85253 - People & Capability Officer - Legal Aid Agency
Job Title: People and Capability Officer x2 Contract Type: Permanent
Grade: EO Salary range (depending on location): National - £27,223 – £28,613
London - £31,169 - £32,760
Please note that unless you are currently employed by the Civil Service and are earning more than the minimum above, if successful you will be offered the minimum for the grade depending on your location.
Location: National
Directorate: Corporate Services Team: 1x Capability Team, 1x Talent, Coaching and Mentoring Team
Working Pattern: The post is supported by the MOJ flexible working policy and includes colleagues who work flexibly, remotely (as part of hybrid working), part time or as part of a job share etc.
If you are applying for a part time role, please note that in order to meet business demands we need cover for a minimum of 30 hours and to cover 4 days of the week
Reporting to: Capability Manager or,
Head of Talent, Coaching and Mentoring
The Legal Aid Agency
We are an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). We provide civil and criminal legal aid and advice in England and Wales to help people deal with their legal problems.
Our people are at the heart of achieving excellence. Employing around 1,200 colleagues across England and Wales, we feel proud to have some of the best People Survey results in the Civil Service.
Our LAA commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
The LAA is committed to diversity and inclusion and we positively promote flexible working, including job shares.
We will consider all applications on merit regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, religion, ethnicity, preferred working pattern and except for exceptional circumstances your working location.
As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.
If you are responding to a role within the Legal Aid Agency and would like to be considered under the guaranteed interview, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the sift or later selection processes.
The LAA’s goal is to build an organisation that is open and inclusive and truly values and celebrates the diversity of its workforce. One that reflects and understands the needs of the diverse society we serve. This is regardless of social background, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, beliefs, disabilities or long-term illness or caring responsibilities.
Diversity is the presence of difference, this can include one or more of the protected characteristics (Gender, Age, Race, Disability etc.) or it can be about working patterns, whether we like to jump into a task or reflect on it before acting.
Inclusion is how we welcome, value, and celebrate diversity, giving everyone a voice, tapping into ideas, and enabling everyone to be themselves at work and achieve their potential.
Corporate Services
Corporate Services helps shape and enable the priorities of the Chief Executive, Executive Leadership Team, and People Committee to be delivered.
The LAA fully supports smart and flexible working. Members of Corporate Services and the People and Capability Team are based in multiple locations across England and Wales. Travel will be required on occasion.
People and Capability Team
The People and Capability Team play a key role in supporting us to achieve our Strategic Objective Three to become a truly diverse and inclusive employer of choice. We intend to ensure that colleagues who work here feel like they belong to an organisation that is Diverse: with inclusive teams that represent the people of England and Wales, Smarter: flexing how we work together to deliver our best and be well and Learning: taking opportunities to grow together as individuals, leaders and teams.
Capability Team
The Capability Team is responsible for building the capability of colleagues across the LAA. We do this by working alongside the L&D steering group to deliver the L&D strategy and by creating an environment where staff have access to the right opportunities to thrive and be the best they can be.
We welcome all new starters through our Corporate Induction session, helping to give them a good understanding of who we are, the work we do, and what we stand for in the LAA, including our culture and values.
We are responsible for delivering Capability Unlocked, a 12 month, four-module programme available to staff in all grades and designed to support both personal and professional development. We deliver Rising Together, a programme created specifically to support our colleagues from ethnic minority backgrounds to succeed. We design and deliver a range of ad-hoc training sessions to meet the needs of colleagues across the business on topics such as public speaking, resilience, writing quality applications and much more.
For staff looking to advance their careers we offer mock interviews as a way of helping to prepare for real life interviews, as well as feedback within the success profile framework.
Ultimately, what we love to see is people reaching their full potential, so whether staff are joining, growing or leading in the LAA, we’re here to support everyone on their learning and development journey.
Talent, Coaching and Mentoring
We manage and administrate the Coaching & Mentoring process, always striving to achieve the best experience possible for colleagues who get involved. We pair colleagues according to their skills and knowledge to ensure they get the most out of the experience. We are currently building our own talent management process in the LAA, co-ordinating with the Ministry of Justice’ central offer.
Overview
• Are you passionate about making a positive difference to people’s experience at work?
• Do you enjoy collaborating with colleagues to discuss and resolve issues to ensure we deliver our best?
• Are you ready to create opportunities for individuals, leaders and teams to grow and learn?
Key Responsibilities:
• Create, develop, and deliver a range of training sessions and resources to support the capability of staff across the LAA, ensuring all content is inclusive and accessible to a range of diverse audiences.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of learning and development activities, using feedback and data to improve future delivery.
• Write engaging copy, e.g., intranet articles, blogs, and newsletters to support our learning and development activities and highlight key initiatives, co-ordinating with our Internal Communications team to agree timescales and content.
• Assist in the delivery of key events and projects as required, working collaboratively with colleagues within and beyond the People and Capability team, e.g., the People Survey, People Action Plan, Learning at Work Week and Leaders Live event.
• Provide recruitment support and guidance to colleagues with job applications, Statements of Suitability, and interview preparation, including mock interviews.
• Manage the induction process by arranging, coordinating, and facilitating sessions, ensuring all new starters are welcomed into the organisation.
