ABOUT THE CANDIDATE

Essential requirements for the role:
Interpersonal Skills: Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, accurately and in ways that promote understanding.
Planning and Organising : Provides work on time and to required standard and is capable of prioritising own workload in order to meet statutory deadlines.
Problem Solving and Decision Making: Ability to interpret rules and guidelines and know when something needs to be referred to supervisor.
ICT Skills: Ability to use multiple applications, systems and associated software packages. Experience of Excel and Microsoft are essential as well as touch-typing and keyboard skills.
Literacy and Numeracy: Good literacy and numeracy skills to undertake calculations and produce letters and other documentation.
Administrative: Ability to use and accurately maintain effective administration systems in a rapidly changing environment including Excel Spreadsheets and formulas.
Analytical: Ability to engage with stakeholders to identify information needs and to know how to go about obtaining the relevant information. Also able to gather and analyse information, opportunities and problems.
Given the nature of the role it is essential that you have the resilience to listen to, read and deal with upsetting and distressing information.

ABOUT US

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.
Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

ABOUT THE ROLE

Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week
Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time
Closing Date: 17 September 2025
Closing time: 11.59pm
Interview Method: Face to Face
This Role is Subject to:
2 References - where possible we require 3 years’ history.
Proof of Manchester Residency – Roles at Grade 1 to 3, traineeships, or apprenticeships will initially only be advertised to Manchester residents and internal candidates. An applicant is classed as a resident of Manchester if they live within the boundaries of the City of Manchester; i.e. Any Council Tax liability for their home would be with Manchester City Council. To check if you fall under the Manchester City Council boundary please visit - https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. We have a policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders and it is available upon request.
We have an exciting opportunity to be part of the Business Support function for the Children and Families Directorate within the Children’s Safeguarding and Review Service.
The successful candidate will provide high quality, customer focused, flexible and timely business support to the Safeguarding Service. Dealing efficiently and courteously, with tact and diplomacy, to all queries and correspondence, both written and verbal from a wide range of internal and external customers and completing all documentation and correspondence accurately and to a high standard in line with procedures and within agreed timescales.
You will be responsible for arranging key meetings, sending Safeguarding Conference invites within statutory timescales, researching information and developing and maintaining systems to track work.
You should have excellent keyboard and touch-typing skills with a high level of speed and accuracy and a good knowledge of all computer packages, including Excel.
You must be a confident and experienced Business Support Officer who is used to adhering to strict deadlines.
Due to the nature of the work, you will need the emotional resilience to listen to distressing and upsetting information.
You will enter and retrieve confidential information onto internal ICT systems. You will be expected to keep yourself up to date of any changes to legislation and good practice within Safeguarding. You will be a proficient typist with excellent keyboard skills.
The team are based with the Manchester Children’s Safeguarding and Review Service in Moss Side and provide citywide Safeguarding Business Support for Children’s Services.
For an informal discussion, please contact the hiring manager, Wendy Woods, wendy.woods@manchester.gov.uk to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role.

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition
• If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the Supporting Statement section of your application

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work: You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
• References: We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications: Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
• Proof of Manchester Residency: For some roles, you may need to demonstrate that you reside within the boundaries of Manchester City Council.
• Driving Licence: If the role requires driving, we’ll need evidence of your valid driving licence