Decision Support Officer (17/22 PTA) at British High Commission

Main purpose of job:

To provide valuable support to the visa application process by conducting mandatory checks/referrals on visa applications, liaising with colleagues in the UK on referred applications and managing the referred case process to ensure that applications are processed in a timely manner.  Act in accordance with the Code of Conduct and Home Office Values at all times. 

Roles and responsibilities:

• Conduct a pre-sift of all applications that have a record as a result of the mandatory biographic and biometric checks. Deal with any that don’t relate directly to the applicant
• Complete and send off any mandatory referrals to colleagues in the UK; dealing with the response; and passing the application to an operational manager to resolve
• Complete and send off any dependant territory application referrals; dealing with any response; and passing onto a decision maker to assess
• Managing the biographic referral process, sending off referrals to the UK and logging the responses so that the application can be assessed
• Using the outstanding application spreadsheet to manage the referred/deferred applications, chasing where necessary and ensuring that all deferred/referred applications are processed within customer service targets
• Monitoring the outstanding settlement applications using the tracking spreadsheet to ensure that the oldest priority and standard applications are ready for assessment and assessed first. Will include sending off mandatory biographic checks, requesting asylum interview records from the UK and monitoring these requests  
• Pre-assessment of exempt/gratis visa applications to confirm that the applicant has applied under the correct category

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required:

• Written: Proficient User (Advanced/Master)
• Spoken: Proficient User (Advanced/Master)

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Good communication with excellent spoken and written English
• Computer literacy with accurate typing skills of at least 25 words per minute
• The ability to work quickly and reliably with little supervision to meet challenging targets
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Excellent team players - this is an all for one, and one for all environment
• Flexibility and a positive attitude to working in a forward thinking, modern and motivated department, which is working at the forefront of visa work.  We are committed to improving standards and procedures - and we are looking for like-minded employees

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• It is extremely important that the successful candidate is adaptable and shows a willingness to undertake a variety of tasks in a busy environment. There may be the need to work flexible hours
• A positive attitude is essential as is the ability to work as part of a team

Required behaviours  

• Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Working Together

Learning and development opportunities:

• In house training and mentoring will be given
• Use of Visa Management databases and tools
• Training in document security, information protection, keeping children safe, all aspects of Entry Clearance decision making, equality and diversity.

The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.

• Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9% of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.
• Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
• Working hours per week of 36.5