SCSO

A vacancy has arisen for a Flight Sergeant (Any Profession) to serve as Service Community Support Officer at RAF Leeming on Full Time Reserve Service (Home Commitment) Terms and Conditions of Service (TCoS), with an initial proposed start date of being not before 12 August 2024.

 As the Service Community Support Officer (SCSO) you are responsible for assisting with the ‘first-line’ support to Service personnel and their families. You are to work in close concert with other members of the Community Support team and local welfare agencies, including OC SPT, CDO, SSAFA, Padres, Medical staff and Local Authority representatives where appropriate. You are the key liaison between RAF Leeming and Housing agencies including Pinnacle, Amey and DIO.

 Your principal responsibilities are:

• Act as a 2-way channel of communication and develop mechanisms for listening to, and representing, the views, feelings and needs of Service personnel and their families.
• Where individual welfare needs are identified, signpost the individual to the most appropriate welfare agency.
• Act as ‘champion’ for the SFA community, both in their relationship with DIO Ops Housing and in representing their interests to the chain of command. In doing the former, you should ensure that individual occupants use the existing interfaces with DIO, Pinnacle and Amey to the full extent before intervening personally on their behalf.
• Work closely with the SWO to ensure that the interests of the single living-in community, particularly those in JRSLA, are represented to Stn management. In this, you should liaise with OICs/SNCO ICs Barrack Blocks.
• Assist the CDO in pursuing enhancements to the community support arrangements for the Stn, particularly in securing assistance from within the Service community.
• Holding the EPC and managing spending for the Families Element of the Op Welfare Package. Assisting the CST with arrangements for Deployed Families activities which at present include one evening and one weekend day a month.
• Meet with new SP and families at monthly coffee morning and arrivals briefs.
• Liaison with local community policing agencies as appropriate.

You are responsible for the following activities within the Community Support Team

• Act as Building Custodian for the Community Centre and Youth Club
• Building Security
• Maintenance of the buildings
• Inventory Holder for the buildings.
• Completion of the CST F540 monthly returns.

Health and Safety at Work. You have responsibility under the 1974 Health & Safety at Work Act, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 and other associated regulations:

• To comply with all instructions and procedures installed to ensure safety at work, taking proper care of any equipment provided for your health, safety and welfare at work.
• To report all accidents, injuries and near-miss dangerous occurrences promptly to line management.
• H&S, ensure all staff receive appropriate induction and training as required.
• H&S, 6 monthly leaflet 20 returns to the Station Health and Safety Advisor.

Diversity and Inclusivity. You are to:

• Model the behaviour you would wish to see reflected in your area of responsibility in accordance with the terms of the RAF Equality and Diversity Directive.
• Foster a working environment free from harassment, intimidation, and unlawful discrimination, in which all personnel have equal opportunity to realise their full potential and all staff are valued for their unique contribution to the Royal Air Force, irrespective of race, ethnic origin, religion, gender or social background.
• Wherever possible, take account of the religious and cultural needs of individuals, where this is compatible with operational requirements.
• Ensure that racist or sexist language and inappropriate nicknames are not used.
• Ensure that any complaints are dealt with sensitively and appropriately.

 You should complete the following training courses as required:

• RAF Community Support Course.
• Equality and Diversity Advisors Course.
• Offsite and Hazardous Activities training.

Staff Appraisal Responsibilities.

• Nil

• Must either have been, or currently be, a Flight Sergeant (Any) or a Chf Tech/Sergeant (Any) eligible for promotion in accordance with AP 3392 Vol 2 Leaflet 560 and AP 3376 Vol 1. All Promotions will be ratified by means of a Promotion Board. If an applicant has been out of full-time military service and is applying for a post on promotion, they will also need to send their civilian appraisals or equivalent to evidence recent skills, knowledge and experience to be considered by the Promotion Board.
• The successful applicant will be required to undertake England and Wales Enhanced with Barred List - Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance. Please note that no formal offer of commitment will be made until the successful candidate has achieved this.
• Experience of engagement with internal and outside agencies.
• Evidence of Project Management experience.

• Experience of engaging with wider community events for Service Personal and their families.

A Selection Board will carry out a rigorous selection process for this post, based principally on an applicant’s last 3 appraisal reports as required.  Enquiries concerning this vacancy should be made to:

Name: Rebecca Taylor Community Development Officer

Tel: Skype : 03001645542

Applications.  Candidate applications, with a maximum 2-page CV (to include copies of last 3 appraisal reports as required) should be sent to:

Rebecca Taylor via email: Rebecca.Taylor400@mod.gov.uk

The closing date for applications is 08 March 2024 and interviews (unless prom board required) will take place shortly afterwards.

Unless already enlisted in the Reserve Air Forces the successful applicant will be required to be enlisted in the Royal Air Force Reserves with a liability for call-out for permanent service.

The appointment is on Full Time Reserve Service (Home Commitment) TCoS in accordance with AP 3392 Vol 7 Part 1 and AP3392 Vol 7 Part 3 Chapter 2 for an initial period of 5 years.

Confirmation of appointment will depend on successful completion of a RAF Medical Board.  Personnel who do not meet the Age/Permanent Joint Medical Employment Standard (PJMES) may apply for the appointment but will only be considered subject to an executive waiver process on a case-by-case basis.

Candidates who have been out of regular or reserve service for more than 5 years may be considered for this appointment.  Prior approval must be sought from the relevant Professions Advisor to confirm current and past experience prior to being invited to interview.

Regular Service Applicants.  Personnel currently serving in the Regular Royal Air Force should be mindful of the current Early Termination Minimum Waiting Time (MWT) for their respective Rank, Profession and ensure this MWT is compatible with the post sponsor’s proposed start date, prior to applying.

Ex-service candidates who have been administratively discharged through the QR1027 process will have their applications rejected as they are not eligible to join the RAF Reserves in accordance with AP 3391.

Pension Issues.  Personnel who qualify for a service pension should take financial advice from Defence Business Services (DBS) Pensions Department on the effect that undertaking reserve service has on their pension (details can be found on the JPA splash screen). Additional guidance can also be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pensions-and-compensation-for-veterans and MMP116 - Re-employment. Of particular note is reference to the ‘Effect of Re-employment’ on Commutation and, for those leaving on a ‘preserved’ pension, the Resettlement Grant.

Transition between TCoS.  Personnel taking this appointment from other TCoS should consider the impact on any accrued entitlements, such as leave, resettlement etc and should seek specialist guidance where required as certain entitlements are TCoS specific and may not be retained or transferred on transition between TCoS. 

Flexible Working Arrangements. In accordance with the Flexible Working (FW) Policy, Reserve personnel can request FW arrangements with their line manager.  Any immediate FW requirements should be agreed with the line management at the interview stage.

Individual Reinforcement Training (IRT) (Module 1) and RAF Fitness Test (RAFFT).  Reserve personnel are required to maintain currency in IRT and the RAFFT iaw the relevant TCoS.  The successful applicant will be expected to undertake IRT and the RAFFT within 6 months of commencing employment (if required).

Annual Salary and Leave.  Pay will be in accordance with the pay scales published for the reserve air forces.  Leave entitlement is detailed in JSP 760.

Accommodation. Personnel serving on FTRS(LC/HC)/ADC TCoS are eligible to occupy Single Living Accommodation (SLA) if available, at entitled rates, if serving within the Air Command TLB.