Presenting Officer-2024-8450

Join our team and make a real difference to the people of Scotland.
Are you passionate about helping others? Do you want to be a driving force in ensuring that the people of Scotland receive the benefits they deserve? We're on the lookout for dedicated individuals to join our organisation.
This is a rewarding career where you will join an organisation, and team, that values your contributions and offers a supportive environment for professional growth. We are committed to serving the community, whilst creating a brighter future for the people of Scotland. As a key player in our team, you'll play a vital role in ensuring that every eligible individual receives the right benefits at the right time.
The Client Experience Team performs redeterminations for clients when the original determination for entitlement has been challenged. The team also assess and respond to appeal requests. These elements sit independently of the main operational area to assure our clients that their case will be considered independently.
The Presenting Officer role is split between working within the team to develop our approach to managing the appeals process and presenting Social Security Scotland’s position at hearings to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland. These hearings may take place by telephone, video link or in person at Tribunal centres across Scotland. Therefore, some travel may be required.
This position is ideal for someone who is empathetic and able to put clients first. It is important that you are an effective decision maker and are able to build trust and rapport with clients.
This is a high-profile and exciting area, with continuing political, public and media interest. The Appeals Team is split across two locations, our headquarters in Dundee and an additional location in Glasgow.

• Ensure Client Experience Officers provide high quality casework to the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service and meet deadlines for submitting the Appeal Request Core Bundle and Appeal Responses.
• Assessing and responding to complex appeals based on a set of structured rules and processes, having the ability to identify and investigate if evidence appears missing.
• Carry out the Appeal summary checking process and quality assurance sign off for Client Experience Officers casework.
• Responding to correspondence from the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service, including orders, further advice requests or additional information from clients submitted directly to the Tribunal service.
• Develop and maintain a trusted relationship with the Scottish Government Legal Directorate and Policy Teams to ensure that all of the team’s casework meets the requirements set out in the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 and its associated Regulations.
• Prepare fully for appeal hearings, ensuring full awareness of the facts of each case and the relevant legislations and associated regulations. You will present complex social security cases for determination at oral appeal hearings before the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland, this may involve travel across Scotland.
• Supporting the Client Experience Officers to ensure Tribunal decisions are implemented in an accurate and timely manner.
• Work alongside the Scottish Government Legal Directorate to review Tribunal decisions and consider, when appropriate, to seek permission to appeal from the First-tier Tribunal to the Upper Tier Tribunal for Scotland.
• For each Tribunal decision complete a feedback template which will be used to improve performance across the agency.
• Manage changes to policy and processes efficiently and constructively.
• Identify training needs for the Client Experience team – supporting our people to meet their potential.

1. Excellent all-round communication skills, written, verbal and presentational skills including explaining difficult decisions and complex information.

2. Proven ability to analyse complex information and evidence accurately whilst using legislation and guidance to present conclusions and recommendations.

3. Ability to take responsibility for own performance including through prioritising and managing a varied and competing workload in order to work effectively and meet deadlines under pressure.

4. Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to work as part of a team, with a wide variety of stakeholders both internal and external with varying interests and expectations.

Job contact :

Name :
Angela Hargreaves
Email :
Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot
Telephone :
08001577194

Recruitment team

Email :
Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot