Does anyone work in admin within social services here?

[user0786]

Hi All,

Posted on here for traffic.

Does anyone here work in admin/business support within the social services department? I have a few questions:

1. I have an interview for a Business Support Officer post and I was wondering if you have any tips.

1. Please can you describe your day to day tasks?

1. What are your hours/holidays? Is this job somewhat flexible? The post I've applied for is hybrid. So I'm assuming should be somewhat flexible.

Any other comments/tips?

Thanks

I had an interview for this role a few years ago, I failed because they dictated a letter then asked me to type it up within 10 minutes. My nerves got the better of me and I'd never done dictation/shorthand.

I was told that I would overhear and see documents containing disturbing information and I was asked how I would deal with this? And reminded that I can't go home and discuss it with anyone (I have no social work experience).

If it's local council holidays etc should be on their website.

I can't write shorthand 🙈 oops, I'm starting to worry a bit!

Not admin but I am a social worker.

You'll be exposed to some very traumatic information if you're taking minutes for meetings- serious harm and death of children and adults, detail of injury etc, and you have to be stoic and record it accurately as what you write can be used in Court.
Our admin field calls often from angry parents or carers wanting answers immediately, you need to be able to manage this without throwing your social work team under the bus. Sometimes as a first point of contact, callers can be abusive etc so you need to be assertive and resilient.
In my LA, admin are life savers...if I've messed up znd forgotten to order a birth certificate for a Court application, if I don't understand invoicing, if I need help booking an interpreter, sometimes if help is needed in writing up notes from handwritten (not for me but for older colleagues). Managing petty cash, uploading random bunches of documents, scanning a big chaotic pile of adoption paperwork for a crying social worker, helping order a cot or get prices for repairing a leak for a family... those are the sorts of things our admin are incredible at. Actual life savers, most important job in children's services honestly

Don't know how much short hand matters probs depends on the job role...most people just type minutes now anyway

You will be working a lot more hours than you are paid for; no one can get all of the work done in the time allocated.
When you hear and read what goes on you can’t just walk away from your desk at 5pm.

The LA that I work for the BSOs deal more with the systems, work flows, managing work loads etc. We have minute takers for conferences and some mtgs, Social Worker Support Officers who do admin for Support Workers and separate Social Worker Assistants.

I didn't need to know shorthand, just write down what they said then type it up into a letter. Taking minutes for meetings was one of the items on the job description so I think they just wanted to see me get the important bits of information down and accurately. I'd never done minute taking before either!

I've worked as a Business Support Officer in a school previously within their safeguarding department. Heard very distressing information but quickly built resilience in order to do my job so I think although it'll be upsetting I will learn to maintain resilience.

This job does require minute taking, I did this at the school I worked at for safeguarding meetings.

I'm assuming they'll be looking at accuracy of information, confidentiality, ability to use IT systems etc when interviewing right?