Salary: NJC Grade 6 £27,254 to £28,598 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: 37 hours per week, full-time, Monday to Thursday 09:00-17:00, Friday 09:00-16:30
Location: Northleigh, County Hall, Chichester
Closing date: 22 September 2025
Interview date: 07 October 2025
Are you confident in providing excellent customer service and delivering information, advice and guidance?
Are you empathetic and pro-active when dealing with sensitive issues and challenges?
Do you enjoy interacting with a range of customers?
If you are looking for the next challenge in your career, find out more about this fantastic opportunity below.
The Family Information Service is growing to meet the increasing demand as we roll out the government’s expansion of childcare. We are looking for an outstanding individual who prides themselves on their customer service skills, to join us as a Family Information Service Assistant.
You will use your excellent customer service skills to respond to day-to-day problems and queries from the public and partners.
Key responsibilities of the role include:
- Triage incoming requests directly from families or providers and make an evaluation of next steps, assessing the correct course of action.
- Updating systems accurately.
- Referring any concerns.
- Advising on complaints.
- Completing complex calculations, identifying any risk of financial irregularity, and flagging it appropriately.
- Brokering places for families struggling to meet their childcare needs.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of age, gender, or any other protected characteristic.
For more information on the Key Skills, Qualifications and/or Experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached. Please refer to the key skills in your cover letter as these will be used for shortlisting criteria.
About You
We are looking for:
- Superb relationship building with a range of customers and colleagues.
- Interpersonal and communication skills to provide clear and concise information, advice, and guidance.
- Use of own initiative to work independently with a commitment to supporting families.
- A professional approach, as at times you may deal with highly sensitive and confidential
- A reliable, efficient, and flexible individual who enjoys being part of a team.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Being adept at using IT software confidently.
About Us
The Family Information Service (FIS) provides information, advice and guidance to parents and carers of 0–25-year-olds on Ofsted registered childcare, childcare funding, family activities and support services. We are a statutory service meeting duties within the Childcare Act 2006.
Our service plays a key role for many families, especially working parents or those wishing to return to work or undertake training. In turn this supports a sustainable and prosperous economy across the county, enabling families to fulfil their potential.
To ensure this service functions well, the Family Information Service Assistant needs to be multiskilled to support a wide range of customers.
Benefits
As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do.
For a full list this can be found at our Rewards and Benefits page.
Upon joining us you will have access to a range of benefits including the following:
Employer Pension Contribution: 18.70% (this alters per annum on the 1 April each year).
Annual leave: 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays = 33 days
HOW TO APPLY
The reference number for this role is CAFHE05913.
We are also recruiting for an Early Years Funding Assistant under CAFHE05914.
For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Lauren Dove (Family Information Service Adviser) at lauren.dove@westsussex.gov.uk
To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and complete the application form.
In your application form please outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills) ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV.
Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
Equity, inclusion, and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.
Job Reference: CAFHE05913