Episkopi HQ, British Forces Cyprus.
Job Summary
Do you want to make a difference to the lives of service children? Are you passionate about promoting Positive School Attendance and ensuring no child is disadvantaged within education? Do you have experience of Education welfare? If so, this may be the job for you!
Defence Children Services are looking for an experienced Educational Welfare Officer to join our Welfare and Social Work Team based in Episkopi HQ, British Forces Cyprus. The Welfare and Social Work Team (DCS-SSS-WSW) provide Education Welfare Officers for all DCS schools and are instrumental in the review process for Electively Home Educated children across the world. This team also co-ordinate the social work contract for the Rest of the World and the Early Help Offer for defence overseas.
This position is advertised as full time at 37 hours per week
Defence Children Services (DCS) is a Defence delivery organisation, subordinated under Army Regional Command. Our Vision is that we Educate the Child – Support the Family – Defend the Nation. HQ DCS is UK based at Trenchard Lines, Upavon and has forward deployed staff all over the world. DCS is responsible for the education and care of children of accompanied Service and Defence entitled personnel in MOD schools and settings; provides advice and guidance in respect of education for service families in the United Kingdom and the wider world.
The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army. As such using data to aid understanding of our workforce is vital.
Specially recruited for overseas service appointees are not expected to return to the UK.
This is an established MOD post within Cyprus and any Cypriot National will not be eligible to apply as a UKBC (UK British Civil Servant).
Job Description
The Education Welfare Officer (Cyprus) works with the SO1 Welfare and Social Work Team Leader. The role acts as an authorised officer to fulfil DCS’s statutory duties, responsibilities and powers for school attendance. The role provides general advice to schools, parents, Command and stakeholders regarding issues which impact of children and young people’s ability and opportunities to access education. This role supports arrangements and leads on behalf of DCS for children experiencing attendance issues in line with DCS and MOD policy. The role provides support and challenge to school leaders in the development and delivery of procedures for monitoring attendance and mitigating barriers to attendance. The role contributes to multi-agency working, intervention plans to support the welfare of service children and families. The role works in partnership with service welfare teams and in partnership with the appointed Education representative, the evaluation of Elective Home Education. The EWO (Cyprus) role also holds responsibility for locating all service children and managing MOD responsibilities for ‘Children Missing from Education’(CME).
The post holder’s key responsibilities and main duties are:
- To oversee the data management and DCS response for the identification and education of children in overseas locations (and manage DCS response to ‘Children Missing from Education’.
- To deliver educational welfare service overseas - where DCS has identified responsibility.
- To develop and support DCS school and setting attendance strategies (including early intervention approaches)
- To develop and coordinate systems and processes for overseas education welfare and school attendance
- To support the provision of guidance and support to schools and settings
- To support the provision of direct support to families and young people to mitigate risk to school attendance and educational opportunities.
To monitor and report on attendance data, trends and patterns
- To represent DCS at strategic meetings regarding attendance and welfare with partner agencies within and beyond the MOD.
- To ensure DCS processes and directives are consistent with policy and legislation
- To provide education welfare reviews to children who are being electively home educated (EHE) overseas
- To work with DCS Overseas Education Supportability Team when a child or young person has been identified as part of the Assessment of Support Needs as having an Attendance related concern whilst currently in the UK.
- To provide Subject Matter Expertise advice on Attendance in Education to DCS HQ teams, DCS schools and settings, Host Nation Schools and commands overseas.
Further details can be found on the attached job description.
If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com.
The Education Welfare Officer (Cyprus) works with the SO1 Welfare and Social Work Team Leader. The role acts as an authorised officer to fulfil DCS’s statutory duties, responsibilities and powers for school attendance. The role provides general advice to schools, parents, Command and stakeholders regarding issues which impact of children and young people’s ability and opportunities to access education. This role supports arrangements and leads on behalf of DCS for children experiencing attendance issues in line with DCS and MOD policy. The role provides support and challenge to school leaders in the development and delivery of procedures for monitoring attendance and mitigating barriers to attendance. The role contributes to multi-agency working, intervention plans to support the welfare of service children and families. The role works in partnership with service welfare teams and in partnership with the appointed Education representative, the evaluation of Elective Home Education. The EWO (Cyprus) role also holds responsibility for locating all service children and managing MOD responsibilities for ‘Children Missing from Education’(CME).
The post holder’s key responsibilities and main duties are:
- To oversee the data management and DCS response for the identification and education of children in overseas locations (and manage DCS response to ‘Children Missing from Education’.
- To deliver educational welfare service overseas - where DCS has identified responsibility.
- To develop and support DCS school and setting attendance strategies (including early intervention approaches)
- To develop and coordinate systems and processes for overseas education welfare and school attendance
- To support the provision of guidance and support to schools and settings
- To support the provision of direct support to families and young people to mitigate risk to school attendance and educational opportunities.
To monitor and report on attendance data, trends and patterns
- To represent DCS at strategic meetings regarding attendance and welfare with partner agencies within and beyond the MOD.
- To ensure DCS processes and directives are consistent with policy and legislation
- To provide education welfare reviews to children who are being electively home educated (EHE) overseas
- To work with DCS Overseas Education Supportability Team when a child or young person has been identified as part of the Assessment of Support Needs as having an Attendance related concern whilst currently in the UK.
- To provide Subject Matter Expertise advice on Attendance in Education to DCS HQ teams, DCS schools and settings, Host Nation Schools and commands overseas.
Further details can be found on the attached job description.
If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com.
Person specification
The post holder will be required to hold the following
essential knowledge and experience:
- Have experience and knowledge of local authority/broader education organisation working
- Have experience and knowledge of working in a multi-agency team.
- Be an experienced professional with experience in working as an education welfare officer.
- Knowledge of the legal framework related to school attendance
- Experience of providing interventions to children, young people and families
- Have experience and knowledge of how schools and local authorities deliver an educational welfare function
- Have significant experience and expertise in safeguarding procedures
Desirable Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelors Degree
- Experience and understanding of working in the military context
Qualifications
The post holder will be required to hold the following qualifications:
- Minimum NVQ Level 4 in relevant field (social care, education, youth and community, welfare)
Qualifications
Minimum NVQ Level 4 in relevant field (social care, education, youth and community, welfare).
Evidence will be required at interview.
All qualifications, licences or memberships declared must be held at point of application and if applicable be in date. Equivalents will not be accepted.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Making Effective Decisions
Alongside your salary of £29,580, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,569 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.
Discover My Benefits:
Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/
Other Benefits For Army Civil Servants Include:
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
- Highly competitive pension scheme
- Alternative working patterns for many roles
- Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
- Enhanced parental and adoption leave
- 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
- Learning and Development
- Personal and professional development of skills
We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference, and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
The post does not offer relocation expenses (move of home, excess fares or temporary transfer). Non Standard move applicants will be eligible for the full package, subject to eligibility.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
This post offers full relocation allowances subject to availability. Cost of Living Overseas Allowances is payable based on personal circumstances and marital status.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
At
application stage, you will be assessed against your CV and Statement of Suitability and the following Behaviours:
- Making Effective Decisions
CV is to include job history and qualification details.
Your Personal Statement (maximum 750 words) should demonstrate the relevant skills and experience that detail how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job role and responsibilities, including examples of evidence.
At
interview you will be assessed on your experience along with the following Civil Service Behaviours;
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
This vacancy will be assessed at EO grade.
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam1@mod.gov.uk
The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
- Name : Aimi Jones
- Email : aimi.jones897@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam1@mod.gov.uk
Further information
Please see Further Information Document attached.
