At a Glance
- Tasks: Support RAF personnel and families with various welfare challenges, using digital tools for enhanced service.
- Company: Join SSAFA, a leading charity dedicated to supporting the Armed Forces community in their time of need.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, flexible hours, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Travel is necessary; a driving license and access to a car are essential.
- Why this job: Be part of a diverse team making impactful changes in the lives of military families.
- Qualifications: Experience in welfare support, excellent communication skills, and proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 required.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 42000 £ per year.
Job Description
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.
This particular Welfare Officer post will deliver services to our service users on site at RAF Northolt and digitally/ virtually to RAF Stations across the UK, therefore this will be a hybrid role with some work onsite and some home working, according to service needs.
About the Team
2025 marks 35 years since SSAFA began delivering an independent non-statutory, and confidential service, for the Royal Air Force community across the UK.
We have transformed 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.
Find out more about the Personal Support & Social Work Service on our website.
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.
Closing date: Midnight on 03 August 2025. SSAFA reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Welfare Officers in Ruislip employer: SSAFA
SSAFA is an exceptional employer, offering Welfare Officers the chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of RAF personnel and their families. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, a supportive work culture, and opportunities for professional growth, employees can thrive in a hybrid role that combines on-site engagement at RAF Northolt with flexible home working. Join a dedicated team that values innovation and collaboration, ensuring that every day brings new challenges and rewards in serving the military community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Welfare Officers in Ruislip
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at SSAFA.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from SSAFA!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like SSAFA, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at SSAFA or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Welfare Officers in Ruislip
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to SSAFA:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to SSAFA! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at SSAFA
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
