Rhona Imrie - Disability Qualified Panel Member

Being disabled, I believe I had a unique perspective on the claims process having been on all sides of it and having a true appreciation of the day to day difficulties faced by having health problems.

My initial motivation for applying for the post of Disability Qualified Panel Member (DQPM) was as a natural progression from my degree in chiropody, to working in the Department for Work and Pensions as a Decision Maker for Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance claims, to my current post of Welfare Rights Officer where I represent clients appealing for both those benefits.

The JAC application process was very thorough and I feel they really do focus on all qualities involved in making the right choice for a DQPM. The initial application materials were clear and what I would expect of an application form. However I did not anticipate the qualifying test and the selection day.

I found the qualifying test to be akin to sitting an exam and refreshing for a position that does require knowledge and the ability to explain how a decision was reached. It's not always simple at an interview to determine someone's thought process, whereas the qualifying test allowed the candidate to consider their opinions, motives and ethics in an answer. An interview doesn't allow for this sort of detail. The selection day was unlike any interview process I had encountered. The interview stage was similar to that for a typical job but the role-play took me very much out of my comfort zone and gave a true account of how a tribunal should work. To those who hadn't encountered tribunals first hand I expect this must be quite daunting. Thankfully for me I had. It initially felt staged but once into the role-play it felt very much like a normal tribunal situation albeit you were observed by a panel at the side.

I found the selection process to be very convenient in that it was held in my home town and in surroundings I was familiar with. Had the interviews been held in London I may have been far more nervous about the process.

The best advice I would give to anyone wishing to apply for a post in the future would be that it may be a lot of work initially but the thorough process only makes it fairer. Not everyone does well at interviews and this process allows the person as a whole to be seen and not just a snapshot.