• Provide secretariat support to the L&D Steering Group, managing and preparing the agenda, taking and distributing minutes and action points, processing L&D budget requests.
• Work in collaboration with staff networks and Champion groups to ensure L&D opportunities are inclusive and accessible to all, identifying and addressing any barriers, raising awareness of existing opportunities and seeking feedback to ensure all needs are taken into account.
• Undertake administrative activities including creating and managing the registration of events, managing attendance lists, updating spreadsheets, and responding to enquiries received via the shared Capability Team inbox.
• Undertake administrative duties in relation to the procurement of external training requests, including raising purchase orders, booking training, setting up new suppliers and invoice settlement.
• Listen to our people and take action on what matters through surveys and workshops, collating the feedback, analysing and reporting on the results to inform our future plans.
• Build and manage engaging and community-style networks around Learning & Development, to support people to find the best learning for them.
Essential Knowledge, Experience and skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to engage with different audiences whilst ensuring content is inclusive and accessible.
• Ability to work autonomously to plan, organise and manage own workload effectively to ensure delivery of plans.
• Ability to design, develop, present, and facilitate training and development activities.
• Ability to work collaboratively within and outside of own team, delivering positive outcomes to support the development of colleagues across the LAA.
Desirable Knowledge, Experience and skills
• Ability to write engaging copy with some experience of writing for impact e.g., Intranet stories, blogs, newsletters.
• Knowledge and/or experience of how to use data to inform future plans, e.g., workshop outputs.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft applications such as Outlook, Teams, Excel, Sway and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of Talent Management Processes and the administration thereof.
Person Specification
• Enjoys helping and supporting others to develop their skills and achieve their goals.
• Advocates for and role models the importance of continual learning and development.
• Understands the importance of creating safe, inclusive and accessible learning environments to allow people to thrive and reach their full potential.
• Enjoys working autonomously and using own initiative to find new and innovative ways to engage staff in L&D activities.
• Ability to travel to different LAA offices based on business needs.
Assessment approach
Application Process –
To apply please provide a statement of suitability showing how you meet the essential criteria in no more than 750 words.
Your statement should demonstrate your ability to do all of the essential criteria listed, using examples can help strengthen your application.
Interview / assessment Process
If you are successful through the application stage, you will be invited to an interview via Microsoft Teams where you will be assessed against the following:
• Strengths relevant to the role
• Some or all of the following Behaviours:
o Communicating and Influencing
Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing. Take time to consider the best communication channel to use for the audience, including making the best of digital resources and considering value for money. Interact with others in an enthusiastic way. Express ideas clearly and with respect for others. Listen to and value different ideas, views and ways of working. Respond constructively and objectively to comments and questions. Handle challenging conversations with confidence and sensitivity.
o Delivering at Pace
Regularly review the success of activities in the team to identify barriers to progress or challenging objectives. Identify who and what is required to ensure success, set clear goals and areas of responsibility and continually assess workloads considering individual needs. Follow relevant policies, procedures and legislation to complete your work. Ensure colleagues have the correct tools and resources available to them to do their jobs. Have a positive and focused attitude to achieving outcomes, despite any setbacks. Regularly check performance against objectives, making suggestions for improvement or taking corrective action where necessary. Ensure that colleagues are supported where tasks are challenging.
o Working Together
Develop a range of contacts outside own team and identify opportunities to share knowledge, information and learning. Show genuine interest when listening to others. Contribute to an inclusive working environment where all opinions and challenges are listened to and all individual needs are taken into account. Ensure it is clear that bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable. Offer support and help to colleagues when in need, including consideration of your own and their wellbeing. Change ways of working to aid cooperation within and between teams in order to achieve results.
o Developing Self and Others
Identify gaps in own and team’s skills and knowledge. Set and consistently meet development objectives. Seek learning opportunities. Support the development plans of all colleagues, recognising how diversity of experience/background can help to build an inclusive team culture. Consider the contributions of all team members and delegate work to aid the learning and development of all. Encourage and listen to developmental feedback from colleagues.
• Your Experience of implementing, promoting, or understanding diversity and inclusion policy. For this grade/role we would expect the candidate to demonstrate understanding of the terms Diversity and Inclusion and be able to explain why they are important to them and to where they work. Examples of action they have taken (in or outside of work) to embrace diversity (e.g., increasing understanding) or improve inclusion for others will increase the strength of their answer.
• You will also be asked to deliver a 5-minute presentation, this will be tested against the Communicating and Influencing behaviour. Details will be shared with those invited to interview, allowing time to prepare.
Shortlisting is planned for week commencing 08/04/2024.
Interviews are planned for week commencing 07/05/2024.
If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact – Deanne Bowman – Deanne.Bowman1@justice.gov.uk
Complaints procedure
If you have any complaints about this recruitment activity, please share your concerns by emailing LAARecruitment@justice.gov.uk initially. We aim to respond to any complaint within 10 working days.
If you are dissatisfied with our response, we will forward your complaint to the Civil Service Commission, an independent body, for review.
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.
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.
MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.
All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.
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
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
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.
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.
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 moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please see our Disability Confident Scheme Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
02/04/2024, 23:55 hours.
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.
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
Interview stage assessments
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.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
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.