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Services. But if something goes wrong, I will hold them to account.”
Nicola does not have a military background – it is a requirement of the role – and her staff are civil servants based in an office outside MOD estate.
“The key thing about my role is that I am independent,” Nicola reminds us. “It’s essential to have someone on the outside who can take a balanced view. I don’t automatically take the side of the person making the complaint and I certainly won’t always support the chain of command. My job is to make objective, impartial and well-informed judgements.”
Looking ahead
2016 could be the most testing year yet for this appointment, which was first created in the wake of Deepcut.
About the Service complaints system Every member of the Armed Forces has the right to complain to their Commanding Officer if there is something wrong. Usually, you need to submit any complaint within three months of the thing you are complaining about. Former serving personnel can also submit a complaint, if it is within these time limits. The chain of command has a responsibility to take your complaint seriously.
Nicola believes the role’s new powers will help more RAF Servicemen and Servicewomen resolve their problems successfully.
“When there’s something wrong in your Service life, it can make you miserable – not to mention the people around you, the people you serve with and your family, too. The quicker things get sorted out, the better for everyone. The heads of the Services know that and they want the complaints system to work as effectively as possible – which is exactly what I want.”
Contact the Ombudsman From January, serving personnel – or those who have recently left the Service – will be able to get in touch with the Ombudsman by the following methods:
Website:
www.servicecomplaintsombudsman.org.uk Email:
contact@servicecomplaintsombudsman.gsi.gov.uk Telephone: 020 7877 3450 Post: PO Box 72252, London SW1P 9ZZ.
Service Complaints Commissioner Nicola Williams.
www.raf-ff.org.uk
Envoy Winter 2015
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MoD©
MoD©
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