BackThe Complaints Commissioner, Nicola Williams, has tendered her resignation and has accepted the appointment as the UK Service Complaints Commissioner – the Ombudsman for the UK Armed Forces, based domestically and worldwide. She will leave office in early January 2015.
The role of the SCC was established by the Armed Forces Act 2006, as part of a service complaints system which came into effect from 1 January 2008.
Ms Williams was selected following open competition and a rigorous five stage selection process which was chaired by an independent assessor from the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The recruitment process was conducted in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies.
Ms. Williams also had to appear before the House of Commons Defence Committee for a pre-appointment hearing. Pre-appointment hearings enable select committees to take evidence from preferred candidates for major public appointments before they are appointed.
Commenting on the announcement, Minister of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans Anna Soubry said: “Nicola Williams is an excellent candidate for this post and I have no doubt she will ensure the armed forces complaints process is working fairly, efficiently and effectively. The MOD is currently taking a Bill through Parliament to strengthen the role of the Service Complaints Commissioner into that of an Ombudsman. This will add a powerful, independent voice to the armed forces complaints handling system and ensure all our personnel can have the confidence to raise matters of concern.”
Source: Office of the Complaints Commissioner, Cayman Islands
