IMPORTANT: SCOAF staff are working remotely due to Government guidance regarding coronavirus. You can still access our service by leaving a message on our phone, or by submitting your application to our contact mailbox: contact@scoaf.org.uk. If possible, do not send applications or documents to us by post as we do not currently have access to the office.

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Blog

26
Feb
2020

Informal resolution and alternative dispute resolution: What’s the difference?

As the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces, I have oversight of the Service Complaints system. But what some people don’t know is that not all complaints are dealt with this way. The Service Complaints system is the formal mechanism for resolving specific types of grievances[1] raised by Service personnel. However, many complaints are […]

29
Jan
2020

Blog
Visits

A week in the life of the Ombudsman

People often ask me what my job is like. Sometimes they want a broad picture of my roles and responsibilities. Other times, they want to know what I do day-to-day. While it is very easy to say what my broad role is, it is often more difficult to explain what I do on a daily […]

08
Jan
2020

2020: The Year Ahead

It has become a tradition for me to use the first SCOAF blog of the year to look at the year ahead. I look forward to writing this at the start of each year, but especially this year. Why? Well, not only does 2020 mark the fifth year of operation for SCOAF but because my […]

20
Dec
2019

2019: Year in Review

As 2019 draws to a close, it offers the perfect opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed; the challenges and opportunities we’ve encountered, what we’ve achieved, and where we are heading.

10
Dec
2019

Whistleblowing v Service Complaints: What’s the difference?

Whistleblowing is a word that is sometimes used interchangeably with the word complaint – but the act of whistleblowing and making a complaint are two separate things.

27
Nov
2019

What can’t I make a Service Complaint about?

The Service Complaints system is a workplace grievance system for members of the UK Armed Forces. In broad terms, if a Service person has been wronged in their Service life, while they were subject to Service law, they can make a Service complaint. But there are limits to what can be the subject of a […]

15
Nov
2019

Anti-Bullying Week: A View from the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces

This year, the Ministry of Defence invited the Ombudsman to write a piece for anti-bullying week. The Ombudsman has decided also to share that piece on our blog.

31
Oct
2019

Black history: not just an issue to be discussed in October

This month, our blog is being written by Dr Vivienne Connell-Hall. One of our Senior Investigators, Vivienne has extensive experience in diversity matters and is a part-time lecturer at London Goldsmith University.

26
Sep
2019

Everyday Inclusion – what does it mean and how do we achieve it?

This week is National Inclusion Week, an annual campaign run by Inclusive Employers to raise awareness of inclusion in the workplace.

20
Aug
2019

Discrimination: What does it mean and how do I know if it has happened to me?

In 2018, 25% of the formal Service complaints accepted for investigation were about bullying, harassment and discrimination. Although they are terms that people are familiar with, a lot of people don’t know what they actually mean.