JOB SUMMARY

We are looking for a bright and articulate team player with excellent IT and interpersonal skills to join our vibrant team.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

· Experience of working in an administrative role or customer service environment where multi-tasking and decision-making skills are successfully demonstrated in a fast-paced environment
· Experience of working with IT systems, data entry and use of Microsoft Office
· Demonstrates excellent customer service skills
· Local Authority background
· Possesses confident and persuasive telephone skills ideally acquired in a similar work environment
· Proven track record in managing a demanding and varied workload
· Demonstrates understanding of effective teamwork
· Knowledge and understanding of Social Services, in particular, the provision of services for children

QUALIFICATIONS

· Achievement of a minimum of two A levels, or equivalent
· Attainment of a good range of GCSE passes or equivalent to include English and Math’s

APTITUDES AND ABILITIES

· Has good interpersonal skills; effective at quickly establishing and building good working relationships internally and externally, at all levels
· Self-sufficient and self-motivated with the ability to work independently, recognizing when matters need input from or referral to others
· Analytical, with high attention to detail and a logical approach to problem-solving
· Multitasker who can manage, prioritise and monitor own work
· Contributes positively to teams, encouraging and facilitating the contribution of others and working sensitively with team colleagues
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively negotiate and influence, especially on the phone
· A competent and effective user of information technology skilled in Word, Excel and databases with fast, accurate keyboard skills
· Decisive with a determination to rise to the challenge, offering creative solutions to overcome difficulties

· To provide comprehensive administrative support to the Team Coordinator, Senior Management, the Social Work Team and Fostering Panel Chair
· To respect confidentiality and to comply with your duty of confidentiality to all stakeholders in the Agency. Ensure all information is stored safely and securely
· Ability to take minutes of meetings including fostering Panels, team meetings, and foster carer support meetings, providing accurate typed records and disseminating records within agreed timescales
· Data inputting on electronic systems, including the CHARMS, Citation and ClearCare, competent in Microsoft Office (Word/Excel)
· Training and Social Events – Administer carers and team annual training and social calendar, sending out texts and email notifications and reminders to carers. Coordinating room bookings for carers where possible block bookings for the year, sending out advanced training text/email reminder alerts to carers, liaising, with course facilitators and assisting with course correspondence in advance of course, preparing and distribution of carers course notes handouts, process and distribution of carers course certificates, coordinate Ascent Carers team meetings, update carers individual training profiles and course attendance log, arrange catering and refreshments for training sessions, present refreshments and lunches and tidy away after sessions, undertake any other duties required by the Team Coordinator, Senior Management Team and SSW’s
· Marketing - helping and supporting the marketing activity of the organisation, whether through data management, being people facing, and supporting general recruitment of foster carers, producing materials as appropriate and socials.
· HR - Assist Ascent management team in recruitment of new staff for Ascent Children Services, including Form F assessors and Panel Members, staff across the residential and fostering agency, coordination of requests for reference checks, DBS etc., medicals, monitoring returns and recording receipts on Social Care IT systems of both prospective foster carers, foster carers. Liaise with the Team Coordinator, Social Work team and senior management in relation to the status of these checks
· To coordinate, plan and disseminate appropriate forms for Foster Carers’ annual reviews. Ensure dates for reviews are agreed upon within the approval timescales in conjunction with SSWs, IRO, foster carers, LASW and young people. Ensure reports are completed, signed and where necessary ready for presentation to the Panel
· Assist Team coordinator with the preparation of Fostering Panel meetings, ensure case correspondence is uploaded by deadlines, and circulate notifications to Panel members and SSWs involved with specific Panel meetings. Attend Panel meetings to minute take, liaise with the Panel Chair to agree on final minutes and upload final minutes to Dropbox and Charms.
· Assist team administrator with carrying out checks and references for new foster carers
· Disseminate Foster Carer Agreements to carers, ensure correct approval terms are noted and upload returned signed agreement to charms.
· To respond to all telephone or visitor enquiries respectfully and communicate effectively and appropriately
· Where necessary support the team with marketing; responding to calls, taking applicant details, sending out letters and information packs and assisting the team at outside events
· Facilities management – supporting the team coordinator with any facilities operations/purchases