Will
I wanted to join the Ombudsman to deliver some tangible benefits for the people. The most appealing aspect of the organisation for me is that it is in the public sector and clearly makes a difference to people’s lives and the world around us.
It’s a very challenging role and I’m always very busy.
It takes time to compile and complete all the things necessary to assess a complaint and make a recommendation. On most days I generally have quite a few complaints to assess which would be at various stages along the process, but I find the job intellectually stimulating.
I need excellent analytical skills, to be able to manage a heavy workload, and I need to be very well organised. Many of the complaints I deal with involve a large number of documents which cover many different issues over long timeframes. I have to be a good verbal communicator too as most cases deal with very sensitive issues which need to be dealt with in a professional manner.
I constantly need to use my influencing skills as one of the fundamental aims of our work is to achieve a positive result without having to go to a full blown investigation.
Most importantly it’s my writing skills that enable me to do my job well. Writing up information and presenting it to senior management for discussion is one of the most crucial aspects of the job.
You have to be the right type of person to be a caseworker – it is a very challenging role and you have to be prepared for that.
Sometimes it can be frustrating if you have to get a lot of complicated cases resolved and want to get a good result.
But ultimately for me it’s about getting good results for people, valuing them whoever they are – that’s what really motivates me on a day to day basis. Did I mention my colleagues are really friendly and helpful?
