Defence Business Services - Decision Maker and Appeal (DMA) Caseworker

Are you a dedicated person who is passionate about making a difference?

Would you like to work for the Ministry of Defence?

Defence Business Services (DBS) is one of the largest shared service organisations in Europe that provides a wide range of corporate services, to over 1.2 million end users, including serving and past military and families, as well as MoD civil servants and industry.

DBS delivers large scale administration and smaller specialist services to enable the wider MOD to focus on its core aims, maintaining the UK’s Defence and Security. Services include Human Resources, Pay, Veterans, Finance and Procurement.

Vision - To be the best shared service centre in Government

Mission - Proudly delivering excellence in shared services, through customer centric solutions to enable Defence outcomes

DBS is committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues. We are building an inclusive culture and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society.

We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us through opportunities to develop your skills and experience. We also offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career accessible to you and offer a Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. Where your role permits, we support a blended working approach alternatively known as hybrid working.

Come and join the DBS community today!

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DBS is part of The National Armaments Directorate (NAD) Group which is at the heart of delivering and sustaining the UK’s defence capability. Bringing together organisations responsible for developing, procuring, supporting and modernising Defence equipment, infrastructure and services, the Directorate works closely with industry, international partners and academia to ensure the Armed Forces have the capabilities they need to deter threats, protect the nation and succeed on operations. NAD drives innovation, operational readiness and value for money while supporting economic growth and strengthening the UK’s defence industrial base.

This role is advertised as 37 hours per week.

The Decision Making & Appeals service provides consistent, expert decision making across Ministry of Defence HR casework policies. Using a joint decision-making model, the service supports fair policy outcomes, business needs and a positive employee experience while reducing organisational risk.

As a DMA Caseworker, you will manage critical and highly complex HR casework decisions and appeals. You will provide authoritative advice on policy expectations, appropriate outcomes and risk, produce robust written decisions, and help ensure a consistent approach across the Department.

Responsibilities:

• Manage critical and highly complex HR casework decisions, providing expert input to DMA panels on policy, outcomes and risk management.
• Arrange and manage decision and appeal meetings in line with policy, process and required timescales.
• Produce clear, concise and well-reasoned decision and appeal outcomes that can be robustly defended at Employment Tribunal.
• Provide instruction to the Government Legal Department and act as an expert witness on behalf of the Ministry of Defence where required.
• Act as a single point of contact for trade union and legal issues relating to HR casework.
• Work with Investigation Operational Support to establish feedback loops and ensure investigations are fit for purpose and robust.
• Support TLB representatives throughout the decision-making and appeals process.
• Produce and analyse management information on decisions, appeals and Employment Tribunals, identifying demand, outcomes, trends and emerging issues.
• Promote continuous improvement, structured learning, professional development and effective knowledge management.
• Maintain accurate case records and fulfil all information and data-capture requirements.

There is a requirement for business travel nationally, which may include overnight stays.

DBS supports flexible working and hybrid working is adopted within the service. The weekly office attendance requirement is 60% in office and 40% homeworking. During initial training periods office attendance may be increased.

Fixed-term appointment information

This is a Fixed-term Appointment as a HR Caseworker in the HR Advisory and Casework Service. Your responsibilities will be as described in this job advert. The
reason why you are appointed for a fixed period is to implement recommendations from a HR casework review. This post will therefore begin on your appointment and end 24 months after that date.

If you are a permanent MoD civil servant and are found successful for an advertised Fixed-term Appointment (FTA) you should move into the post under a Temporary Transfer (for up to a maximum of 23 months). At the end of the posting you will return to your previous MoD Business area. If this posting is at a higher grade, your promotion will be temporary, and you will return to your substantive grade at the end of the Temporary Transfer. If a Temporary Transfer cannot be agreed between all parties then a transfer on an FTA contract is possible, read the FTA and Change of Work Location in the UK policy for further information.

If you are transferring to MoD from another government department (OGD) you should join the MoD on an inward loan. At the end of the loan you will return to your home (OGD) department. If a loan cannot be agreed between all parties then a transfer on an FTA contract is possible, read the FTA policy for further information.

We welcome applications from HR professionals with sound judgement and experience of complex casework who are motivated by delivering fair, evidence-based decisions and appeal outcomes. You will join a supportive specialist team, applying and developing your expertise in HR decision-making and appeals.

Essential Criteria:

• Expert knowledge of HR policies and procedures and their practical application in complex casework.
• Strong decision-making skills, with the ability to assess evidence, balance risk and reach fair, defensible outcomes.
• Excellent written and spoken English, including the ability to produce coherent and persuasive decisions.
• Ability to lead and coordinate sensitive meetings at pace while providing clear, authoritative advice.
• Sound understanding of employment law and its application to workplace decisions.
• Ability to analyse management information and use insight to improve quality, consistency and early case resolution.

Desirable Criteria:

• An accredited professional qualification in employment law.
• Appropriate level of CIPD membership and a Level 5 CIPD People Professional qualification.
• Experience of Employment Tribunal case preparation or expert witness work.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

• An environment with flexible working options Monday-Friday
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years' service (pro rata). In addition to 8 public holidays per year, you will also receive leave for the King's birthday
• Hybrid working, where role permits
• An opportunity to be considered for Reward & Recognition.
• Family friendly policies including parental leave and adoption leave
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• Professional and personal development of skills
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• Minimum of 15 days special leave in a rolling 12 month period for volunteer reserve commitments
• Special paid leave to volunteer up to 6 days per year
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

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.

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 .

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.

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 Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Job contact :

• Name : Christine Simeon
• Email : christine.simeon489@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBS-EnhancedRecruitmentTeam@mod.gov.uk

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