Job Description

Are you highly organised, detail-oriented, and passionate about supporting services that make a difference in the lives of children and young people? We are looking for a dedicated Business Support Officer to join our busy SEND Team within the Education and Inclusion service.
About the Role
As a Business Support Officer, you will play a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of our Inclusion teams. You will provide high-quality administrative support across a wide range of activities, acting as the first point of contact for customers and professionals accessing our services. Your work will help ensure that statutory processes are met and that communication with stakeholders is timely, accurate, and professional.
Key Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to the Inclusion Teams, including managing appointments, schedules, and confidential enquiries.
• Act as the initial point of contact for customers, ensuring a welcoming and responsive service.
• Maintain accurate records of communications and data, including for pupils with SEND.
• Support the organisation of meetings, training sessions, and events, including minute-taking and preparation of materials.
• Ensure effective communication with internal and external stakeholders, promoting the values of Medway Council.
• Assist in the preparation of statutory returns and documentation for SEND processes.
• Uphold GDPR and data protection standards in all aspects of work.

What we are Looking For

• Strong administrative and organisational skills with attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive information with confidentiality and professionalism.
• Experience in a customer-facing or administrative role.
• Experience in minute-taking and supporting multi-agency meetings.
• Knowledge of SEND processes and local authority procedures.
• Understanding of GDPR, equality and diversity, and safeguarding responsibilities.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a team that supports positive outcomes for children and young people.
• Work in a collaborative and supportive environment.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.

Contribute to Medway's commitment to inclusion, safeguarding, and service excellence.
In return we will offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications
• Flexible working scheme
• Travel plan discounts
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers

Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. This means that the salary you will be offered will be at level A unless, based on an assessment against the CPF criteria, you demonstrate that you are meeting the criteria of level B or C. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.
When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.
The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:
Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.
Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.
Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.
You can demonstrate knowledge, experience and skills to allow you to perform within this role. You will identify, through application, how you meet the elements detailed within the person specification, at either Level A, B or C. You will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs.
Our organisation:
Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.
Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.
We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.
Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.
Important Information-
Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile
Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement
Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age
For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online
Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.
Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.
If you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.
All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email, if you require documentation/correspondence in different format such as braille or large print, please contact the Resourcing Team on 01634 332878.