Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee (VAPC) South West Chair
- Body
- Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families
- Appointing Department
- Ministry of Defence
- Sectors
- Defence, Regulation
- Location
- South West
- Skills required
- Business / Commercial, Communication / Media / Marketing, HR, IT / Digital, Legal / Judicial, Major Projects, Regulation, Transformation
- Number of Vacancies
- 1
- Remuneration
- No
- Time Requirements
- The veterans’ arena is a complex and congested environment and there is always more that can be done to improve outcomes for the veteran community; the VAPC role can, therefore, take as much of your time as you are willing and able to give. However, current tasking levels demand some 30-40 hours of activity for the Chair each month combining working from home and attending meetings.
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
12/12/2022
-
Closed for Applications
05/02/2023
-
Panel Sift
w/c 27/0122023
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Final Interview Date
w/c 03/04/2023
-
Announcement
TBC
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Robert Rowntree
- Added
- 12/12/2022
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- DH Armed Forces and Veterans (Welfare and Support) Departmental Official
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Alison Grant
- Added
- 12/12/2022
- Positions
- Member of the Blesma Board of Trustees Independent Member
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- John Lighten
- Added
- 12/12/2022
- Positions
- VAPC National Chair Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- David Richmond
- Added
- 12/12/2022
- Positions
- Independent Veterans Advisor Other Panel Member
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
Vacancy Description
The Veterans Advisory & Pensions Committees (VAPCs) are Advisory Non-Departmental Public Bodies divided into 13 geographical regions. Appointments of Chairs and Members to the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees (VAPCs) is made by the Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families (MinDPVSF). Each appointment is for a term of 3 years with a possible reappointment for 1 further term of 3 years subject to satisfactory performance.
Each VAPC is an independent regional statutory committee that acts independently of its sponsoring and other government departments. Members of VAPCs are given functions in two different capacities by different means:
- one set of functions by statutory provision as members of a statutory committee, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/1133/made and
- another set of functions as members of a regional informal group by Supplementary Terms of Reference (TORs)
The TORs provide direction relating to performance for an initial period of 12 months and invite the members of the regional VAPCs to act as members of informal regional groups enabling them to carry out activities relating to all veterans and their families. Following the initial 12-month period (November 2021 to 2022), the Minister will review the TORs and performance against the activities set out in them, and will make a determination on next steps (e.g. extending the TORs, replacing them or withdrawing them). The TORs will stay in effect until the outcome of the review.
Together, the existing legislation and the TORs enable the members of VAPCs to:
- provide a distinct, identifiable, and independent point of reference for the Veteran community and all those supporting it to raise, respond to, promote and raise awareness of issues relating to Veterans Services, the Strategy for our Veterans, the Armed Forces Covenant and the War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Schemes and the availability of cross-Government support from multiple Departments to the Armed Forces, their families and Veterans
- act from an independent standpoint as an advocate, promoter, facilitator, or communicator of Veterans Services provided by government, central and local authorities, stakeholders, charities and others;
- report and make representations from an independent standpoint on strategy and the delivery of the above to Ministers and others.
- act as bodies to enable and foster consultation by the Secretary of State, the MOD, Veterans UK and the Armed Forces Covenant Team on issues affecting those entitled to payments under the War Pension/Armed Forces Compensation Schemes.
- support Veterans UK by providing an independent quality assurance overview related to the service delivery of the Welfare Service at a local level. Develop relations with Vets UK Regional Welfare Managers to gain an awareness of Veterans’ welfare concerns at a regional level and advise as to how best to maximise effective welfare support.
The VAPC Chairperson and members play a central role in their region in promoting the interests and welfare of the Armed Forces community, including its Veterans cohort, and their families. The committees and informal regional groups meet formally a minimum of 2 times per year and members are expected to be involved in a wide-ranging agenda of issues relating to the functions set out above. This will require a blend of sub-group, informal regional group and ad hoc meetings to be managed alongside the formal set piece meetings.
Suitable candidates for the Chair role may come from a wide range of backgrounds and, whilst knowledge of service life would be useful, it is not essential. What is most important is that applicants should have a real commitment to supporting Veterans and their Families.
A chair is expected to:
- Convene and chair at least two meetings a year of the members of their VAPC and its informal regional group.
- Convene such further meetings as those members conclude are necessary for the proper performance of their functions.
- Attend or arrange for a substitute to attend the Council of Chairs and the Chairs’ conferences.
- Draft or arrange the drafting of the reports of the members of their regional VAPC and their informal regional group.
- Lead on the annual recruitment process for members for their region. Ensuring compliance with Governance Code on Public Appointments, as advised by the Sponsor Team and the Public Appointments Team. A VAPC Chair is expected to chair the Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP) throughout the selection process and to provide the Minister with the combined views of the AAP on each candidate to assist with his appointment decision.
- Monitor the progress and report, when appropriate, on the performance of members in their region.
- Represent their regional VAPC and its informal regional group at regional veterans forums e.g. Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Board meetings.
Person Specification
Candidates for the Chair role will need to demonstrate all the following essential skills:
- A real commitment to supporting veterans and their families, and the knowledge and experience to implement it.
- The ability to provide effective leadership and management of meetings, partnership working, promotion of a team approach and to work in a collaborative way to achieve outcomes.
- Influencing and negotiating skills of a high level, excellent all round communication skills and the ability to work with military and civil authorities and other major suppliers of direct assistance to Veterans and to comment on and develop practical plans for existing circumstances and the future.
- The ability to consider complex issues relating to the terms, detail, implementation, administration and delivery of services to veterans and their families, the Armed Forces Covenant and the War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Schemes.
Additional Information
VAPC Chairs and Members are able to claim reimbursement of necessary travel and subsistence incurred as a result of their VAPC activities. Loss of earnings is also payable for up to 15 days per year at the rate of £25.77 for under 4 hours per day or £51.54 for over 4 hours per day.
A Public Appointment will give you a chance to:
- help make decisions that affect people’s lives
- help make a difference and change things for the better in the public interest
- contribute your skills, expertise and experience for the benefit of society
- develop new skills, learn about new subjects and enhance your confidence
- meet a new range of people in different walks of life develop your career, for example
- by gaining public sector board experience
- refocus your career, for example, if you have returned from a career break or maternity/paternity leave
- give something back and contribute to the delivery of the highest quality of public services in the public interest.