At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the Adoption Team with vital administrative tasks and help families through the adoption journey.
- Company: Join a compassionate team dedicated to making a difference in children's lives.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive environment, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Fixed-term role with guaranteed interviews for eligible applicants.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact while developing your skills in a rewarding role.
- Qualifications: Organised, detail-focused, and passionate about supporting others.
Salary: £28,598 to £29,540 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: Carlisle
Contract: Fixed-Term (14 months)
About this opportunity
Join our dedicated Adoption Team as a Business Support Administrator, where you'll play a vital role in helping children and families through every stage of the adoption journey. This is a varied and rewarding position at the heart of a busy service, providing essential administrative and operational support to social workers, managers, prospective adopters, and adults accessing adoption records and support services.
You’ll coordinate key aspects of adopter recruitment and assessment processes, including processing Registration of Interest forms, issuing DBS and medical checks, managing references, and maintaining accurate records on our case management systems. You’ll also provide administrative support across a range of adoption services, handling enquiries, processing invoices and purchases, arranging documentation, and taking minutes at important meetings.
A unique aspect of this role is supporting the Adoption Support and Intermediary Services, helping individuals access adoption information and reconnect with birth relatives. This includes managing sensitive records, responding to information requests, undertaking tracing activities, liaising with external agencies, and ensuring all activities are handled with professionalism, empathy, and confidentiality.
If you’re an organised, detail-focused administrator who thrives in a varied role, enjoys working collaboratively, and takes pride in making a meaningful difference behind the scenes, we’d love to hear from you. This role is available on a fixed-term basis.
Who we’re looking for
We’re looking for individuals who embody our organisation’s core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities. We’re also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.
Contact
For more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Carole Lomas by email at carole.lomas@cumbria.gov.uk
DBS Checks
This role requires a DBS check. The level of check for this role is: Enhanced DBS check – Children
Guaranteed Interviews
We offer a guaranteed interview to the following applicants as long as your application can demonstrate you meet the essential criteria for the role:
- Those who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010
- Those in care or who have left care and are aged 24 and under
- Those who identify as a member of the British Armed Forces community (service leavers, veterans, their partners or spouses, reservists, cadets).
If you meet one or more of the criteria above, and wish to be considered for this scheme, select 'yes' to the appropriate question during your application.
Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments
We’re dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re a proud Disability Confident Leader and also an Age Friendly Employer – to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive. If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know by emailing Resourcing@Cumberland.gov.uk.
Application and Interview information
Closing date: 17/08/2026
Interview date: TBC
If you experience any difficulties logging in to apply for this role, please contact the HR Systems team at HR.Systems@cumbria.gov.uk.
Business Support Administrator - Adoption Team - CMB2621e in Carlisle employer: The Cumbria County Council
Cumbria County Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises diversity and inclusion. As a Lighting Engineer in the picturesque Lake District, you will benefit from competitive remuneration, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on local communities through innovative lighting solutions.
Contact Details:
The Cumbria County Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Support Administrator - Adoption Team - CMB2621e in Carlisle
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