30535 - Victim and Witness Policy Advisor

£30,845 - £38,373
4
12 Months
London
London
102 PETTY FRANCE (MOJ) LONDON, SW1H 9AJ
HEO
C
Permanent
Full Time
Policy

About the Department:

MOJ is one of the largest government departments, employing around 70,000 people (including those in the Probation Service), with a budget of approximately £9 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.

What we do:

We work to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public. We are also responsible for the following parts of the justice system:

• Courts
• Prisons
• Probation services
• Attendance centres

We work in partnership with other government departments and agencies to reform the criminal justice system, to serve the public and support the victims of crime. We are also responsible for making new laws, strengthening democracy, and safeguarding human rights.

Background

Family and Criminal Justice Policy Directorate

The Family & Criminal Justice Policy Directorate (FCJPD) sits at the heart of MoJ’s policy agenda, working to reform complex systems that deal with some of the most vulnerable members of our society. We support Ministers on a broad range of issues: from ensuring that victims of sexual violence receive the best support possible, and that children at risk of FGM are protected, to reforming the criminal justice system to better support the 2 million people in Britain who are victims of Domestic Abuse each year.

Victim and Witness Policy Unit

Within the Directorate is the Victim and Witness Policy Unit. The Unit leads on fundamental systemic, multi-agency reform to improve support for victims and witnesses, to help them cope and recover from the impacts of crime, and enable better justice outcomes. The Unit developed, and is currently implementing, the first ever cross government Victims Strategy, which is a blue print for a justice system that supports more victims to speak up, regardless of their circumstances or background. The Unit also holds a £96 million per annum budget for support services for victims and witness. These services are delivered either through grants to Police and Crime Commissioners, or nationally commissioned third sector services for the victims of the most serious of crimes, such as rape and homicide. We have commitments under the strategy to develop a new delivery model for support services.

As a high-profile policy area, with real impact on the lives of citizens, serious violence and complex needs will continue to attract interest both domestically and internationally, and it is crucial that we work collectively to tackle these issues across her majesty’s government ensuring that victims and witness needs are represented. The roles will require close collaboration with other government departments. The post holders will be required to develop new and ambitious policy proposals and work with colleagues to drive these forward.

We are seeking highly motivated individuals who are enthusiastic and passionate about the area, a strong communicator, and able to work collaboratively with stakeholders to deliver results. The roles are an excellent opportunity for individuals who are looking to develop their policy and financial management skills by working on a challenging and high-profile project. Working in such a new and evolving policy area also offers fantastic opportunities for learning and development. There may be further opportunities across the wider directorate, which will be discussed at interview.

Role Purpose :

The successful applicants will:

  • Play an active role in the development of policy proposals and engagement in commissioning of victim services
  • Identify, assess and implement appropriate policy initiatives.
  • Provide high quality advice and briefing to Ministers and senior officials.
  • Contribute positively to an ambitious and forward thinking team.
  • Contributing to the progression of wider policy initiatives geared towards strengthening victim and witness policy
  • Maintain active engagement with a wide network of policy colleagues within MoJ and other government departments

What we’re looking for:

  • Proactive approach to work responsibilities and the ability to work effectively on your own, whilst ensuring colleagues and stakeholders are kept informed and feed in where appropriate.
  • Ability to collate and analyse complex information from a range of sources and present findings in a coherent way that speak to wider priorities and activities
  • Strong engagement and communication skills, with the ability to engage with key stakeholders at all levels of the organisation, across HMG and wider stakeholder groups.
  • Ability to think strategically about victim and witness services to see the bigger picture, as well as the ability to grasp new ideas and complex information quickly.
  • Excellent oral, numerical and written communication skills.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Making Effective Decisions

  • Understand own level of responsibility and empower others to make decisions where appropriate.
  • Analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from internal and external sources to support decisions.
  • Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making.
  • Display confidence when making difficult decisions, even if they prove to be unpopular.
  • Consult with others to ensure the potential impacts on end users have been considered.
  • Present strong recommendations in a timely manner outlining the consideration of other options, costs, benefits and risks.

Delivering at Pace

  • Show a positive approach to keeping the whole team’s efforts focused on the top priorities. Promote a culture of following the appropriate procedures to ensure results are achieved on time whilst still enabling innovation.
  • Ensure the most appropriate resources are available for colleagues to use to do their job effectively.
  • Regularly monitor your own and team’s work against milestones ensuring individual needs are considered when setting tasks.
  • Act promptly to reassess workloads and priorities when there are conflicting demands to maintain performance.
  • Allow individuals the space and authority to meet objectives, providing additional support where necessary, whilst keeping overall responsibility.

Seeing the Big Picture

  • Understand the strategic drivers for your area of work.
  • Align activities to contribute to wider organisational priorities.
  • Remain alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact your work area.
  • Seek out and share experiences to develop knowledge of the team’s business area.
  • Understand how the strategies and activities of the team create value and meet the diverse needs of all stakeholders.

Working Together

  • Encourage joined up team work within own team and across other groups.
  • Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with these to share information, resources and support. Invest time to develop a common focus and genuine positive team spirit where colleagues feel valued and respect one another.
  • Put in place support for the wellbeing of individuals within the team, including consideration of your own needs.
  • Make it clear to all team members that bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable.
  • Actively seek and consider input of people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Interviews will be held on either Tuesday 3rd December or Monday 9th December 2019 at 102 Petty France, London.

Working Arrangements & Further Information

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Generous allowances for paid holiday starting at 25 days per year, and rising as your service increases. There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits,retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.

There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Expected: Tuesday 3rd December 2019 or Monday 9th December 2019

22/11/2019, 23:55 hours.

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk Please quote the job reference - 30535.

To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why. 

For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).

If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:

  • You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
  • You were studying abroad
  • You were living overseas with parents

In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.

if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance

We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.


Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
Making Effective Decisions - 250 word limit
Delivering at Pace - 250 word limit
Seeing the Big Picture - 250 word limit
Working Together - 250 word limit

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
Behaviours
Making Effective Decisions
Delivering at Pace
Seeing the Big Picture
Working Together

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

· UK nationals

· nationals of the Republic of Ireland

· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

This Vacancy is closed to applications.