Announcements (Archive)

Veterans Advisory & Pensions Committee (VAPC) - Appointment of Chairperson for the North East

Body
Veterans UK - MoD
Appointing Department
Ministry of Defence
Sectors
Communities, Defence
Location
North East
Number of Vacancies
1
Remuneration
The position is an unpaid appointment, but reasonable travelling expenses and loss of earnings allowances will be paid for up to 15 days per year and limited to £25.77 for under 4 hours per day or £51.54 for over 4 hours per day.
Time Requirements
You will be expected to Chair 3 regional Committee Meetings and attend 2 National Chairmen's Conferences per year plus a training event in their first year. However, the veterans’ arena is a huge space and VAPC Chairs and Members are very often involved in a wide range of activities between these meetings; the VAPC role can therefore take up as much of your time as you are willing and able to give.

Campaign Timeline

  1. Competition Launched

    27/04/2020

  2. Closed for Applications

    05/07/2020

  3. Panel Sift

    TBC

  4. Final Interview Date

    01/10/2020

  5. Announcement

    20/11/2020 at 12:00

Announcement

An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.

The Minister for Defence People and Veterans has appointed Mrs Lesley Smith as Chair of the North East Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee. The appointment will last for 3 years and will take effect from 12 November 2020 until 11 November 2023.

Date: 20/11/2020

View Announcement

Vacancy Description

Responsibilities and Skills

The role and the input of the VAPCs was cited in Lord Ashcroft’s Transition Review[1] recommendations, with actions allocated to them as a body, going forward.

The VAPC Chairperson and members play a central role in promoting the interests and welfare of Veterans and their families. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-advisory-and-pensions-committees-x13 .The committees meet between 2 and 4 times per year and members are expected to be involved in a wide-ranging agenda of issues relating to the functions of the committee set out above.

Suitable candidates for the Chair roles may come from a wide range of backgrounds and, whilst knowledge of service life would be useful, it is not necessary. What is most important is that applicants should have a real commitment to supporting Veterans and their Families. We are currently advertising for new Members for the VAPC for all Committees so one of the first duties for the newly appointed Chairs will be to interview candidates for their Committees.

[1] http://www.veteranstransition.co.uk/

Person Specification

Candidates for the Chair roles will need to demonstrate the following skills:

Essential:

  • effective leadership and management of meetings and promoting a team approach
  • influencing and negotiating skills of a high level, partnership working and the ability to work in a collaborative way to achieve outcomes
  • the ability to work with military and civil authorities and other major suppliers of direct assistance to Veterans
  • excellent all-round communication skills
  • the ability to consider complex issues.
  • the ability to look ahead and work with others to develop practical plans.

Desirable:

Some knowledge of the following areas would be helpful but not essential as training and mentoring will be available:

  • the Government’s commitment to veterans as set out in the Armed Forces Covenant.
  • provision of welfare and support and knowledge of the support environment in the North East.
  • some experience or knowledge of service pensions and/or compensation schemes in terms of policy impact.
  • a knowledge of service life

Additional Information

Functions

The Veterans Advisory & Pensions Committee is a Non-Departmental Public Body divided into 13 geographical regions. Each Committee’s main function is to:

  • act as advocates for implementing the Armed Forces Covenant and associated measures at a local level
  • raise awareness, within their region, of the Armed Forces Covenant and associated measures, the War Pension Scheme, Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, the Veterans Welfare Service and the availability of cross-Government support to the Armed Forces, their families and Veterans.
  • assist serving personnel, veterans and their families in accessing local support services, provide assistance and guidance on the War Pension Scheme and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and to provide an independent element to the Veterans UK complaints process relating to those schemes. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk
  • act as a conduit for local consultation by Ministers, the Ministry of Defence and Veterans UK on issues affecting recipients of pension from the War Pensions Scheme and Armed Forces Compensation scheme. http://www.veteranstransition.co.uk/vtrreport.pdf

How to Apply

To apply please complete a copy of the attached Expression of Interest Form,  plus a copy of the Diversity Information Form which is also attached, having firstly read the Candidates Information Pack attached.

Both documents should be returned as e-mail attachments (preferred method), along with a copy of your most recent CV, to DBSCivPers-ResNONSTDAPPTS@mod.gov.uk quoting reference number 30158.

Attachments

This post is regulated by The Commissioner for Public Appointments