Veterans World Interview
Information Service highlighting local needs and sharing information. Jobcentre Plus Champions and their employer engagement colleagues are also working closely with the MOD Directorate of Resettlement to assist individuals in their transition from the Armed Forces into a civilian career.
In the last issue, Veterans WORLD reported on the launch of the new Jobcentre Plus ‘Champions’ for the Armed Forces. We spoke to Hylton Edmondson, the first ‘champion’ based in Colchester, to find out the story so far. Hello Hylton, you’ve been in post for a couple of months now, can you give us a few examples of the type of issues you have been dealing with? In Essex, a couple of advisers from our Colchester office are working with the Colchester Garrison Army Education Centre team to deliver a regular programme of information sessions for Army personnel who are about to leave the Service. These sessions are designed to ensure that all such leavers are fully aware of how Jobcentre Plus can help and support them in the transition back to civilian life. The information provided offers details of what support Jobcentre Plus advisers can give on looking for work and the national and local labour market and on how to make a claim for benefit and benefit advice. It is really important members of the Armed Forces and their families are not disadvantaged in any way as a
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result of serving their country as they move from the Services to civilian life. I also work within Jobcentre Plus ensuring staff are aware of the issues that face families and those leaving the armed services. What’s the feedback been from your Armed Forces customers? Both nationally and locally, the response has been very positive. Service personnel and their spouses/partners were largely unaware of the support available from Jobcentre Plus and so a great deal of work has been going into raising awareness, through presentations, meetings and publications. Personally I have received positive feedback from my contacts at the Garrison on the relationship that Jobcentre Plus has with the Armed Forces locally in Essex and the value of the sessions that we jointly run and the feedback from the soldiers involved. How are you building links with the local military establishments? Are you working in partnership with any other organisations? The Armed Forces have agreed to have single points of contact within their organisations and contact details have been shared with the Jobcentre Plus Champions. We Champions have also been building contacts with local Career Transition Partnerships and the HIVE
At Jobcentre Plus, we are also working closely with other partners, providers, and external organisations to ensure these customers are aware of and have access to the support available to them as appropriate. How can members of the Armed Forces Community request this service? Really our role is as a link between Jobcentre Plus and the Armed Forces and ensuring staff in Jobcentre Plus are aware of the issues facing the Armed Forces. Each of the three Services have focal points who will form a link with the relevant champions within their area, your Unit welfare staff will know who this is. The Service focal point raises matters to the relevant Champion on behalf of Service personnel and families. Members of the Service community who wish to bring an issue to the attention of their local Champion can do so via their nominated Service focal point, their HIVE information service or their local Jobcentre Plus office. Members of the Service community who wish to find out where their nearest Champion is based can do so via their nominated Service focal point, their nearest HIVE or their local Jobcentre Plus office.
Contacts There is a lot of useful information available on Directgov www.direct.gov.uk including hints and tips about looking for work, access to the Jobcentre Plus jobs database, and a search facility that helps you find your local Jobcentre