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Job summary

Main area
Welfare Officer
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Fixed term: 12 months (Full time or part time available)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
  • Home or remote working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
193-7407951COR
Employer
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Berkshire Hospital, with possibility of some travel within Thames Valley and Wessex
Town
Reading
Salary
£38,682 - £46,580 per annum pro rata (This will be pro rata depending on hours)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
22/10/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust logo

Welfare Officer

NHS AfC: Band 6

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements.  The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.  

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us.  We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.  

Job overview

The NHS regularly recruits doctors and other clinicians from outside the UK. These individuals are fully qualified in their field but may be unfamiliar with NHS practices and procedures. They will be offered a Trust / specialty induction to help with this, but will still face other issues outside of work, such as being unfamiliar with housing, childcare, the school system, driving licenses, etc

This role has been developed to provide inclusive, tailored welfare support to new-to-UK Clinicians (in particular International Medical Graduate doctors) across the NHSE Wessex and Thames Valley Deanery footprints.

Support offered may include help with signposting and information with for example, accommodation, travel, childcare, national insurance, tax and linking with local support networks and existing health and wellbeing offers. This is not an exhaustive list.

The role will also support New to UK Clinicians’ immediate family.

The engagement will occur via phone/Microsoft Teams, and written correspondence including email and potentially other online mediums. Attendance at in person meetings / events will be required occasionally.

The key aim of this service is to help New to UK Clinicians integrate, both professionally and personally, as quickly and smoothly as possible. The most effective care is provided by those who are well-supported.

This is a new role, and the individual will be required to set up the service and referral processes, as well as undertaking consultations.

Main duties of the job

·       Set up the service, including referral pathways, databases, Standard Operating Procedures and publicity / promotion of the offer.

·       Make contact with New to the UK Clinicians early to ease transition and help troubleshoot common problems as soon as possible. 

·       Act as the main point of contact for partner organisations with updates and queries dealt with in a timely manner 

·       Signpost New to UK Clinicians to appropriate external support where necessary and form links with relevant community groups to ensure signposting for extra support 

·       Provide expert knowledge on support available to New to the UK Clinicians 

·       Act as a positive ambassador for the international workforce across Thames Valley and Wessex regions      

·       To lead service developments and be responsible for implementing agreed changes in Services, this will include reviewing processes such as data collection 

There may be the occasional requirement to travel to sites across the Thames Valley and Wessex regions.

Working for our organisation

Diversity makes us interesting… Inclusion is what will make us outstanding.

Inequality exists and the journey to eliminate it is not easy. Every step we take will be a purposeful step forward to deliver a truly inclusive culture where all our people are enabled to deliver outstanding care, where background is no barrier, and where everyone can be their authentic self and we truly represent our patient community.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where possible. All applicants who have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the post can opt for a guaranteed interview.

If you need additional help with your application please get in touch by calling the recruitment team on 0118 322 6997 or 0118 322 5342.

Our primary method of communication will be via email. However, if you would prefer to be contacted through a different method, please inform the recruitment team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

·       Work closely with the Royal Berkshire Health and Wellbeing team who can provide further avenues of support.

·       Develop knowledge of and ability to signpost to relevant community groups, statutory and third sector organisations in order to provide further support

·       Ensure all referrals to the service are handled promptly, empathetically, efficiently and within the agreed inclusive service provision and requirements

·       Provide excellent communication to internal and external stakeholders regarding development opportunities for New to the UK Clinicians

·       Attend meetings relevant to role and development

·       Be able to respond to changes in policies, national guidelines and strategy and reflect these in advice given

·       Effectively prioritise work to ensure that the competing demands on the service are met.

·       Link in with the evaluation provider to support as required

·       Responsible for the coordination and delivery of celebration/development days for New to the UK Clinicians

·       Ensure that day-to-day activities are delivered on time and to a high standard

·       Maintain positive working relationships with colleagues at all levels and across teams and sites

·       Maintain accurate records for all consultations and store securely

·       To investigate complaints/incidents in relation to the service and organise a response

·       To be responsible for compiling statistics and reports

·       To monitor and review all administration systems within the service to ensure efficient working practices to implement efficiency projects.

·       Appropriate risk and other assessments are completed and documented in a timely manner in accordance with Trust Policy

·       Keep up to date with government travel and immigration changes

·       Accurately record, analyse and report on required data and information for evaluation of service

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Education to degree level or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of continuous professional development

Knowledge and Training

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge and understanding of working in the NHS
  • Knowledge and understanding of the issues that New to the UK Clinicians may face
  • Knowledge and awareness of local area and community support
  • Experience of leading and managing teams
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of NHS policies and doctors training pathways.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Florence Nightingale FoundationNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Monica Canosa
Job title
Medical Education Service Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0118 322 6846
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