Birmingham Children's Trust
Referral and Advice Officer

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The Children’s Advice and Support Service (CASS)
The Children’s Advice and Support Service (CASS) is the ‘front door’ for reporting concerns about children who need support and child protection. It is also a streamlined pathway for families who require Early Help support.
CASS is recruiting a Referral and Advice Officer (RAO) to support this fast-paced front door service which receives 250 calls and 500 emails daily.
This role is varied as RAOs staff the telephone service, process information requests and support the Social Work and Early Help functions within CASS.
We have been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection. This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Children's Trust, with many positive highlights focusing on areas including the quality of staff leadership, partnership working, safeguarding and corporate parenting.
About You
- Experience of working in children’s social care, Family support / Early Help is required and handling information and accurate data input.
- Strong attention to detail, as you will be required to maintain sensitive records, ensuring these are kept up to date on our systems and databases.
- Demonstrate strong communication skills, both verbal and written, as you'll be required to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders and customers.
- Solid customer service skills, showing a Gold-Standard service to our customers.
- Must have knowledge or an understanding of relevant Safeguarding and Early Help frameworks/procedures and how these protect and support families.
Onboarding Process
Please note as part of our onboarding process, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a series of background checks with Experian including Experian Right to Work, and Digital ID verification. These are essential pre-employment requirements.
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Our Benefits
- A generous annual leave package of 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 5 years of service and 35 days after 10 years of service.
- Free on-site parking at our offices on One Avenue Road (Aston) and Lifford House (Stirchley). We also provide onsite electric car charging ports which are free to use!
- Full access to our amazing internal employee benefits scheme including, Occupational Health services, Rewards Schemes, Benefits discounts (including the Blue Light Card), Health & Fitness and Personal Wellbeing support and much more!
- Flexible and hybrid working policy - we are well adapted to a hybrid model of working which includes a combination of time spent in the office and at home and we offer a variety of working patterns.
- Pension Scheme - You will receive a generous local government career average pension scheme in line with the local government pension scheme.
Why Join Us?
- Impactful Work - be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
- Supportive Environment - enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
- Career Development - benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
- Generous Benefits - take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.
Please note: We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We therefore encourage you to submit your application and supporting statement as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this opportunity.


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Our Values
We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.
We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.
We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.
Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.
Safeguarding
At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.
The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.
We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.
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