Assistant Professional Services Officer

About this Role

A unique opportunity to come and join UNISON's expanding Professional Services Unit. As a vital member of our team, you will have access to training and support

About this job

The Assistant Professional Services Officer (APSO) is a vital part of our specialist Professional Services team in UNISON centre. The unit represents members who face allegations before their professional regulator like social workers, paramedics, occupational therapists, nurses or midwives. We cover the 10 UK wide regulators in addition those in the devolved nations.

UNISON’s Professional Services Unit provides advise, guidance, representation and advocacy throughout the entire fitness to practise proceedings, as a result we are a unique trade union to work for.

We are looking for someone to join our expanding Professional Services Unit at UNISON. You will have experience and understanding in representing and advocating for people, we want a proven communicator who is passionate about fairness and supporting UNISON members in Fitness to Practise proceedings.

You will be assisting them through one of the most difficult experiences in their professional life, so we want you to be compassionate and patient. However, you must demonstrate the ability to balance this against the need to make submission on their behalf so your communication skills verbal and written must be clear. You must be able to remain objective in your discussions with them to enable you to assess evidence, its integrity and accuracy against allegations.

You will have some understanding of health and social care regulators functions and processes. You will be representing Registrants at their FtP hearings in front of a Regulatory Panel.

You will have access to support, professional development and training to build upon your existing knowledge. You will be committed to equalities and have an understanding of the challenges facing public sector workers including the context of their working lives.

We are currently piloting an interim hybrid working policy across the organisation.

These posts provide a unique opportunity for the successful candidates to develop specialist knowledge and skills within a supportive environment.

Further information

How to apply

To apply for this opportunity please download and complete the General application form (under “Documents”). See job description and person specification (under “Documents”)

Please note that only the General application form will be accepted.

Please email your application form along with the recruitment and disability monitoring forms to Shelley Cole on [email protected], quoting ref: ORD/AR31T by no later than 5.00pm on 10 October 2025.

It is anticipated to hold interviews on 24 October 2025

About UNISON

UNISON is the UK’s leading public services trade union, with over 1.3 million members working in the public sector, private, voluntary and community sectors and in the energy services. We employ approximately 1,200 staff, with around 370 at our national centre in Euston in central London and the remainder in our 12 regions across the UK, including Northern Ireland.

UNISON is a dynamic, progressive union, committed to equality. We encourage men and women of all ages, Black and minority ethnic groups, disabled people, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to work with us.