Army - Discipline and Service Complaints Advisor

About the job

• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Imphal Barracks, York, YO104HD

We are passionate about Smarter Working and believe that a combination of flexible working practices, digital technology and modern workspaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance, while ensuing you deliver your outcomes effectively and efficiently – we expect you to know where to be to have the most impact, balancing your individual needs with that of your team and the organisation. However, recognising the benefits of face to face working, especially for new joiners, there is an expectation that you would be in the office at least 60% of the time (3 days a week).

About the job

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 12,000 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 the UK’s Light and Airborne Division, the 1st (UK) Division acts on an operational level to provide agile, lethal and versatile response options globally, being ready to fight when necessary. Put succinctly 1 UK Division is: “the UK’s light and airborne warfighting division. We make up the majority of the Army’s high readiness Reaction Forces and will be first to the fight. Our purpose is to fight and win battles on and from the land”. There are 29,000 Regular and Reserve military personnel and 670 Civil Service and permanent contractor personnel in the Division spread over more than 180 UK sites based in the Division’s headquarters, nine subordinate brigade/command headquarters or its 80+ units.

Working within the Division Headquarters (HQ), our civilian staff deliver crucial outputs and play a meaningful part of the team. When you see our service personnel being reported on in the media whilst out on operations around the world, providing support and help to others overseas and at home, or out training so they can be the best at what they do, you will have immense pride knowing you played some part in making it happen.

1 (UK) Div HQ is looking for an outgoing and motivated individual, with strong inter-personal skills and an eye for detail, to be part of an innovative and high-performing team with a focus on providing outstanding customer service.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week

Job description

This role is the focal point within the Division for advice to Service Personnel, line managers and the chain of command on military personnel discipline and Service complaints with specific responsibility for the oversight, monitoring and staffing of cases to the senior leadership.

Key responsibilities:

• Providing technical direction, training and advice to the formation command staff, subordinate headquarters and commanding officers on all discipline matters.
• Representing the General Officer Commanding’s (GOC) intent and the views of formations under command in the development of army discipline policy and ensure timely promulgation of policy direction
• Ensuring the correct compilation of discipline statistics required by Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS)/GOC
• Monitor and supervise the progression of discipline case work, acting to reduce delay and provide timely notification of potentially high-profile cases to Command Staff and Superior Headquarters in accordance with the Divisional Plan
• Preparing Service Law (SL) and Warning and Sanctions (WS) casework for determination by the GOC including Unacceptable Sexual Behaviour (USB) cases where the Chain of Command (CoC) are seeking a sanction less than termination of Service
• Acting as line manager for the Discipline Executive Officer, 1st Reporting Officer (RO) for the Division Discipline Warrant Officer (WO) and 2nd RO for the Administrative Officer - Discipline
• Appointing bespoke Commanding Officers (CO) for disciplinary purposes within the Division
• Exercising GOC’s authorising powers with respect to Army General Administrative Instruction (AGAI) 67 Action, extended powers and authorising casework delays
• Monitor and supervise the progression of USB cases acting to ensure cases are allocated to bespoke CO's in a timely manner and that cases are progressed according to policy and recognised process
• To establish and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders in the Discipline chain of command

Person specification

The ideal candidate will be well organised and will possess strong communication skills in both written and verbal form. They will be able to quickly build good working relationships with a variety of partners, both internal and external to the organisation and be able to provide support to a wide range of people of different backgrounds. They will have good Information Technology skills, including basic Microsoft Office 365, and have excellent time management skills. They will use initiative to prioritise work with minimal direction whilst maintaining an excellent attention to detail. 

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes

£10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

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:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Highly competitive pension scheme
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• 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
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development
• Access to the gym
• Easy access to public transport
• Free car parking
• Pension contribution: 28.97%

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.

A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.

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 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 Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

• CV including your career history
• A personal statement of no more than 500 words demonstrating your relevant skills and experience in line with the essential criteria listed on this advert.
• Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift may be conducted against your CV only. The remaining evidence submitted at the application stage will be assessed only if you are successful at this initial sift.

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following criteria, listed in priority order:

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working together
• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

Further information:

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.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outsi