First Response Advisor

Overview

2x Permanent First Response Advisors, 37 hrs a week Monday – Thursday 8.30am til 5.00pm and Friday 9.30am til 4.30pm. Following successful career progression, First Assessment Services is looking for 2 First Response Advisors to join our busy team at the Front Door of Bristol Children\’s Services.

We need you to undertake enquiries at the front door via phone, text and email and record your discussions on our database. You will need to develop a comprehensive knowledge of support services in the Bristol area, as we will require you to provide regular advice and signposting. You will join an established team of First Response Advisors at the Front Door where decisions are made for children both in need of support and safeguarding. We are an inclusive service and it important that you demonstrate the council’s values: Dedicated, Respect, Ownership, Curious, Collaborative. You will carry out specific tasks requiring a discrete skill or in-depth knowledge base and will load information directly onto our database and through our phones, and you will be offering and advice, making enquiries and signposting. You will work closely with Deputy Team Managers on a day to day basis to ensure that children within our city receive a timely response. There will also be enquiries from internal and external customers and stakeholders on a daily basis which we will hope can be resolved at the earliest point. This is an exciting time to join the team as we embed changes, to enhance our delivery of services to children and families.

The First Assessment Service is due to move to City Hall, and is responsible for making rapid, informed and safe decisions for all referrals requesting support or safeguarding intervention for vulnerable children, young people and their families. We have retained an office presence and recognise the value of working alongside colleagues to support development and promote positive working relationships. We are therefore seeking a First Response Advisor who shares this ethos and can work from the office. Some occasional home working will be an option dependant on service need and demand. You will be joining a stable service with long term, permanent staff, low vacancy rates, and good staff morale. The role will be based at City Hall in the City Centre. There are excellent amenities around the office area. There is no free parking in the vicinity, but the office is easily accessible by public transport.

Please note that this role is subject to an enhanced DBS Check.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How to apply

If you share our values and want to be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application. We are a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We’ll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

Should you require any further information or would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Sonia Gingell, Service Manager. At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit. The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.