Contact and Referral Officer

Overview

The First Response team are seeking to appoint a permanent Contact and Referral Officer (CARO) to be based within the MASH team at Aylesbury Police Station.

The CARO is the first point of contact for enquiries or concerns about our children and young people, providing essential advice where a child's safety may be at risk.

Take a look at our Children's Social Care Candidate Pack to find out more.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.  

Buckinghamshire is an ambitious, rapidly growing county, and our economy is one of the strongest in the country. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and ranks as one of the top rural areas to live in the UK and yet it is incredibly well connected– only an hour from London on the train. The county has a rich history and heritage and is the birthplace of the international Paralympic movement.

We are looking for motivated, ambitious and inspiring people to join us on our journey. You will be entitled to a range of different benefits to make sure you are happy both at work and at home.

About the role

Responsibilities include:

• Providing a single point of contact for members of the public and partner agencies who may have concerns over a child or young person.
• Analysing information and data to determine what level of service is appropriate or needed.
• To develop close links with statutory and voluntary sector services in order to resolve queries effectively, sign post or assist partner agencies in making referrals.
• To ensure that contacts/information are progressed in a timely and safe manner.
• Engage with partners and families where there is a request for Early Help support.

For a full list of responsibilities, please see attached job description.

About you

The successful applicant will possess:

• NVQ 3 or equivalent experience to role
• Successful experience of working within a Children’s Service, voluntary sector or other settings with vulnerable children/young people and families.
• Experience of recording sensitive information, maintaining client case files and adhering to confidentiality policies.
• Knowledge of issues relating to child protection and vulnerable children, along with evidence of training in Awareness of Child Protection and Safety.

For a full person specification, please see the attached job description.

Other information

If you would like to find out more about this role, please contact Louise Collins at [email protected]

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 14th September 2025

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/