31944 - Policy Adviser, Priority Projects Team

£30,989 - £47,591
3
12 Months
London, Yorkshire and the Humber
Leeds , London
102 PETTY FRANCE LONDON, SW1H 9AJ, 5 WELLINGTON PLACE LEEDS, LS1 4AP
SEO
B
Permanent
Full Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Policy, Strategy

About the Department

The Ministry of Justice works to protect the public and reduce reoffending, while endeavouring to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive justice system for everyone who uses or comes into contact with it. We are responsible for prisons and probation services in England and Wales, and for the courts and tribunals in England and Wales and (in some cases) in Scotland.

We are one of the largest government departments, employing around 70,000 people, with a significant operational responsibility for critical frontline services. These are delivered primarily through two large executive agencies: Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS). We are also a significant policy department, responsible for much of law and justice policy in England and Wales.

What we do

Justice and the rule of law are among the fundamental guarantees a state offers to its citizens. MoJ plays a central role in realising the government’s vision of preventing crime, enforcing law and order and restoring public confidence in the justice system.

We work to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive justice system for victims and the public. We are stewards of important parts of the constitution, such as the executive’s relationship with the judiciary, as well as agents for reform and improvement.

We develop policy on all aspects of law and justice, both domestically and internationally, helping to build a legal and rights framework that is clear and proportionate and that commands confidence around the world.

Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

JOB PROFILE

Job Title / Group / Directorate

Policy adviser, Priority Projects Team, PCAG

Location & Terms of appointment

We are recruiting for up to 3 permanent posts based in either London or Leeds. These posts are open to part-time workers and other flexible working arrangements.

Salary and Grade

These posts are Band B.

New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum of the pay range.

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.

Background

Policy, Communications and Analysis Group

The Policy, Communications and Analysis Group is at the heart of the Ministry of Justice, comprising around 1,200 officials. The Group is responsible for setting and advising on policy across the full range of the Department’s responsibilities, including criminal, civil, family and administrative justice; the criminal and civil law; the court system, legal aid and support and the legal services sector; the prison and probation systems, and offender policy; the youth justice system; the UK’s domestic human rights framework and international obligations; and MoJ’s interests in EU exit. It also supports the Lord Chancellor in his constitutional relationship with the judiciary. It houses the MoJ’s strategy function, the Private Office teams that directly support Ministers and the Department’s Parliamentary business team.

The Priority Projects Team

The Priority Projects Team (PPT) provides flexible policy resource which can be deployed onto timebound and high-priority pieces of work across the breadth of MoJ’s policy areas. PPT is a valued resource which other teams bid for in a regular allocations round, with the highest priority projects receiving resource.

Role Purpose

In your time in the PPT you can expect to work in diverse policy areas, undertake posts which play to your strengths and provide development, and receive support from both your activity and line managers, as well as your PPT colleagues. In return, we expect you to be posted to whatever the department decides is a priority (including potentially at short notice), to produce high-quality outputs in line with the team’s reputation for outstanding work, and to help ensure the team provides a welcoming, supportive and inclusive team environment.

A typical project will last 3-6 months, and involve working either with existing teams on often complex policy issues, or working as part of bespoke, standalone teams to respond rapidly to new or emerging issues. Some of the recent projects members of the team have worked on include reform of the probation system, managing demand in the criminal justice system, sentencing reform, improving outcomes for prison leavers, developing counter-terrorism legislation and preparing the department for Britain’s exit from the European Union.

Main Activities / Responsibilities

Work on a policy project will generally involve:

  • Agreeing the scope for the work with the permanent policy owner, and what your project will deliver by when;Reporting progress to colleagues proactively, and ensuring senior colleagues are engaged as necessary;
  • Understanding complex policy issues and presenting your analysis of problems in a clear and compelling way, before developing policy options based on evidence as far as is possible
  • Establishing strong relationships with a diverse range of colleagues, including policy teams, analytical, legal and operational colleagues, to develop solutions collaboratively;
  • Maintaining an understanding of the broader political context for your work, enabling you to lead or support engagement with ministers successfully;
  • Closing down projects effectively and ensuring a smooth handover with the permanent policy owner/team.

Management of Resources

You may be responsible for managing members of staff.

Person Specification:

Alongside the skills set out in the main activities/responsibilities for the role above, we are looking for individuals who are confident about working independently and enjoy change. You should be able both to build relationships with the teams you work with and win the confidence of your colleagues, and have a good understanding of the fundamentals of public policy issues which enables you to get up to speed with new policy areas quickly.

Statement of suitability

Please explain in 750 words how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the main activities/responsibilities for the role and the person specification.

Behaviours (NB these will be used only at interview stage, and they do not need to be reflected explicitly in your statement of suitability):

  1. Changing and improving
  2. Making effective decisions
  3. Working Together

 

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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

1-      To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);

2-      To Ministry of Justice Resourcing (resourcing-services@justice.gov.uk);

3-      To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

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.

Grading Structure Review

The Ministry of Justice is currently undergoing a review of posts which are currently graded at Band A to realign our grading structure with the majority of the wider Civil Service.

Posts advertised at Band A may be graded at either Grade 6 or Grade 7 once the review has taken place.  

We anticipate that interviews will take place in the week commencing 10th of February.

28/01/2020, 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@gov.sscl.com Please quote the job reference - 31944.

If you wish to find out more about the role please contact ruth.hudson1@justice.gov.uk

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

Experience
Statement of Suitability - 750 word limit

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
Behaviours
Changing and Improving
Making Effective Decisions
Working Together
Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.

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.