DMWS – Welfare Officer

Location: Lothian – Royal Infirmary Edinburgh

Contract: Full-time

Salary: £24,091.00

Do you want to make a real difference to lives of those who served our nation military community? Are you a confident, self-starter with welfare experience? We are looking for someone with strong people skills, who can work independently and as part of a team and who is compassionate and passionate about supporting the Armed Forces Community and their families.

DMWS is an international charity that has been providing medical welfare support to the Armed Forces Community for over 76 years.

We are recruiting a full time WO based in Lothian at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh as part of an integrated NHS military community welfare team with a particular focus on issues which delay recovery and cause stress and anxiety. The WO will work closely with clinical teams across the NHS Lothian region to identify veterans, make teams aware of issues and concerns and in particular will coordinate with discharge hub coordinators who have strong links to the health and social care partnerships but no dedicated knowledge of the armed forces community or the many third sector organisations available to offer additional support to veterans and their families – which what this role will offer.  Vital aspects of this role will include:

• Being a bridge between clinical leads including discharge teams and the Veteran patient
• Constructing networks with local community groups, statutory and third sector organisations – both military and non-military
• Identifying and building a rapport with Veterans to assess needs and concerns and then building the support package and making onward referrals or links to clinical teams
• offering emotional and practical support to identify and access solutions that will address the psychosocial factors impacting on recovery, discharge, and future health and wellbeing
• Capturing evidence of outcomes and proposing amendments to processes
• Increasing awareness of the issues faced by the armed forces community from the perspective of Veterans and also Serving community – what can be done to improve the pathways

Working as part of a team you will be supporting the military and their family’s both when in hospital (inpatient and outpatient) or in the community. All DMWS Welfare Officers need to be prepared to be mobile and deployable. Additionally, you should be willing to work flexibly to meet job demands.

In return, you will be working within a dynamic organisation, making a real difference and receiving great benefits, including 30 days leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays, enhanced sick pay, up to 6% matched pension contributions, death in service benefits, access to Smarthealth with a 24/7 virtual GP Service and great training opportunities.

To apply: Please click on the link below and send your C.V with a covering letter explaining why you feel you are the most suitable candidate for this position (no more than 300 words), both in PDF format. Please remember to click on ‘upload’ otherwise we may not receive your attachments. Applications will be reviewed when they are submitted.

More information on the position can be found here: Welfare Officer Job Description