About the job
Job summary
The Army is seeking to appoint a highly motivated Civil Servant to fill an exciting opportunity as a Conduct Caseworker working within Conduct Branch, Army Personnel Services Group (APSG) in Andover.
Forming part of the Conduct Branch, a small and inclusive team of military and civilian Subject Matter Experts, they deliver policy advice and guidance from Unit to 3* level. The role is critical (supporting statutory outputs), fascinating, reactive, and at times demanding but equally offers a high level of job satisfaction.
The successful individual will be exposed to challenging and sensitive subjects and will need to be resilient and have robust coping strategies to switch off outside of work.
You will be routinely engage with a variety of stakeholders across the Army and wider Ministry of Defence.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to develop their personal knowledge, experience and skills in a high-profile Branch dealing with sensitive information. The team by nature are hardworking, collaborative and inclusive. As a wider Personal Services branch, there are ample team building, sports and development opportunities to also take advantage of if you choose.
The Branch is located in Army HQ, Andover with ability for some flexible working. On rare occasions (i.e. course delivery) you may be required to travel elsewhere for a day.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
As a Conduct Caseworker, your main responsibilities will include:
* Providing advice to Divisions, Brigades and Units on discipline and administrative action in accordance with policy.
* Identifying, monitoring, and reviewing all high-profile discipline related incidents whilst ensuring relevant stakeholders are informed of Conduct Branchs interest in the case. This may require briefing notes to be drafted.
* Maintaining and scrutinising the relevant discipline systems ensuring regular updates are conducted, information is reviewed and trends are identified.
* Supporting Head Army Personnel Services Group (Hd APSG) in discharging their responsibilities for Administrative processes related to discipline and conduct including Compulsory Drug Testingand Annex P (exceptional circumstances) discharges.
* Co-ordinating and assisting with delivering training packages to discipline practitioners on appropriate courses. Ensure all Conduct training packages are updated, accurate and fit for purpose for all course deliveries.
* Managing and controlling the Conduct Mailbox, actioning requests and briefing on cases as necessary.
* Supporting the Army Board process with administrative duties.
* Contributing to the production and dissemination of Conduct Branch reports and returns.
* Scrutinizing the Army Personnel Database (JPA) for information, close tasks and leave feedback/chase up with units.
* Deputising for Senior Executive Officer Conduct meetings if required.
* Assist with continuous improvement initiatives within Conduct branch to include the tracking of casework.
* Supporting the Conduct team in any other administrative duties and Op TEAMWORK/Development opportunities.
* Assisting in providing input into media requests, Parliamentary Questions, Freedom if Information requests and Ministerial Correspondence.
* Any other activities as directed by Senior Executive Officer Conduct.
Person specification
We are looking for the following in the successful candidate:
* Absolute discretion, as you will routinely handle confidential personal information of a highly sensitive nature as in accordance with UK GDPR regulations.
* Calm under pressure as we often deal with reactive situations.
* Attention to detail and the requirement for accuracy in your work, as mistakes can have a disproportionate effect elsewhere.
* Ability to engage with people of all levels.
Desirable experience and skills:
The successful candidate will need to:
* Be an effective, patient and empathetic work colleague
* Have an eye for detail and adopt a customer focused approach.
* Good interpersonal skills, quickly developing sound working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders from unit level to policy owners in Army HQ and the MOD and with other services.
* Ability to look for continuous improvement opportunities in Conduct processes. Adopt an innovative and flexible approach to identifying risks, issues and mitigation options.
* Effective and proven organisation/management skills.
Essential
* Correctly handle confidential and sensitive information.
* Good communication skills (both written and verbal).
* Calm under pressure and a flexible approach.
* Good analytical skills, with the confidence to challenge, engage and hold stakeholders to account.
* Manage competing priorities in a busy high tempo work environment.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Making Effective Decisions
* Working Together
* Communicating and Influencing
* Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
* Working Together
* Communicating and Influencing
* Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Alongside your salary of 35,290, Ministry of Defence contributes 10,223 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
As a civil servant working alongside the Army, you will be part of a forward-looking organisation with inclusive workplace policies, excellent career prospects and a job that makes a difference.
The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.
Benefits for Army Civil Servants include:
* Learning and development tailored to your role including the opportunity to further develop Climate Change and Sustainability experience within a project and programme delivery environment.
* A dynamic and innovative working environment that offers flexible working options.
* A working culture that encourages inclusion and diversity.
* Opportunities for personal and professional development.
* Highly Competitive Pension Scheme.
* Flexi-time scheme.
* Alternative working practices.
* 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years service.
* Ability to roll over up to 10 days leave per year.
* Highly competitive pension scheme.
* Personal and professional development of skills.
* Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
* An excellent range of family-friendly benefits, for example, enhanced parental, and adoption leave.
* 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities.
* Local site benefits such as free parking, on-site gym facilities, shop, caf and the opportunity to join and use one of the on-site messes.
Discover my benefits- outlines the range of benefits available to MOD Civil Servants.
Please be advised;
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Flexible working is encouraged with support available for a range of personal circumstances allowing a positive work/life balance.
These job roles will likely be suitable for hybrid working (60% office attendance), which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (your permanent duty station which is based on business assessment of where the work is best done) and working from home as a personal choice (if the role is suitable for this). If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
Successful candidates can discuss their development options with their manager when in post.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
* have served for at least one year in His Majestys Armed Forces (as a Regular or Reserve); this includes time spent training
* be in transition from, or ceased to be a member of, HM Armed Forces not already be a civil servant, or be employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body
* There is no maximum time limit from when you left HM Armed Forces to be eligible for this initiative.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
At application you will be asked to provide a personal statement of no more than 500 words. This should be aligned to show you have the relevant skills and experience as set out in the essential criteria.
Essential:
* Correctly handle confidential and sensitive information.
* Good communication skills (both written and verbal).
* Calm under pressure and a flexible approach.
* Good analytical skills, with the confidence to challenge, engage and hold stakeholders to account.
* Manage competing priorities in a busy high tempo work environment.
When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
You will also be assessed against the following behaviours during the sift stage -
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
* Delivering at Pace
At interview you will be assessed against the following behaviours -
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
* Delivering at Pace
* Making Effective Decisions
Sifting will take place within 7 days of the closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed. We endeavour to stick to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
* UK nationals
* nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
* Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
* Name : Lt Col Verity Crompton or Conduct Team
* Email : verity.crompton578@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
* Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk
Further information
Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address:, Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email:
info@csc.gov.uk.