35344 - Policy Advisors

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

Location: London and Leeds

Ways of Working: the majority of our staff are currently working from home due to covid-19. We have offices in London and Leeds as well as access to a number of commuter hubs across the country. At the Ministry of Justice, we believe in and promote flexible ways of working, this role is open to:

• Full-time, part-time and job share opportunities
• Flexible working: flexible working patterns, with the option to work from home or MoJs commuter hubs

Job Description overview

Do you want to work on some of the most high-profile policy issues in government which have a real impact on our justice system and the people we serve? Apply for a Policy Advisor role today.

Working with Ministers, senior leaders and stakeholders across the justice system, you will form a detailed understanding of how policy proposals are developed, delivered and managed in government.

Colleagues in MoJ policy teams have a wide range of experiences, some who are new to the MoJ from other parts of the public sector (teaching and local government), the third sector and private sector (retail and technology). We are a friendly team and you would have a full induction into the team, with many training opportunities to support your personal development.

It’s important that our workforce is diverse by a way of people’s backgrounds and experiences so that we reflect the diverse society we serve. Please do read the candidate pack for more information on what it’s like working for us and help with your application.

Policy teams in the Ministry of Justice – who are we and what do we do?

The Ministry of Justice is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. We work to protect and advance the principles of justice and our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society. We do this by developing and advising on policy.

Policy is a broad term, it can be defined as ‘a statement of the government’s position, intent or action’ on an area. There are six policy teams in MoJ, if successful at interview we will work with you to establish your interests and skills to match you to one area. We’ve provided some examples of the current policy topics we are working on.

• Access to Justice: determining how individuals access legal representation, advice and support to resolve their issues
• Family and Criminal Justice: supporting victims of crime to navigate the courts
• International and Rights: negotiating with the EU on our justice relationship
• Judicial and Legal Service: supporting the Lord Chancellor in defending and promoting the Rule of Law
• Prison Reform: developing proposals to improve the effectiveness of the current regime (the prison day and activities within it) to support rehabilitation
• Youth Justice and Offender Policy: developing proposals to transform the way children interact with the justice system

As a Policy Advisor you would work closely with a wide range of colleagues to develop your policy, providing opportunity for any policy post holder to gain exposure and build knowledge within other areas. Examples of colleagues you’ll work closely with: our communications and analytical services team who form part of our Group, operational colleagues (Prison, Probation, Court staff) and lawyers.

Policy Advisor – the role

We are looking to recruit a number of Policy Advisors to work in any one of our six policy teams, we will work with you to establish your interests and skills to match you to one area.

As a Policy Advisor, you will become an expert on a specific policy area by:

• Leading on policy development, problem solving and strategic thinking to improve how existing policy and legislation works in practice.
• Research innovative policy ideas which could better support those who come into contact with the justice system. Ensuring policies have equitable outcomes for all people.
• Scoping, planning and managing work, including contributing to project management, analysis, management of risks and dependencies to your policy
• Working with Minsters, internal and external stakeholders and other government departments, providing updates in writing or oral briefing notes.
• Manage responses in writing to members of Parliament, colleagues and members of the public that have questions on your policy area.
• Take a lead role in projects related to your policy and contribute appropriately to other relevant working groups or governance boards, including working with those impacted by the policy you are working on.
• Develop strong relationships with operational staff, for example those working in prisons or courts, to work together effectively to deliver your policy.
• Some roles have line management duties, all staff are encouraged to support and coach colleagues.
• Some roles will require legislation change, where you will work closely with colleagues in the Parliament team to see through your Bill.

Alongside your core role, you will have the opportunity to get involved in corporate projects across the wider team such as Wellbeing, Diversity & Inclusion, mentoring, recruitment etc to support how we work as a team and contribute to the MoJ as a whole.

In return, you will have access to many training opportunities on a range of topics, for example: leadership and coaching, effective writing, stakeholder engagement and partnership working, we also offer a variety of wellbeing checks.

Skills and Experience

• You will be able to write to a good standard and be able to interpret and analyse information clearly and concisely in a way that enables effective decisions to be made.
• You will have strong communication and relationship-building skills, when working with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• You will be organised, make plans and bring colleagues work together to reach your end goal.
• Good political awareness and the proven ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences and to ability to problem solve.

Application Process

We recruit using Success Profiles and we’ll assess your application against the behaviours below. Please provide examples (detail the situation, your action and results) of how you have met each one of these behaviours. Click the link for more detail on Success Profiles and the behaviours and experiences we would like for you to demonstrate (see Level 3-SEO page 5)

Making Effective Decisions

Provide an example of when you have used a range of relevant, credible information from a number of stakeholders to support the recommendation/decision you were making.

Communicating and Influencing

Provide an example of when you have communicated something in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, choosing the right style to maximise the audiences understanding and their agreement to your work.

Working Together

Provide an example when you have brought different people together to deliver on a piece of work.

Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on the lead behaviour of (Making Effective Decisions). Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths.

Candidates invited to Interview

You will be required to give a 5-minute presentation at interview. Details of this will be sent to those candidates who are invited for interview. Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely. During the interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours and Strengths from the success Profiles framework.

At interview stage, if candidates do not score high enough to be appointed to a Band B role, but have passed the minimal requirements, they could be offered a Policy role at the more junior level of Band C/HEO.

Interviews will take place in early August 2020.

At interview stage, we will also be assessing candidates for Band C/HEO Policy Advisor roles. If candidates do not score high enough to be appointed to a Band B role, but have passed the minimal requirements, they could be offered a role at the more junior level of Band C/HEO.

The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description.

Security Clearance

Before taking up the post, the successful applicant will need to pass security checks. Clearance will be dependent on strict criteria, including 5 years residency in the UK.

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com Please quote the job reference - 35344.

Point of contact

Please do get in touch if you would like to know more about the role or what it is like working in our team. Email PCAGPeopleandCapability@justice.gov.uk and leave your full name and telephone number and we will call you back.