Alessandro
I joined the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) in January 2010. Prior to coming to PHSO, I worked in the legal team of the managing agent for a London borough.
I was attracted to the role because I wanted to have a bigger impact on helping individuals and improving public services. I wanted to do investigation work; considering evidence and drafting reports. I was also drawn to the charisma of working for the Ombudsman.
Time here goes quickly. The sharp learning curve means the 10 month probation flies by; then you’re straight into the full role of a Caseworker. I’ve really enjoyed the work and have been lucky to work on some really interesting cases.
It motivates me to know that people have come to me with something personal and through my investigation I can improve levels of service for others. I’m really proud of some of the outcomes but you can’t always get to the answers.
I’ve learnt that what most people want is to be heard, get answers, and if appropriate, receive an apology or ensure that things are improved for others.
My degree in law and LLM in International Law and International Relations have helped my work as I was already trained in drafting and I was used to always cross referencing and never taking anything for granted. Attention to detail and an inquisitive mind to build evidence are also important as you will be questioned about cases to ensure your findings and recommendations are sound.
My advice for anyone considering becoming a Caseworker at PHSO is that it’s very satisfying working to improve public services, because sometimes you can tangibly see the difference your work has made. You need to balance that with the amount of work involved in drafting reports and be prepared to have your work questioned and reviewed.
I like the culture here. Due to the nature of the work you are able to put up your hand and ask questions. It’s really supportive. It’s also an amazing work location and the views from Millbank Tower are incredible!
