War Pensions & Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Officer

Job Description & Person Specification

Appointment:War Pensions & Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (WP&AFCS) Officer

Responsible to:War Pensions & Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Manager

Hours of Work:20 hours per week annually averaged

Location:Association Head Office/Home Based by arrangement

Main Purpose of the Job

To assist the Manager in maintaining the RAFA's War Pensions & Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (WP&AFCS); providing high quality advice, guidance & advocacy in support to those eligible for these RAFA services in the North of England.

The post is challenging and requires flexibility and sensitivity. Travel is required, along with a flexible approach to working hours.

Role definition

Primary Responsibilities

  • Support serving RAF, War Pensioners & AFCS veterans with an advisory and advocacy service in the North.
  • Liaise closely, and with support from the WP&AFCS Manager, on general WP&AFCS work and on individual cases allocated.
  • To ensure compliance with the COBSEO Code of Practice (issued at induction) for WP&AFCS services.

Knowledge and Experience

  • Experience of case management in a similar related field
  • Knowledge and understanding of the complexity and breadth ofWPAFCS work or similar, including the War Disability Pensions Scheme, The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and the relevant Chambers and civilian appeals legislation
  • Knowledge of occupational pensions schemes & welfare benefits
  • Knowledge of the RAF or other armed forces and charities and welfare available to those personnel (following induction period)
  • Required to attend all mandatory training identified by Manager or RAF Association
  • Expected to demonstrate a commitment to their own development, to take advantage of education and training opportunities and develop their own competence
  • Required to work within RAF Association policies and procedures

Communication and Relationships

  • Provide an effective, sensitive and confidential support service to those cases allocated for RAFA WP&AFCS service
  • Present effectively, with support and guidance from Manager, at tribunal hearings, representing the best interests of clients
  • Attend and contribute to RAFAssociation training courses and Area and/or Annual Conference as required
  • Required to participate in and contribute as appropriate to team meetings
  • Required to cooperate and liaise with departmental and interdepartmental colleagues

People Management

  • Experience of client management

Decision-making and Problem-solving

  • Research & decide individual solutions, with guidance, for War Pensions & AFCS related issues
  • Use initiative and detailed investigation, with support, for creative approach to problem solving when dealing with specific cases
  • Ability to prioritise own workload and to work to tight and often competing legal deadlines

Information

  • Liaise and submit weekly update/report to the WP&AFCS Manager
  • To ensure all relevant records and files held are kept up to date
  • Required to respect confidentiality applying to all RAF Association areas

Working Conditions

  • Required to work, with prior agreement, very occasionally, at RAF Association events, which my involve a weekend and or evening, for which time off in lieu may be granted
  • Required to work longer working days, on occasions, for which pro-rata hours will be paid
  • Required to work flexibly, occasional evenings, as caseload, tribunals and clients dictate

Physical/Mental Effort

  • Provide reassurance and support to clients who may be distressed, anxious and upset
  • Keeping abreast of regularly changing information, legislation and best practice to inform your own work (and where relevant, that of the Welfare Department)
  • This post requires you to drive using your own car (for which you must obtain appropriate insurance at your own cost) or a hire car for longer journeys

Health and Safety Responsibilities

All employees are responsible for:

  • Taking care of their own safety and that of others
  • Ensuring that products, plant, equipment, vehicles and buildings are not damaged
  • Complying with our health and safety policy, procedures and instructions
  • Reporting to their Line Manager any hazard, accident, damage, concern or defect in order that remedial action may be undertaken
  • Undergoing any training or instruction to enable them to work competently and safely

Other

This job description outlines the main functions and responsibilities of the post. The post holder may be required to undertake additional duties as required commensurate with the level of the job.

Training Requirements

One of the objectives of the RAF Association is to build an organisation based on quality. Accordingly, there will be an ongoing need to review the training requirements of staff to meet the changing demands of the organisation. Training requirements will be discussed at the review meetings.

Review procedures

There will be an annual review of the post and job contents. In addition there will be an interim review 6 months after the annual review.

Key Performance Indicators:

Annual Key Performance Indicators will be defined by the Secretary General and Trustees. These are cascaded to relevant Directors who will inform staff of their own objectives and assess these in an annual appraisal.

War Pensions & Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Officer

Person Specification

Essential / Desirable
Knowledge and Experience / Knowledge of
WP&AFCS legislation or similar
Knowledge of First Tier Tribunal legislation and process or similar
Demonstrable experience of advocating for others in a similar field
Experience of using l.T, specifically Word, Outlook, and Internet
A driving licence and access to own vehicle is required for this post
Demonstrable experience of related casework / Knowledge of the Royal Air Force, its structure and its history
Awareness of social welfare rights Awareness of the work of the RAF Association
Communication and
Relationships / Ability to assimilate detailed information
Accurate record keeping
Maintain communication and relationships / Experience of public speaking & sound presentation skills
People
Management / Experience of managing a small client base
Decision
Making and
Problem
Solving / Able to act on own initiative in accordance with set procedures and guidelines to resolve day to day client issues / Experience in research and investigation skills
Responsibility for Information / Able to accurately interpret & record information (legal directions, meetings with clients, contacts etc.)
Experiencedin understanding policy/regulation and translating to work practice Excellent understanding of confidential
Working
Conditions / To be prepared to work, flexibly, including evenings
Physical/
Mental Effort / Insured for, and able to use own car for business use Able to remain calm under pressure
Able to maintain high levels of concentration

January 20141