Job Description

We are looking for talented people like you!

We are seeking a Welfare Officer to work at the Veterans Outreach Support (VOS) charity.  This is a regional charity which includes a mental health component, including assessment, diagnostic and medication reviews, therapy, and substance misuse recovery work to veterans aged 18 and over, their partners and dependants, where appropriate in the Portsmouth, Hampshire and Isle of Wight region.

VOS has been operating in Portsmouth since 2008, to provide Welfare, Wellbeing and Clinical support to veterans of all the UK Armed Forces, the Merchant Marine, and their families.  It provides monthly Drop-Ins in Portsmouth and Isle of Wight that offer a wide range of support from housing, employment, financial, legal, and a variety of social interventions alongside clinical mental health triage, which you would be part of.  In 2017 the charity was awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service and is a member of COBSEO (Confederation of Service Charities). It has an active role within the Portsmouth Military Mental Health Alliance and is currently working towards accreditation with the Quality Network for Veterans Mental Health Services (QNVMHS), overseen by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

We have dedicated offices at the Royal Maritime Hotel & Club – one of the oldest hotels in Portsmouth, first established in Queen Street in 1853.  At the hotel we have therapy rooms and space for clinics to be held, there is also onsite parking and a multistorey car park opposite.  We also host clinics on the Isle of Wight.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The role of the VOS Welfare Officer is to provide information and advice to service users including benefits checks, advocacy and liaison with external bodies using person-centred support to ensure, but not limited to appropriate outcomes and suitable onward referrals.

The Welfare Officer will receive induction training to include use of the clinical and records management system.

SPECIFICS OF ROLE VACANCY

• Reports to the Operations Manager
• Ensures the confidential handling of all information concerning beneficiaries in accordance with the VOS confidentiality and data protection policies
• Responsible for welfare support, signposting and advice to service users as directed by the Operations Manager
• Responsible for keeping welfare related data input into clinical and record administrative systems up to date
• Ensures accurate and timely data input , adhering to monthly deadlines
• Provides support to the Operations Manager in the collection of case studies, welfare feedback and data as required
• Attends monthly Drop In event held at the Royal Maritime Club and regularly supports the monthly Drop In event held on the Isle of Wight
• Such other relevant duties as may be assigned from time to time.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS

Essential:

• Flexible and responsive with ability to work on own initiative and with minimal supervision to meet targets and deadlines within agreed timescales.
• Strong team player, capable of working as part of a dynamic, high-tempo team, including with volunteers and other supporters.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong relationships at all levels.
• Able to identify and assist in combating veteran loneliness and isolation
• Excellent communications and listening skills.
• Experience of veterans’ issues and strong advocate for their support.
• Strong commitment to equality and diversity.
• Competent in use of cloud-based IT systems and MS Office software.
• Ability to travel independently, across the IOW and other VOS locations.
• Knowledge of DWP, Military, veteran and external organisations and ability to identify impartial, knowledge based resolutions to queries.

Desirable:

• Experience of working for a charity or not for profit organisation
• Familiar with the use of CRM systems
• Access to own transport

Application Instructions

Please provide a covering letter and CV to demonstrate your suitability for this contract. 

Disclosure

All roles will be subject to a successful disclosure at an appropriate level from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). VOS will cover the cost of a DBS check.  We will also require two references once through the application process.

Application Instructions

Please provide a covering letter and CV to demonstrate your suitability for this contract. Disclosure All roles will be subject to a successful disclosure at an appropriate level from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). VOS will cover the cost of a DBS check. We will also require two references once through the application process.