At a Glance
- Tasks: Support RAF personnel and families with various welfare challenges daily.
- Company: Join SSAFA, a leading charity supporting the Armed Forces community for over 36 years.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while working in a diverse and supportive team.
- Qualifications: Experience in supporting individuals and excellent communication skills are essential.
- Other info: Some travel required; must have a driving licence and access to a car.
The predicted salary is between 22400 - 33600 £ per year.
Up to £28,080 (GBP) Closing: 11:59pm, 16 Feb 2025 GMT
About the role
Our Welfare Officers provide direct and impactful welfare support to RAF personnel and their immediate family. As a trusted and confidential source of support, you will assist our service users with challenges they are facing, from mental ill-health, difficult relationships, domestic abuse, financial and cost-of-living concerns, resettlement, housing, childcare, equality issues, bereavement, military discharge or deployment and many more – no day will be the same, as such this is a great opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills within the Welfare sector. Our intervention is provided with consent on a non-statutory basis, and you will work with and engage our service users to develop appropriate interventions for individual outcomes. Our service is transitioning to become more accessible and inclusive, digital technology plays a key role in this, as such you will use digital technologies to complement and enhance processes and service user experience. You will play an active role within the community, promoting the service through the delivery of presentations and representing the service at public engagement events. You will also work closely with RAF welfare teams, local authorities, health, education, civilian agencies, charities and other military organisations to ensure the best outcome for the service user.
About the Team
2025 marks 36 years since SSAFA began delivering an independent non-statutory, and confidential service, for the Royal Air Force community across the UK, and this is an exciting time to be joining as we were recently successful in our bid to continue delivering this service. We are transforming our ways of working to be innovative, to ensure our service is even more inclusive and accessible to meet the needs of a modern RAF. We are a hard-working team from diverse professional backgrounds. Although we all have our own area of responsibility, we support each other in delivering the best possible service to our military community.
About you
To thrive in this role you will have relevant experience of supporting adults, families and children/young people. You will be able to take a flexible and creative approach to problem solving. You will have excellent communication skills and be able to deliver presentations with confidence. You will have used Microsoft Office 365 to a high standard. It is important that you have experience of planning and managing your own workload, with minimal supervision. It would be advantageous if you have experience of carrying out assessments, preparing plans, monitoring and reviewing outcomes. There will be some travel required and therefore you will need to be able to drive and have access to your own car.
About SSAFA
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for serving personnel, veterans and their families in their time of need. In 2023 our trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 53,000 people, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families. SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person and their family, any time they need us and in any way, they need us.
Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA
SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business. SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.
If you have any queries or would like to speak to someone about this role, please contact Samantha Bateman, Social Work Team Lead, samantha.bateman@ssafa-fhs.org.uk for an informal discussion. No agencies please. Any unsolicited submissions from agencies will be accepted as a direct application from the candidate and no fees will be payable.
How to apply – click here. If you need any adjustments to support you with the application process, please contact recruitment@ssafa.org.uk Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 16 February 2025. SSAFA reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Interviews: Virtual interviews: Week commencing 24 February 2025 Face to Face interviews: Week commencing 03 March 2025.
SSAFA – Welfare Officer (RAF Brize Norton) employer: Confederation of Service Charities
Contact Detail:
Confederation of Service Charities Recruiting Team
samantha.bateman@ssafa-fhs.org.uk
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land SSAFA – Welfare Officer (RAF Brize Norton)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges faced by RAF personnel and their families. Understanding issues like mental health, domestic abuse, and financial concerns will help you connect better with potential service users and demonstrate your commitment to their welfare.
✨Tip Number 2
Engage with local military communities and organisations. Attend events or workshops related to welfare support for armed forces members. This will not only expand your network but also give you insights into the needs of the community you’ll be serving.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your presentation skills by volunteering to speak at community events or workshops. This experience will enhance your confidence and ability to communicate effectively, which is crucial for the Welfare Officer role.
✨Tip Number 4
Brush up on your Microsoft Office 365 skills, especially in creating reports and presentations. Being proficient in these tools will not only help you in your day-to-day tasks but also impress during the interview process.
We think you need these skills to ace SSAFA – Welfare Officer (RAF Brize Norton)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities of a Welfare Officer at SSAFA. Highlight your relevant experience in supporting individuals and families, especially in challenging situations.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to reflect the skills and experiences that align with the job description. Emphasise your communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and any experience with Microsoft Office 365.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for supporting the armed forces community. Use specific examples from your past experiences to demonstrate how you can contribute to SSAFA's mission.
Prepare for Interviews: If selected for an interview, prepare by thinking about how you would handle various scenarios related to welfare support. Be ready to discuss your approach to problem-solving and your experience working with diverse groups.
How to prepare for a job interview at Confederation of Service Charities
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Welfare Officer. Familiarise yourself with the types of challenges RAF personnel and their families face, as well as the support services available. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and passion for the role during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a Welfare Officer, excellent communication is key. Prepare to discuss your experience in delivering presentations and how you've effectively communicated with diverse groups. Consider sharing specific examples that highlight your ability to engage and support individuals in need.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities
Be ready to discuss how you've approached problem-solving in previous roles. Think of examples where you've had to be flexible and creative in finding solutions for clients or service users. This will show your potential employer that you can adapt to the varied challenges this role presents.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Digital Tools
Since the role involves using digital technology to enhance service delivery, brush up on your skills with Microsoft Office 365 and any other relevant digital tools. Be prepared to discuss how you've used technology in past roles to improve processes or user experiences.