Referral and Information Advisor

Referral and Information Advisor

Full-Time 30000 - 40000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Trafford Council

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Support adults and carers by providing timely, compassionate responses to access the right support.
  • Company: Join Trafford Council's Adults Support & Prevention Hub and make a real difference.
  • Benefits: 26 days annual leave, flexible perks, and a generous pension scheme.
  • Other info: Opportunities for personal development and wellbeing initiatives available.
  • Why this job: Be part of a positive service that values teamwork and continuous improvement.
  • Qualifications: Strong communication skills, empathy, and a willingness to learn are essential.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.

Working Pattern: Full time

Working Arrangement: Monday to Friday / 36.25 hours per week

Interview Date/Type: Face to face

SMART Working: We aim to offer flexibility wherever possible. Many of our colleagues work from home one or more days a week and/or adjust their hours. We call this SMART working - giving you the freedom to shape your working pattern around your life, whilst still delivering great outcomes. Speak with the hiring manager about the range of flexible working options available for this role.

About the Role: Join Trafford Council’s new Adults Support & Prevention Hub and help make a real difference from the very first point of contact. In this frontline role, you will support adults, carers, and professionals by providing timely, compassionate responses that help people access the right support at the right time. You will combine skilled call handling with care navigation, using your knowledge of local services to guide individuals towards community, voluntary, and preventative support that promotes independence and wellbeing. You will play a key part in strengthening early intervention, ensuring people feel heard, respected, and supported. While you won’t complete formal assessments, your work will directly shape the experience and outcomes of those seeking help. This is an opportunity to be part of a positive, strengths-based service that values teamwork, learning, and continuous improvement. If you want to support residents to live well and stay connected to their communities, this role offers a meaningful and rewarding challenge.

About You: To succeed in this role, you will bring strong communication skills, empathy, and the ability to stay calm and professional when supporting people with a wide range of needs. You will use active listening and professional curiosity to understand each person’s situation and identify what matters most to them. Experience in a customer-facing, health, social care, or community role is helpful, but your values, attitude, and willingness to learn are just as important. You will be confident using triage tools, recording information clearly, and making sound decisions about next steps. You will know when to elevate safeguarding or complex concerns and will work well with colleagues and partners to ensure a coordinated response. An understanding of local community resources or the motivation to build this knowledge will help you connect people to early help and preventative support. If you are committed to promoting independence, dignity and positive outcomes for residents, we would love to hear from you.

Additional Information: This advert may close early if we receive a high number of applications, so please apply as soon as possible. An enhanced DBS Check with adults barred list will be required. Willing and able to travel to work at sites within the Trafford Borough.

Benefits:

  • Generous Leave: Start with 26 days of annual leave (plus bank holidays), with options to carry over or buy extra days.
  • Flexible Perks: Discounts on car leasing, cycle to work, home tech, plus family friendly policies and hybrid working.
  • Invest in your future: Join our generous Local Government Pension Scheme for peace of mind.
  • Grow with us: We'll support your development at every stage! Through leadership programmes like our EPIC Manager, LEAP into leadership and senior leadership. Plus, you'll have access to specialist qualifications and personal coaching to unlock your full potential.
  • Wellbeing First: Guided wellbeing walks and “Tea and Talk” sessions, and events like World Mental Health and National Fitness Day.
  • Connect with us: Connect with colleagues through our staff forums or join our Let’s Talk events to network, share ideas, and hear about the exciting work happening across our council.
  • Be Celebrated: For all your hard work, ideas and contributions through at our annual Time to Shine event, our cheers for peers’ scheme or through our EPIC Star Awards.

Key Information: Pre-Employment Checks: If offered a role, as a minimum we’ll need to verify your right to work in the UK, receive two satisfactory references, and medical check. Trafford Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check. Please note: We are not a licensed sponsor and will not be able to support with your work visa.

Privacy Notice: We respect your privacy. For details on how we collect, process, and protect your data, please click here: Recruitment and employment privacy notice | Trafford Council privacy notice | Trafford Council.

Make an Impact. Apply Today. Apply today to join the Adults Support & Prevention Hub team and help shape a better Trafford for our residents, businesses and communities. We want everyone to feel confident and supported throughout our recruitment process. If you need any help, adjustments or support at any stage, please get in touch with us.

Referral and Information Advisor employer: Trafford Council

Trafford Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that values collaboration and innovation in the field of social care systems. Employees benefit from flexible hybrid working arrangements, opportunities for professional development, and a commitment to safeguarding the community, making it a rewarding place to contribute to meaningful change.

Trafford Council

Contact Details:

Trafford Council Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Referral and Information Advisor

Dive into Local Community Groups

Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Trafford Council.

Attend Social Work Events and Workshops

Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Trafford Council!

Showcase Your Passion and Expertise

Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Trafford Council, will notice your enthusiasm!

Leverage Your Network

Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Trafford Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.

We think you need these skills to ace Referral and Information Advisor

Communication Skills
Empathy
Active Listening
Professional Curiosity
Customer Service Experience
Triage Tools Proficiency
Information Recording

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.

Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!

Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!

Tailor Your Application to Trafford Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Trafford Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Trafford Council

Understanding the Role of Empathy

In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.

Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks

Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.

Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills

In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.

Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions

Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.