Interview tips - Business Support Officer within social services

[user0786]

Hi,

I've got an interview tomorrow for the post of a Business Support Officer within social services

Really nervous. Any tips would be appreciated.

Posted on AIBU for traffic

Thanks in advance :)

Make sure you display knowledge of safeguarding procedures.
Good luck!

I liaise with BS as part of my role.i fond thr good ones are not jobsworths, use initiative and don't feel personally affronted when they are asked to support with an admin task to save professional workers' time...

Good luck.

It may sound obvious but answer the question asked. I’ve spent most of today interviewing and can’t tell you the number of answers which weren’t actually answering the question asked 😕. Eg. Based on the job description provided, what do you think the challenges would be in this job. Answer: challenges faced in current job, which was not the question.

Which team? I'm.an older persons social worker and we have great business support people. I'd say it's important to understand the pressure social workers are under, how a good BSO can support SWs to do their job effectively. The importance of safeguarding (and children's safeguarding is different to adults).

The importance of record keeping and accountability, good audit trails. How to work as part of a team. Does the JD say anything about taking phone calls? We've reorganised so all calls are now taken by a duty worker, but the BSOs used to take calls and would sometimes have to deal with confused older people, or frustrated families who had been passed from pillar to post. In a children's team, depending on what sort of team, there might be challenging families or upsetting details to deal with as part of your job.

Stay focused on the questions, look up STAR interviewing if you don't already know it, and take a deep breath before answering. Good luck!

Agree with safeguarding procedures, importance of record keeping, confidentiality, ability to stay calm if being shouted at by angry callers/visitors.

Good luck!

Thank you everyone.

It's safeguarding in relation to children and young people.

I've worked as a BSO before within a school safeguarding team. I'd take minutes of meetings, liaise with external and internal agencies regarding students. Make referrals to agencies as needed and speak to parents and carers as well as agencies as part of a multi-agency approach towards safeguarding pupils.

Haven't worked in a social work setting. I'm assuming I'd probably do similar tasks such as taking minutes, dealing with queries, making referrals, chasing referrals etc.

Does anyone work as a social worker here? What do your BSO's do?

I work in a support role in children's social services - make sure you know your stuff in terms of gdpr - and how you would protect data/confidentiality. Safeguarding also- and understanding that you would report any concerns (as business support you wouldn't take matters into your own hands). Be clear about why you want in children's services, and be prepared to answer questions about what you think some of the key issues children and young people face (in the area you are interviewing for, I.e. youth justice, children in care, Safeguarding, family support etc)

Thank you. What do you you as part of your job?

Anyone else?

Hi @user0786

So everything you'd do for any other administration type role really. Working as part of a team, being efficient at prioritising tasks, clear communicator, able to sign post people to appropriate services. As a PP mentioned GDPR, you're dealing with highly sensitive information. Able to liaise well with other agencies. Ensuring that messages you take are accurate and that you pass them on in a timely manner. Able to show flexibility as in you may have to stop one task to take part in another. Ability to stay calm when there is any form of crisis, difficult situation. So whilst you wouldn't be responding to safeguarding issues personally, there's usually paperwork that accompanies the urgent situations, so you'd be able to calmly support the team in making sure that you do your part be that distributing information to partner agencies, arranging multidisciplinary meetings or just being aware of where particular things can be found.

As a former SW manager I would say that from my own experience in various teams, this is a very busy, taken for granted and often undervalued role. Nobody will expect you to know everything but a brief understanding of safeguarding matters will help but the most important thing is that you are a competent BSO as there'll be plenty of others in a team with more experience and understanding of CP but a good BSO really is invaluable and a weight off other practitioners shoulders.

Oh and the style of most LA interviews, using examples from your own experiences are usually a big part of questions so maybe whilst thinking of your own strengths (organisational skills/ ability to meet deadlines/ effective communicator for example) have an example to hand of something you have done that showcases this.