About the job

Job summary

Do you have superb interpersonal skills?

Could you thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment?

Are you exceptionally well-organised with an eye for detail?

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the government’s maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea.    

Safer lives. Safer Ships. Cleaner Seas.    

Our vision is to be a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, our customers and our planet at the heart of everything we do.   

We are committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams. 

We want everyone to feel valued and supported to achieve their potential at MCA. 

This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our staff networks groups covering, Women’s, LGBTQI+, Race, Carers, Mental Wellbeing and volunteer Respect Ambassadors.

Job description

At the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), we have an opportunity for a Medical Casework Officer to come on board and join our dynamic and diligent team.

As a Medical Casework Officer you will process medical referrals and act as the focal point for enquiries from MCA Approved Doctors and seafarers. It will be your main duty to provide administrative support in relation to the seafarer medical examination system.

You do not need medical knowledge or experience to be able to apply for this role, this is an administrative and customer service based position.

This is a fantastic opportunity if you are a passionate individual looking to explore a career in the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Full training will be provided to develop you as a Medical Casework Officer. Therefore, you don’t need any experience to join us, just a willingness to learn and dedication to provide a high-quality service to the agency and its stakeholders. 

Responsibilities will include

• Processing and managing the ML5 medical referrals, ensuring all medical reports and referral forms are fully complete prior to submission to the ML5 medical assessor.

• Acting as focal point for enquiries in relation to ML5 referrals, for the four medical assessors, the Royal Yachting Association, Marine Offices, doctors, seafarers and fishers ensuring any correspondence is updated on file and referrals are dealt with within 10 working days.

• Processing ENG 1 medical referrals, updating the branch database with those who are referred to appeal, notify the appellant, Approved Doctors and medical referee that the appeal has been lodged.

• Providing administrative support in organising casework audit meetings, including the preparation of casework audit folders, and making arrangements for the day.

• Providing customer service, answering telephone enquiries / emails / letters from seafarers, Approved Doctors, Marine Offices, industry etc in relation to the medical certification of seafarers and the seafarer medical and eyesight standards.

• Receiving opening and allocating all incoming mail and emails daily. Providing advice to seafarers, fishers, industry and Approved Doctors.

For further information about the role and responsibilities, please see the attached role profile.   

Person specification

You are someone who has experience delivering excellent customer service and be confident in communicating with customers through a range of channels. You’ll also have demonstrable IT skills and be used to using Microsoft Office software, including Word, Excel and Outlook.

You can use your excellent communication skills to effectively deliver messages to others, so it is clear to understand. You thrive working in a busy environment and can deliver high quality pieces of work against tight deadlines.

Additional information

This role will be based in the Southampton.  MCA supports flexible working and operates a hybrid working model between home and office for this role, giving you greater flexibility over where and when you work.   

The expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace or out on official business. Details of the arrangement will be discussed further with your line manager.

We have a public phone line that is open from 08:30 to 16:30 Monday to Friday, and is covered by this role and two others, working hours are arranged as a team around this to ensure coverage.

Travel is required at least once a year to the MCA Maritime Health Seminar this is in November each year and could be anywhere in UK.

This post is offered on a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) basis until 31.03.2025 with the possibility of extension.

Permanent Civil Servants will not be expected to change their employment status from permanent to fixed term appointment.

Internal applicants will be appointed on inward loan and subject to the terms of the agreed inward loan agreement. The expectation is that you will return to your previous post at the end of the loan period, which will need to be agreed with your line manager in advance. 

If you're employed by a non-departmental public body (NDPB) by moving jobs this will involve a change of employer and you may break the statutory rules on continuity of employment. 

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.   

Click here to get a copy of the MCA Staff Benefits Brochure 

Find out what it's like to work at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

As part of your application, you will be required to complete a CV and a Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

Within your CV and personal statement please demonstrate your knowledge and experience of:

•Delivering excellent customer service.

•Strong communication skills via face to face, the telephone or in writing. 

•Using Microsoft packages including Word, Excel Outlook and/or SharePoint to deliver a piece of work.

Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 750 words.   

It is essential when submitting your personal statement that you provide as much detail as possible, and utilise the full word count given, against the essential criteria outlined above as this will be used in conjunction with your CV to assess candidate suitability to move to the next round in the recruitment process.    

Sift and Interview Dates

The sift is due to take place on 13th & 14th June 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held from 28th June 2024.

This interview could be conducted online via Teams or face to face at our headquarters in Southampton. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.   

 We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.   

 The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:   

• An interview.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.  

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.