SCSO

A vacancy has arisen for a WO (Any Profession) to serve as Station Community Support Officer at RAF Coningsby  on Full Time Reserve Service (Home Commitment) Terms and Conditions of Service (TCoS), with a proposed start date of being not before the 05 August 2025 (or later, subject to candidate status). 

Brief description of role:

As the holder of the position of Warrant Officer People and Families Officer you are responsible to OC BSW for the development and delivery of ‘first-line’ Community Support provision and to provide a link between the station and Service personnel and their families on issues falling outside the normal chain of command mechanism. You are expected to work in close concert with other members of the Station People and Families team including the CDO, SSAFA, SD PS staffs, HIVE Information Officers, Padres and other appropriate staff. You are expected to work flexible working hours to meet the needs of the RAF Coningsby community as directed and to: 

a.    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 wider families.

b.    Act as ‘champion’ for the SFA community, both in their relationship with DIO SD Accn and Amey 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 Amey to the full extent before intervening personally on their behalf.

c.    Use the pivotal role as SCSO to impart specialist knowledge of DIO regulations when cases have SFA implications, with the aim of supporting the welfare cases as appropriate.

d.    Provide guidance and support for SFA occupants who have concerns regarding their Combined Accommodation Assessment System (CAAS) banding, alerting them to the use of the challenge and appeal processes.

e.    Promote, develop, and support delivery of Community, Deployment and Welfare Support given to the Service Community especially when the Service person is deployed.  As a member of the People and Families Working Group identify issues of concern and aim for improvements in support mechanisms for the families of deployed Service personnel. 

f.    Develop effective communication with the Service Community to enable their main issues to be identified.  Support given to include signposting, staffing of housing welfare cases or approaching other agencies including SSAFA, P Staff, DIO or VIVO.

g.    Develop a strong working relationship as SCSO within both People and Families team and SD PS Sqn, being an active member of the Community Support Working Group, implementing systems to improve the morale and lives of the Service Community.

h.    Participate and contribute to Stn Management, meetings and briefings as required; research, prepare and present CS reports as required.

i.       Develop communication with the wider Service Community, those living in SLA, SFA and private accommodation, at all times looking at ways to represent them where required.
    
j.    Develop and deliver the People and Families element of the monthly RAF Coningsby Deployment Briefs that are held in the Lounge.

k.        Actively engage in the delivery of Operational Support Management (OSM) and where issues are identified, use the position of WO Com Spt to highlight the impact on SP and families affected by periods of deployment.

l.    Conduct the People and Families element of Station Arrival Briefings for personnel posted into RAF Coningsby as part of the Station’s Arrival Process.

m.    Take an active role in the development and delivery of the People and Families Roadshows held in individual sections at RAF Coningsby, with the aim of engaging with unit personnel and educating them on the CS role and support available. 

n.    Act and be responsible as Building Custodian for Building 062 ensuring all criteria for SHEF audits are carried out in a timely manner, including official mandatory information, work service requests, fire safety, update of risk assessments and general maintenance of the building. 

o.    Act as the conduit for funding bids for RAF Coningsby, providing advice and guidance to project officers and liaising with Charitable Stakeholders.

p.    Act as the Unit Armed Forces Covenant Champion for RAF Coningsby whilst also linking in with the Lincolnshire Military, Veterans and Families Wellbeing network, attending local meetings as required.

q.     You are to sit as a member of the following committees:

(1)    People and Families Group - As WO Community Support
(2)    Community Support Fund Committee – As the OIC or Treasurer

(3)    Health and Well-Being Committee – As a member.

(4)    SHEF Committee – representing P&FS
(5)    Charities Cttee - As a member
(6)    RAF Central Fund Ambassador 

r.      Perform any other duties, within the context of RAF CS, as agreed by line management and/or as directed by higher authority.

(Aviators) Must either have been, or currently be, a WO (Any) or a FS (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. 

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: Sqn Ldr Paul Harrap, OC SD PS, RAF Coningsby

Tel: via Skype or paul.harrap973@mod.gov.uk

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

Sqn Ldr Paul Harrap, OC SD PS, RAF Coningsby, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN4 4SY email address – paul.harrap973@mod.gov.uk

The closing date for applications is 28 March 2025 and interviews (unless prom board required) will take place week commencing 07 April 2025.

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 4 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 must be attested before their 61st birthday. However, suitably qualified personnel may be considered but a waiver must be sought from SO1 Res Spt prior to interview.

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.

Applicants of an equivalent rank from sister Services may apply but will only be accepted into the Royal Air Force Reserves if an appropriate Professions advisor can be identified to sponsor the applicant.  The relevant Profession’s advisor approval must be agreed before the 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.

Admin Discharge.  Ex-service candidates who have been administratively discharged through the KR1027 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.