APPEAL SERVICES OFFICER

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT) is a highly specialized adjudicative tribunal that hears appeals of final decisions of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). We are looking for a motivated professional for the position of Appeal Services Officer, to work with a team of staff involved in case appeals to process and close cases.

Job Code Office Administration 10
Salary Range $28.67 to $33.74 per hour

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?In a team environment, you will process and maintain a high volume of appeals, including some or all of the following duties and responsibilities:
• conducting an initial review of case documentation and preparing the appeal for further review/processing by reviewing appeal forms, confirming appropriate releases have been signed, addressing any deficiencies in forms, requesting information and files from the WSIB, and preparing case documents
• actively processing, monitoring and updating case files by entering new data into a case management system, communicating with parties by telephone, assisting self-represented workers with the appeal process, composing and sending correspondence, reviewing incoming correspondence, requesting missing or required information, and identifying privacy or reporting breaches
• processing appeals that have become dormant/inactive by examining what transpired, assessing the problem or issues with the case, determining what action needs to be performed to get the file “hearing ready”, or closing the appeal as appropriate
• maintaining a pool of case files that have been approved “hearing ready” by reviewing correspondence or WSIB claim files, ordering missing portions of files and/or better copies of documents from the WSIB, preparing case records and case materials, ensuring appropriate disclosure of new information to parties and communicating with other departments as needed
• closing appeals that have been abandoned or where the WSIAT has no jurisdiction by creating and sending letters to appellants advising them of deadlines, responding to queries from parties, drafting Notices of Intent to Close, and referring the case file to appropriate staff for closing when appropriate

How do I qualify?Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:Knowledge:

• You have knowledge and understanding of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, prior and related legislation, or the ability to acquire this knowledge to assess case files
• You have working knowledge of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and of privacy related issues to recognize information disclosed in error and deal with sensitive or prejudicial material
• You have general knowledge of relevant legal and medical terminology to assess injury codes and related claims

Communication and Interpersonal Skills:

• You have advanced oral and written communication in English. For the bilingual position, you also have advanced oral and written communication in French.
• You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills to explain detailed appeal processes
• You have excellent written communication skills to produce letters and documents with accuracy and completeness
• You have demonstrated discretion, tact and diplomacy to deal with parties who may be frustrated or difficult

Computer Skills:

• You have knowledge of software applications including word processing programs and typing skills in order to prepare various documents and case materials
• You have knowledge of computerized tracking/database systems in order to input, manipulate and search data

Analytical and Organizational Skills:

• You have excellent organizational skills to determine priorities and respond to deadlines within tight production standards while balancing competing demands
• You have the ability to multitask in order to manage a large caseload
• You have excellent research and analytical skills to verify information, investigate and report on case status
• You have excellent attention to detail in order to accurately record data

Application Instructions:How to Apply:

1. Please submit your resume and cover letter through our onlineWSIAT Careers Centre
2. Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, please show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job.
3. If you require accommodation for a disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please notify us, confidentially, at Recruitment@wsiat.ca. Recruitment staff will contact you within 48 hours.
4. Background Check: As a precondition of employment, the WSIAT requires that the final external candidate for this position, prior to commencing employment, is required to undergo both a criminal record and social media search. Other types of background checks may also be requested such as education verification and professional credential validation.

Remember: The deadline to apply is November 26, 2024, 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted. We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal is an inclusive employer.

Accommodation is available under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

All Ontario Public Service external job advertisements are posted in English and French. To confirm the language requirements of a job, check the "language of position" information at the top of each job ad. For all positions, candidates will be assessed in English, the business language of the Ontario Public Service. For English/French designated bilingual positions, candidates will also be assessed through French-language proficiency testing.

Additional Information:

Collection of Information

Your personal information is being collected and will be used to determine your qualifications for employment with the Ontario Public Service, and for recruitment modernization initiatives. OPS Careers is an authorized common service in accordance with s. 6 of the Ministry of Government Services Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.25 and this collection of personal information is necessary to the proper administration of OPS Careers.

Please do not provide more personal information than what is asked of you. For example, do not include your social insurance number, photograph, or banking information, etc. with your application. We strongly encourage you not to provide us with information beyond that which is requested in the job posting.

If you have any questions about the collection, use, disclosure, or retention of your personal information, please contact us.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Tuesday, November 26, 2024 11:59 pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.

All Ontario Public Service external job advertisements are posted in English and French. To confirm the language requirements of a job, check the "language of position" information at the top of each job ad. For all positions, candidates will be assessed in English, the business language of the Ontario Public Service. For English/French designated bilingual positions, candidates will also be assessed through French-language proficiency testing.

Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario sont affichées en anglais et en français. Pour connaître les exigences linguistiques, vérifiez les renseignements sur la « langue du poste » figurant dans le haut de chaque offre d'emploi. Pour tous les postes, l'évaluation des candidates et candidats se fera en anglais, la langue usuelle de la fonction publique de l'Ontario. En ce qui concerne les postes désignés bilingues, la maîtrise du français des candidates et candidats sera également évaluée.

Note: The only website where you can apply on-line for positions with the Ontario Public Service is http://www.gojobs.gov.on.ca