Candidate Brief for the position of
Welfare Officer
Defence Medical Welfare Service
Contents
Background
Page 2
The Role
Page 3
The Candidate
Page 4
Terms and Conditions
Page 5
Application and Selection Process
Page 5
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Background
Introduction
The Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) is the only organisation to offer a 24 hour welfare
service to those members of the British Armed Forces who are receiving hospital, rehabilitation or
recovery care, their dependant relatives and entitled civilians acting in support of the Armed
Forces. This crucial provision of practical and emotional support by DMWS Welfare Officers as
part of the healthcare provision structure offers a critical interface between patients, Military
personnel and all other civilian and Service agencies at times when support is needed the most.
The support provided by DMWS staff is wide ranging and flexible and can include functions as
diverse as:
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Practical and emotional hospital in-patient and relative support.
To provide a 24 hour response to crisis with patients/relatives.
Liaison and interface with Service Units, Stations and Ships.
Liaison with Welfare Officers, Medical Officers, Commanders and other stakeholders.
Interface with all other support agencies, both Military and civilian.
Mission
To provide a leading, independent, comprehensive, high-quality and cost-effective medical welfare
service, in static locations and on deployed operations for those in hospital who are:
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Members of the Armed Forces of the Crown
Dependant relatives, and
Certain civilians acting in support of the Armed Forces.
Purpose
The Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) delivers an independent and impartial 24 hour
specialist welfare service to those members of the British Armed Forces who are receiving
hospital care, their dependent relatives and entitled civilians in order to contribute to the
coherence of the recovery and rehabilitation pathway for service personnel. The crucial
practical and emotional support is provided at times when it is most needed and is bound by a
code of confidentiality.
History
DMWS is a charitable company limited by guarantee, and was formed in its present configuration
in 2001. However DMWS personnel have worked alongside the Royal Navy, the Army and the
Royal Air Force for decades and the origins of its services date back over 60 years to its
foundation during the Second World War, under its previous title of the Service Hospitals Welfare
Department (SHWD). It was then under the direct operational control of the Joint Committee of
The Order of St. John of Jerusalem and the British Red Cross and the service has retained the
humanitarian ethos and work ethic of both of the charities, adapting its role to the changing
requirements of the Ministry of Defence.
However with the closure of military hospitals service personnel in the UK are now treated in
designated NHS hospitals within MDHUs. These changes led to the formation of the Defence
Medical Welfare Service in 2001 which was awarded the contract to provide hospital welfare
services by the Ministry of Defence. DMWS has continued to provide the service by winning
successive contracts for provision of Hospital Welfare Services through a competitive tendering
process.
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This contract provides the majority of its funding, and the current turnover is in the order of £2.4
million. DMWS has successfully been re-awarded the contract for a three year period beginning
October 2010.
Operational Structure
Unlike other civilian agencies contracted to the MOD today, Welfare Officers are defined by the
Military as 'uniformed attached' when on operations, working and living alongside them but
separate from the military hierarchy. DMWS follows the military pattern of working, with postings in
the UK, overseas, and on operational tours. If deployed to areas of conflict, they come under
military command although DMWS retains employer responsibility. DMWS has a small HQ staff
based in Andover, Hampshire. The Chief Executive is accountable to the Chairman and Board of
Trustees, some of whom are drawn from the Order of St John and British Red Cross.
Operational service delivery is through a fixed establishment of a Director of Operations UK and
Director of Operations Overseas and a flexible peacetime establishment of Senior Welfare
Officers, Lead Welfare Officers and Welfare Officers, including permanent and temporary staff.
They are primarily employed in eight Departments in the UK, including Northern Ireland, five
Designated German Provider Hospitals (DGP’s) managed by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS
Foundation Trust in Germany, and one Department in Cyprus; Staff have deploy on operations to
any theatre of operations and are currently deployed in Afghanistan.
The Role
Welfare Officers are now being recruited by the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) to join
existing staff in providing 24-hour welfare support to military personnel, their families and entitled
civilians in hospitals in UK, Northern Ireland, Germany and Cyprus. The work includes regular out
of hours attendance and weekend work on a rota basis.
