Advisory Officer (Contact)

This role has a starting salary of £31,262 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.

This is a 12-month fixed term contract /secondment opportunity.

We are delighted to be hiring two new Advisory Officers to join our Adult Social Care Information & Advice Service. The team is based in Dakota, Weybridge, and you will be working from the office until you have built up the skills and confidence to work independently.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 5 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
  Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Team

The Adult Social Care Information & Advice Service is part of Customer Services. Our aim is to provide a consistent, high quality, resident-focused experience that aligns with the principles of the Customer Promise, acting as a first point of contact for customers who have Adult Social Care enquiries.

About the Role

As an Advisory Officer, you will be responsible for providing customers and partner agencies with comprehensive information and advice about care and support services in their local area. This is to help people understand how care and support services work locally, the care and funding options available, and how people can access these services.

Our working environment is outcome focused and you will be working in a fast-paced setting ensuring that cases allocated are resolved in a timely manner and in line with legislation/policies and best practice. The ability to work under pressure and multitask confidently across various IT systems is key to the role.

We want to be honest with you, the nature of some of the calls and correspondence we receive can be sensitive and, at times, upsetting. We recognise it can be challenging to take calls about abuse, neglect or from someone who is at risk or in crisis but it is so important that we provide this service to people who need it. As such, robust personal resilience is essential. We provide a comprehensive induction program upon starting with us and commit to ensuring you will never be on your own and have a supportive environment and team to work with.

Although this role involves working as part of a well-supported team, you will be given the tools to work independently to allow you to deliver work to a high standard.

In order to safeguard our customers and handle confidential information, a Basic DBS 'Disclosure & Barring Service' check will be required for this role.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• An understanding of social care and health issues, with a basic awareness of public sector and voluntary agencies
• Experience of providing high levels of customer care and professionalism in a busy environment
• Able to quickly build rapport and effect successful relationships with customers and partner agencies
• Excellent IT skills and ability to use databases to a high standard of accuracy
• Able to work autonomously with initiative and as part of a team
• Able to travel to Weybridge
• Able to work from home in a confidential space, including access to secure Wi-Fi

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 18/02/2024 with interviews planned for w/c 04/03/2024.

The interview will include a 5-10 minute presentation on a topic shared in advance, followed by a short IT/telephone test.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook also attached provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.