Job summary
The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army. As such using data to aid understanding of our workforce is vital.
The Army Foundation College (Harrogate) trains all Junior Soldiers under the age of 18 and prepares them for their subsequent Phase 2 Training - an exciting and challenging course programme, which includes military skills, education, adventure training and life skills. We employ a large work force comprising military staff, civil servants, and contractors, all working together to create an exciting and diverse work environment. If you would like to work with mutually supportive colleagues who learn from each other.
We are looking for 3x Intake Support Officers to join us. These exiting roles are pivotal to the welfare activities of the Army Foundation College (Harrogate) and we are looking for enthusiastic, efficient, professionals to join our team. The job will require occasional work outside of hours at activities and events in addition to a requirement to be on call.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
The successful candidates will be required to provide welfare advice, guidance, and support to Junior Soldiers (JS) in training at the Army Foundation College (Harrogate).
Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Intake Pre-arrival & arrival engagement and support, including Looked After Children, Care Leavers, and Cared For Junior Soldiers, linking in with their Local Authorities, Social Workers, Foster parents and guardians.
2. Intake welfare support to Junior Soldiers, provide advice, guidance, sign posting and referrals to Internal Support Services, including Medical, Welfare Support Officer, Padres, etc. where required.
3. Assist with providing welfare support to Junior Soldiers identified as vulnerable, registered on the Junior Soldiers Health Committee spreadsheet, with an entry on the Vulnerability Risk Management Information System, with a Care Action Plan, in place, and with a Wounded, Injured & Sick Management Information System record.
4. Assist with recording, tracking, and maintaining welfare and personal sensitive data of Junior Soldiers on Military Information Systems, Junior Soldier Health Committee spreadsheets.
5. Engagement with the Intake/Company Chain of Command and their Permanent Staff, attending directed meetings and providing advice and guidance on welfare matters, policies, and procedures.
6. Welfare support to Junior Soldiers on long term sick at Home or suspended from Army Foundation College (Harrogate), Conduct Home visits as directed/as required.
7. Assist with Junior Soldier�s Resettlement and discharge transitional support, including external engagement and referrals.
8. Conduct onward referrals to external agencies as per policy.
9. Work occasional after hours/out of hours as directed by the Unit Welfare Officer, for Army Foundation College (Harrogate) activities and events, such as Intake Arrival Days, Open Days etc.
Person specification
Essential criteria:
10. Enhanced D&BS check as part of the on-boarding process.
11. NVQ L3 in Advice and Guidance Support, or equivalent qualification.
12. Advanced Care of Trainees � completion required once taken up appointment.
Desirable:
13. Proficiency in IT tools, including Word, Excel and Outlook.
14. Previous social care/welfare experience
15. NVQ L4 Diploma in Advice and Guidance, or equivalent qualification.
16. Awareness of mental health issues.
Qualifications
NVQ L3 in Advice and Guidance Support, or equivalent qualification.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
17. Changing and Improving
18. Making Effective Decisions
19. Communicating and Influencing
20. Working Together
21. Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
22. Making Effective Decisions
23. Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
Alongside your salary of �28,300, Ministry of Defence contributes �8,198 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance. Other benefits for Army civil servants include:�
24. 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years� service.
25. Highly competitive pension scheme
26. Personal and professional development of skills
27. Alternative working patterns for many roles
28. Access to the Employee Assistance Programme, a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
29. Enhanced parental and adoption leave
30. 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities.
31. Learning and Development to suit your role
32. Access to a range of retail and recreational facilities including our gym
33. Free on site parking.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity.� Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). DBS cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
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.
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 .
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.
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