Children’s Social Care Purchasing Officer
*Hourly Rate: £14.9 PAYE or £18.93 Umbrella
*Location: Local Authority
*Job Type: Full-time 36.66 hours per week 8.40am - 5pm, Monday to Friday based in the Office in Oldham
Join our dedicated team as a Children’s Social Care Purchasing Officer, where you will manage purchasing and payment tasks to support foster carers, adoptive parents, special guardians, service providers, and families receiving personal budgets. This role is crucial in ensuring that all payments are made accurately and on time, adhering to policies and budget constraints.
Day-to-day of the role:
*Purchasing & Payment Processing:
*Manage day-to-day purchasing for Personal Budgets.
*Set up and maintain payment information in the Council’s case management system.
*Run weekly or monthly payment cycles.

*Accuracy, Checks & Compliance:
*Perform regular quality checks to ensure payments are correct and appropriate.
*Complete annual checks and means testing.
*Reconcile invoices from service providers and ensure correct payments.
*Maintain accurate records in line with financial, audit, and data protection requirements.

*Communication & Customer Support:
*Respond sensitively and professionally to enquiries from service users and providers.
*Work collaboratively with colleagues across Children’s Social Care, Finance, and Audit.
*Assist in gathering information for Freedom of Information requests.

*Reporting:
*Produce reports and statistics using the case management system and standard software packages.

*Other Duties:
*Promote equality, diversity, and Council values.
*Follow all Council policies and participate in professional development.
*Support trainees and apprentices as required.

Required Skills & Qualifications:
*Education:
*Good literacy and numeracy skills.

*Experience:
*Experience working in an office environment, particularly in financial or payment-related roles.
*Proficiency in using IT systems including spreadsheets, databases, and word processing.
*Experience communicating with vulnerable people.

*Skills & Abilities:
*Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to handle sensitive issues.
*Excellent customer service and verbal communication skills.
*Ability to keep accurate financial and audit records.
*Strong organisational skills and ability to manage deadlines.
*Analytical skills to interpret information and make recommendations.
*High-level ICT skills for recording payments, running reports, and managing data.

*Knowledge:
*Understanding of data protection and confidentiality in children’s services.
*Knowledge of local authority financial and audit processes.
*Awareness of Children’s Social Care services.

Benefits:
*Competitive hourly rate.
*Opportunities for professional development.
*Supportive team environment.
How to apply:
To apply for the Children’s Social Care Purchasing Officer position, please submit your CV and cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you are interested in this role. Ensure to highlight your skills and qualifications that match the job requirements.