Applicants must also be prepared to move to different locations within the organization including
areas of conflict, either scheduled or at short notice. Central tenets to employment with DMWS are
that all our Welfare Officers must be mobile (available to be posted to any of our locations) and
deployable (which will include postings to areas of conflict, such as Afghanistan).
Applicants should be fit, responsible and flexible with a mature attitude. Successful candidates will
have excellent communication skills, interpersonal skills, written skills and a strong commitment to
welfare provision. A full driving license essential. Proven welfare experience in a voluntary or
professional capacity or a recognized national and accredited health, welfare or social care
qualification is desirable and an understanding of military life would be beneficial.
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To be responsible to the Senior Welfare Officer (SWO) for the day to day provision
of high quality, responsive 24hr welfare service to DMWS patients.
The post holder will be required to visit service patients, their families and entitled
civilians in hospital in order to assess their welfare needs.
To receive referrals for welfare support, assessing patients’ needs on an individual
basis, documenting this appropriately.
To maintain personal fitness to deploy.
To provide a rapid, personal response in support of crisis situations occurring both
inside and outside normal working hours.
To provide practical and emotional support to relatives of seriously ill patients and to
those who are bereaved.
To produce written and verbal reports.
To provide ‘listening ear’ service to military colleagues.
To provide, on a rota basis, emergency cover during silent hours and weekends.
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Welfare Officers are to liaise with stakeholders and provide briefings and advice
required to deploy with Field Hospitals to areas of conflict, such as, Afghanistan and
are liable to be mobile to meet operational needs.
To manage the allocation of accommodation facilities for visiting relatives of very ill
service patients, their dependants and entitled civilians, ensuring that these are
provided on a priority basis and appropriately maintained.
To ensure, where such accommodation either does not exist or is full, that visiting
relatives of very ill service patients, their dependants and entitled civilians are
helped to find suitable accommodation.
The Candidate
The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills and be a compassionate person who
cares about people. The candidate must be flexible and be available to be posted to any of our
locations worldwide. We require a doer, a person who can get on with the role with minimum
supervision and can stand in for their senior welfare officer on occasion. A proactive response to
the DMWS situation is required as well as first class communication skills, both written and oral are
essential.
A successful candidate will be able to demonstrate most of the following knowledge and skills in
very good measure:
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Excellent communications skills and ability to quickly establish rapport with people
Intellect and Common Sense.
Evidence of a successful track record of achieving results and/or experience of
working in a health care or welfare environment.
Counselling skills.
Presentation skills.
Proven IT skills including Microsoft Office suite.
Knowledge of key current issues within the MOD.
Appropriate written communication skills.
Ability to work well with patients, their families, colleagues and other agencies
Empathetic approach to people
Self-motivated.
Team player.
Terms and Conditions
The Post holder will be based in any of the DMWS locations.
The remuneration package:
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Salary for this post is NJC Spine point 22 (£19,621) other allowances dependent on
location. Annual incremental rise through NJC Spine points 22 to 30 (£19,621 to
£25,472 as at April 2009).
Following a period of probation the post holder will be eligible to receive a DMWS
contribution to a pension scheme of their choice to a matched sum of up to a
maximum of 6% of basic salary.
On call payments at £26.50 per day when on call out duty.
Company Life Assurance (In Service Death Benefit) of 3 times basic salary.
When posted to Germany a Cost of Living Allowance is paid.
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When deployed to the operational theatre an allowance £4250.01 is payable for a
typical 3 month tour.
Application and Selection Process
The successful candidate will be subject to security vetting and enhanced CRB clearance prior to
commencing position. The start date will be dependent on these clearances. A full driving licence
is essential.
Applications should be downloaded from the DMWS website (www.dmws.org.uk).
Candidates wishing to apply should submit the following information by email to
admin@dmws.org.uk or hard copy to the Office Manager at The St John & Red Cross Defence
Medical Welfare Service, The Old Stables, Redenham Park, Redenham, Nr Andover, Hampshire,
SP11 9AQ. All applications received will be acknowledged. Tel: 01264 774000:
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A detailed CV to include names and contact details of two referees.
The completed application form.
A covering or supporting letter which addresses the criteria set out in the candidate
brief.
Applications must be submitted by 28th February 2013.
Interviews will be conducted in Andover on Monday 18th March 2013
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