Senior Business Support Assistant

Closing date: 19/07/2026

Salary: Grade 14 ranging from £25,185 to £25,989 per annum, 37 hours per week – fixed term until 30/04/2027.

Key responsibilities

You don’t have to be a Social Worker to make a difference. We’re working to improve the lives of children in Somerset, and you’ll play an important role in that. Our Business Operations teams provide vital administrative support, helping practitioners focus on their work with children, young people and families.

These administrator roles support the Prevention and Youth Justice Service, including the Education Engagement and Working Against Violence & Exploitation (WAVE) teams. They are fast-paced and varied, requiring you to manage competing tasks, work accurately, and handle sensitive information with care. You will need to be confident using Microsoft 365 applications and experience of minute taking is desirable. You will be part of a strong, supportive team and will be warmly welcomed. 

Full training and support will be provided. Typical tasks may include:

• Monitor multiple mailboxes for the service, signposting and responding to or actioning requests.
• Handle complex or sensitive enquiries, using judgement to resolve issues or escalate appropriately.
• Answering calls into the Duty phone to take messages; signpost callers; arrange a volunteer to support a young person in custody.
• Recording information and uploading documents onto children’s electronic records within legislative timeframes to support legal processes and outcomes.

• Liaising with partner agencies, professionals, service users, families, carers, victims, volunteers, senior managers and elected members
• Support operational processes, maintaining accurate records, management information and spreadsheets.
• Collate information for managers, quality assurance and service reporting.

• Arranging venues and volunteers for panels.
• Organising and taking notes for various meetings.
• Providing basic ICT and systems support to practitioners.
• Providing admin support to interview processes.

What We’re Looking For – Knowledge, Experience and Skills 

• Sound working knowledge of IT systems including Microsoft 365.
• Experience of working in an administrative role and within a team.
• Experience of communicating with partner agencies, professionals and members of the public via telephone, letter and email.
• Experience of handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Experience of using client management systems and spreadsheets.
• Minimum NVQ level 2 standard/5 GCSEs, English and Maths, at Grade 4 or above with good standards of literacy, numeracy and accuracy.
• Good organisational skills.
• The ability to prioritise conflicting work demands and have a flexible approach.
• The ability to follow agreed processes to ensure consistency is provided.
• The ability to produce high standards of accurate work and to work to deadlines.
• Ability to speak fluent English as stated in Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016)

What will I be offered in return? 

We offer supportive management, training and development opportunities, and clear routes for career progression. Many colleagues have developed from administrative roles into management, social care or direct work with children and young people.

As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available: 

• Flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including hybrid working.

• 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 

Any Additional Information 

• 25 days annual leave (additional to bank holidays) rising to 28 after 5 year’s continuous service.
• Flexible and hybrid working, with an expectation of 1–2 days per week in the office.  
• Some flexibility may be required to meet service demands, in line with Somerset Council’s working arrangements.
• 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. 

• Work base: Glastonbury Library Hub / or other hub by agreement (we support teams based in Bridgwater, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Taunton & Yeovil).  It is planned that you will spend much of your time in the Glastonbury office during your induction process.
• This role requires a basic check via the Disclosure procedure.

For an informal chat about the role,  contact Liz Reina Liz.Reina@Somerset.gov.uk 01749 822936 or Anna Harwood anna.harwood@somerset.gov.uk 01935 463592.

A full job description can be found here:  AG0250 Senior Business Support Assistant - Job Description (1066).pdf