Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal

What's New

Recruitment

Members are appointed by the Minister of Social Development after a merit-based process and on consultation with the Tribunal Chair. In order to maintain a roster of members throughout the province, the Tribunal recruits new members on an ongoing basis.

Qualifications

To be considered for appointment to the Tribunal, candidates must have:

an understanding of the essential elements of the conduct of a fair and objective hearing
an understanding of the key aspects of the Employment and Assistance Act, the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act, the Child Care Subsidy Act, and the regulations relevant to these Acts
an ability to interpret and apply legislation
analytical, decision-making and decision-writing skills
an ability to listen and communicate clearly and effectively
conflict resolution skills and a proven ability to work well in group settings
a commitment to respect diversity
computer literacy and a computer, and
availability for hearings on weekdays, often with only one week’s notice of the hearing date and time.

In addition, to ensure independence and hearings are fair and just a candidate must not:

be or have been an employee of the Ministry of Social Development or the Ministry of Children and Family Development for the past six months
be an employee of the provincial, federal or municipal government
be a recipient of benefits under any of the acts for which the Tribunal has responsibility, or
have any real or perceived interest in matters that come before the Tribunal.

Members are also required to abide by the Tribunal’s Code of Conduct and Practices and Procedures and to maintain confidentiality.

Process

Step 1 - If you are interested in serving as a member, complete the Tribunal’s Candidate Profile and Declaration form and forward it with your current resume to:

Address:
Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal
PO Box 9994 Stn Prov Gov’t
Victoria, BC V8W 9R7

Fax:
Toll Free: 1 877 356 9687

Step 2 - Candidates that pass the initial screening will be provided with the Candidate Training and Testing Package to ensure the legislative requirements as set out in section 82 of the Employment and Assistance Regulation are met. This section states that, to be eligible for appointment as a member of this Tribunal, a person must have an understanding of the essential elements for the conduct of a fair and objective appeal, as well as an understanding of the key aspects of the relevant legislation. Members must also be able to write reasons that are readily understood and meet the requirements outlined in section 87 of the regulation.

Step 3 - Successful candidates will then undergo reference checks and a personal interview. The Board Resourcing and Development Office is responsible for a due diligence review.

Step 4 - Successful candidates will then be recommended for appointment. A criminal record check is a requirement for appointment. The Ministry of Social Development is responsible for the Ministerial Order process.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions from Candidates

The time commitment required of members will vary considerably and is dependent on the number of notices of appeal received, the inventory of members in each geographic area of the province, and the ability of the member to chair the hearing. You may sit as little as once a month or as much as once a week.
The Chair of the Tribunal appoints a panel consisting of up to three members to hear and determine the appeal, with one of the members designated as panel chair. The panel chair has the primary responsibility for drafting the written decision.
Hearings generally occur in the morning and members are asked to set aside two hours for the hearing. Panel chairs usually spend additional time drafting and finalizing the decision. Very occasionally an appeal is dismissed; if the hearing had not yet convened, panel members are not paid for that hearing.
Remuneration for panel members is $115 per hearing; for panel chairs is $175 per hearing.
You may be asked to travel to attend a hearing and travel expenses are reimbursed in accordance to government policy. Travel rarely exceeds two hours and is unlikely to include air travel.
Hearings are conducted orally (in person or by teleconference) or, with the consent of the parties, in writing.
Hearings are held, wherever possible, in the appellant’s community.
Hearings are held within 15 days of receipt of the Notice of Appeal, unless the Chair of the Tribunal and the parties consent to another date.

Upon successful completion of the Tribunal’s Computer-Based Training Program (CBT) new members are appointed to panels with an experienced panel chair, who provides mentoring.

In addition to the CBT, members are provided with ongoing training opportunities, such as the Decision Writing Training Module.

The Law Society of British Columbia has accredited the Tribunal’s training programs for continuing professional development credits; lawyers completing these programs will receive credits towards their annual requirement for professional development

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