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- Tasks: Support projects focused on early intervention for children and families in Cambridgeshire.
- Company: Join Cambridgeshire County Council, dedicated to community improvement and support.
- Benefits: Inclusive workplace, learning opportunities, and a commitment to diversity.
- Why this job: Be part of a significant change in children's social care and make a real difference.
- Qualifications: Knowledge of project management and stakeholder engagement is essential.
- Other info: Flexible working environment with a focus on personal development.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Overview
In November 2024, the Department for Education published the policy statement Keeping Children Safe, Helping Families Thrive: Breaking down the barriers to opportunity\’, outlining the vision and core legislative proposals for children\’s social care. This followed the December 2023 National Framework for Children\’s Social Care, which detailed the vision for the system and desired outcomes.
The Families First Partnership programme has been established to support reforms, aiming to take a whole- system approach to rebalancing children\’s social care towards early intervention.
Following the launch, we are building additional local capacity to drive forward these changes to ensure that children and families in our local area benefit from earlier help and stronger support. This is an exciting time of change and a unique opportunity to play a key role in shaping one of the most significant national shifts in children\’s social care in recent decades.
Role
We are seeking an enthusiastic Project Support Officer to support the Families First Partnership Programme. The is a full-time, fixed term post for 24 months.
This role is part of the Change and Service Improvement Team which brings programmes, projects and service improvement together to design, develop and deliver the Council\’s major change portfolio and support Cambridgeshire County Council\’s strategic ambitions.
For more information or to arrange a chat about this opportunity, please contact Jemma.Roberts@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
What will you be doing?
As a Project Support Officer you will support the Programme Manager and Project Team to oversee projects that focus on early intervention and improving outcomes for children and families in Cambridgeshire. Working effectively, in line with the council\’s project management methodologies and standards, to manage the production and maintenance of key documentation such as project plans, highlight reports, RAID logs (Risks, Actions, Issues, Decisions), and formal and informal meeting and workshop documentation.
The Project Support Officer will be required to communicate well across all stakeholders, including internal colleagues and external partner organisations. A key function of the role will be to support project team members to fully utilise the MS Project Online system (POWA), advising and assisting in the application of project procedures and disciplines, and taking responsibility for recording and reporting throughout the project lifecycle.
About you
To succeed in this role, you will have a good level of knowledge and understanding of:
- project management
- stakeholder engagement
- reporting and project tools to effectively manage and monitor projects and workstreams.
You will be:
- capable of coordinating a range of projects of varying complexity
- organised, with excellent time management skills, with ability to self-direct and work under own initiative
- keen to support positive project outcomes
- motivated to make a visible difference to our communities and drive forward change.
About us
Cambridgeshire is a great place to work and live with a diverse population, an urban centre in Cambridge, historic Isle of Ely, Huntingdon and St Ives as well as more rural landscapes.
Our four values are central to our culture, driving everything we do. We are proud to serve the diverse communities of Cambridgeshire and want our workforce to be reflective of this diversity, which we firmly believe benefits our colleagues, the organisation and our communities. If you don\’t meet every single requirement in the job role but think this could be you, please don\’t be put off. We are committed to building a workplace that is compassionate and inclusive as well as diverse, so if you think you could be a good candidate for this role please consider applying and speak to the recruiting manager if you have any questions.
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, along with our employee network IDEAL and self-organised peer support groups help us to foster an inclusive, supportive and safe working environment where people feel valued, respected, and empowered. We collect relevant diversity data for monitoring as part of the recruitment process to understand the diversity of our applicants and monitor any trends throughout the recruitment processes so that we can take meaningful action.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We fully support providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process, as well as when you join us, and we encourage candidates to contact the Hiring Manager, whose details can be found in the advert, to discuss any adjustment needs. Some examples of adjustments could include additional time to complete an assessment or printing a document on pastel coloured paper with larger font size and line spacing. We would value talking about what might be possible to enable you to join us and thrive, so if there is something that would help you to do your best during your journey with us, please get in touch.
Visit our jobs and careers section to find out more about our wide range of learning and development opportunities; apprenticeships; our wellbeing package; staff benefits; our commitment to equality, diversity and Inclusion.
https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/council/jobs-and-careers
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Project Support Officer employer: Cambridge County Council
Contact Detail:
Cambridge County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Support Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those connected to children's social care. Attend local events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the Families First Partnership programme. Understand their goals and how your skills can contribute to early intervention and support for families. Tailor your responses to show you’re not just a fit for the role, but also passionate about their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or family. Focus on articulating your project management experience and stakeholder engagement skills. The more comfortable you are talking about your experiences, the more confident you’ll feel during the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, keep an eye on our careers page for any new opportunities that pop up. We’re always looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Project Support Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Project Support Officer. We want to see how you can contribute to the Families First Partnership Programme, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant experience!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since this role involves communicating with various stakeholders, it’s essential to demonstrate your communication skills in your written application. Use clear and concise language, and maybe even share examples of how you've effectively engaged with different audiences in the past.
Highlight Your Organisational Skills: As a Project Support Officer, being organised is key! In your application, mention any tools or methods you use to stay organised and manage your time effectively. We love to see candidates who can juggle multiple tasks while keeping everything on track.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly, and you’ll find all the information you need about the role and our values there. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cambridge County Council
✨Know Your Project Management Basics
Brush up on your project management knowledge, especially methodologies relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss how you’ve applied these in past experiences, as this will show your understanding of the council's standards.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated with various stakeholders in previous roles. Highlight your ability to adapt your communication style to different audiences, which is crucial for this position.
✨Familiarise Yourself with MS Project Online
Since the role involves using MS Project Online, it’s a good idea to get comfortable with the system. If you can, try to demonstrate your knowledge during the interview by discussing how you would use it to manage project documentation.
✨Show Your Passion for Community Impact
This role is all about making a difference in the community. Be prepared to share why you’re motivated to support early intervention and improve outcomes for children and families, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
