value our workforce and offer you a great benefits package including:

• 28 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days, after 5 years
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health pension protection.
• Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days annual leave
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits
• A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions
• Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities
• Subsidised town centre car parking scheme

About us

At Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, children, young people and families are at the heart of everything we do. Every decision we make and every action we take is guided by our commitment to delivering high-quality services that make a lasting difference to the lives of children, young people and families across Northamptonshire.

We know that our people are our greatest strength. Our workforce is at the centre of our success, and we are committed to creating an environment where colleagues feel valued, supported and empowered to do the best job of their lives every day. We foster a culture built on kindness, collaboration and trust, where achievements are recognised, ideas are welcomed and innovation is encouraged.

We are proud of the positive impact we make together and delighted that our work has been recognised by Ofsted, with an Outstanding rating for Leadership and Management and Good ratings across Help and Protection, Children in Care and Care Leavers.

At NCT equality, diversity and inclusion are part of us and in everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and thrive in our organisation.  We are a Disability Confident employer and have a commitment to care leavers, who we guarantee an interview if they meet the essential criteria.

If you are passionate about making a difference and want to be part of an ambitious, supportive and forward-thinking organisation, Northamptonshire Children’s Trust could be the place for you.

Supporting Children – A Career That Matters