Business Allocator

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Beacon House, Ipswich, IP1 5PB – Hybrid
• Salary: £25,185 per annum (pro rata for part time
• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
• Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, collaboration is at the heart of what we do. As a Business Allocator in Home First (Ipswich and East), you’ll work with colleagues, partners, and communities to build trust, share ideas, and deliver services that make a lasting impact.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

• Serve as the first point of contact for customers in a fast-paced environment, ensuring timely care and support.
• Carry out business and finance functions within Home First, meeting statutory requirements and supporting service delivery.
• Work collaboratively across the county to deliver a wide range of financial and business tasks efficiently.
• Manage incoming calls, resolve queries, and escalate urgent issues to team leaders via the triage duty system.
• Monitor staff capacity and oversee the Allocations System to optimise workflow and minimise delays.
• Maintain accurate records and case management entries in line with Adult Social Care and Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards.
• Support general business operations, report discrepancies, and ensure service changes are recorded promptly.

You will need

• Familiarity with financial and business regulations, systems, and procedures.
• Confident in handling telephone enquiries and engaging directly with the public.
• Experience contributing to change initiatives that lead to improved outcomes.
• Strong ability to plan and prioritise tasks across short, medium, and long-term timeframes.
• Clear understanding of confidentiality and data protection responsibilities in the workplace.
• Proficient in IT applications, particularly Excel and Outlook.
• Commercial awareness with a focus on cost-effectiveness and financial efficiency.
• Good understanding of the roles within Home First Area Teams to support effective allocation decisions.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

At Suffolk County Council, our Home First (Ipswich and East) team is built on collaboration, compassion, and a shared commitment to delivering high-quality care and support. We work closely across disciplines - business support, finance, reablement, and care coordination - to ensure our services are responsive, efficient, and person-centred.

You’ll be joining a supportive and dynamic team that values open communication, continuous improvement, and mutual respect. Together, we tackle challenges, celebrate successes, and strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people and communities we serve.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Peter Hobson for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 07541683343 or emailing [email protected]

Alternatively, you can contact Fiona Rivers for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473260924 or emailing [email protected]

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).

Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.

• Tell me about a time you had to manage a high volume of calls in a time-sensitive environment. How did you ensure quality and responsiveness?
• Give an example of how you’ve managed competing priorities in a deadline-driven setting. What tools or strategies did you use?
• Describe a time when you had to review staff capacity and adjust workloads. What was your approach and what was the outcome?
• Describe a situation where you supported a colleague to prevent errors or missed calls. What steps did you take?

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing [email protected] or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 10 September 2025.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).