Job Introduction
Do you have good attention to detail? Can you coordinate and lead calmly in a fast-paced and dynamic environment?
In Housing Solutions, we support people who are facing homelessness. We provide housing information and support for people facing homelessness or applying for social housing.
We’re seeking a full-time Business Support Assistant to deliver effective and professional business support to our operational team as well as a high level of customer service to the people we help.
You’ll have excellent interpersonal, organisational, and planning skills, with a positive ‘can do’ attitude to help lead a busy team forward. We offer a huge number of training and development opportunities including a range of apprenticeships up to master’s level, so this is a real opportunity to build a career in a modern and supportive employer.
Interviews for this role will be held on 17 or 18 December.
Main Responsibility
- Provide proactive business support, giving advice and assistance, in accordance with current legislation, to anyone approaching the service who is threatened with homelessness and identifying those who are already homeless. This may include giving comprehensive advice and assistance to people so that they can access appropriate services, including advice regarding homelessness, temporary accommodation including alternative housing solutions.
- Organise the sourcing and collation of highly sensitive, complex confidential information for colleagues to ensure accurate records are maintained. Acting with tact and discretion when managing all contacts and communications, from a wide range of stakeholders including councillors, colleagues, partner agencies, tenants, and members of the public.
- Undertake administrative tasks including managing service contacts through a variety of routes, maintaining spreadsheets, arranging appointments, updating electronic information systems, preparing case files, compiling, and disseminating information, completing financial tasks, reporting repairs, and responding to queries and any further delegated or required tasks or duties. Ensuring these tasks are completed to a consistently high standard within the agreed timescale whilst maintaining strict confidentiality.
- Work flexibly to support Housing Solutions as required, taking on tasks and responsibilities as required to meet service need. This will include arranging and preparing for meetings, taking accurate and concise minutes and action points.
- Utilise sound IT capabilities to organise and manage complex data, using knowledge to problem solve and respond to complex demands.
The Ideal Candidate
- Level 3 Business Administration qualification or equivalent relevant experience.
- Some experience of business support/administration, including experience of working within complex, fast paced environments.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills which incorporate ability to take complex minutes, report writing and data analysis and presentation.
- Excellent IT skills, with competence in data analysis and presentation, excel, word, PowerPoint and ability to quickly and confidently learn and utilise a variety of different IT systems.
- Ability to exercise sound judgement to prioritise and manage workload appropriately.
Package Description
In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:
- Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
- Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
- Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
- Salary sacrifice car scheme – low-cost leasing of electric and low emission vehicles.
- Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.
We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.
We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.
We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.
If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.
