29125 - Caseworker - Judicial Conduct Investigations Office

£26,411 - £30,324
2
12 Months
London
London
RCJ LONDON, WC2A 2LL
EO
D
Permanent
Full Time
Other

Candidates who pass the sift will be required to complete a written assessment prior to the interview.

Background

The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office is an independent statutory body in the Judicial Office which supports the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice by considering complaints about judicial misconduct. We are a team of 15 staff.

This is interesting and important work which directly contributes to public confidence in the judiciary. The role will give an insight into the judicial disciplinary system and an opportunity to develop a range of skills as part of a friendly and hardworking team.

It helps to have a background working in the court environment, however this isn’t a prerequisite of the role as we encourage team members to visit courts to observe different types of hearings to get a better understanding of how the courts operate.

For more information about the JCIO see: https://judicialconduct.judiciary.gov.uk

See Judicial Office staff talk about working within the JO: https://design102.wistia.com/medias/uhgtmbtnlv

Location

We are based in the Queen’s Building, Royal Courts of Justice, Strand London, WC2A 2LL

The Role

As a caseworker in the JCIO your duties will include:

  • Writing to complainants summarising their concerns and providing an indication of whether the complaint is dismissed or what steps you can take to investigate.
  • Keep in touch appropriately and sensitively with all parties involved in the consideration and resolution of a complaint.
  • Provide monthly updates to the complainant, judicial office-holder and any other relevant party whilst the complaint is being considered.
  • Gather and analyse evidence, such as comments from the judicial office-holders, recordings of hearings or third party statements.
  • Prepare submissions and make recommendations for the nominated judge, Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice’s consideration.
  • Ensure accurate casework information is maintained on the online case management system (CMS).
  • Use CMS to proactively manage your caseload and monitor your own performance against targets.
  • Be prepared to offer feedback on the efficiency of CMS, testing any new features introduced and making suggestions on areas for improvement.
  • Provide assistance to complainants who make enquiries over the phone or in writing. This includes supporting complainants on how to submit their complaints using the online portal.
  • Keep people who have an interest in the case up to date with progress on the complaint, providing information promptly when requested to do so. (These include Private Office staff, Press Office, Judicial Office, Customer Service Unit and parts of MoJ HQ, senior members of the judiciary, Advisory Committees and Tribunals.)
  • Assist with queries from the Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman’s office about your own cases.

The successful candidate will be expected to play an active part in the JCIO team by taking part in project work, contributing to team meetings and contributing to work across the Judicial Office. The JCIO have a week team meeting, which all staff are expected to chair, on a rota basis.

 

Key Requirements

Essential

  • Excellent analytical ability and attention to detail
  • Excellent communications skills and the ability to confidently handle difficult conversations
  • Ability to draft advice and correspondence to a high standard.
  • Ability to manage a varied workload and re-prioritise to meet competing demands.
  • While the successful candidate will not be required to have prior knowledge of the judicial disciplinary system, a willingness to proactively work to acquire that knowledge is essential.  

Desirable

  • Basic knowledge of the judicial system
  • Experience of drafting for senior judges and/or senior officials.

 

You will be required to provide evidence of the following behaviours:

If a considerable number of applications are received, an initial sift will take place on the lead behaviour: Making Effective Decisions.

Making Effective Decisions

  • Take responsibility for making effective and fair decisions, in a timely manner.
  • Analyse and research further information to support decisions. Talk to relevant people to get advice and information when unsure how to proceed.
  • Explain how decisions have been reached in a clear and concise way, both verbally and in writing.

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.
  • Express ideas clearly and with respect for others.
  • Handle challenging conversations with confidence and sensitivity.

Delivering at Pace

  • Follow relevant policies, procedures and legislation to complete your work.
  • 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.

Working Together

  • Contribute to an inclusive working environment where all opinions and challenges are listened to and all individual needs are taken into account.
  • 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.

Managing a Quality Service

  • Create clear plans and set priorities which meet the needs of both the customer and the business.
  • Clearly explain to customers what can be done. Keep colleagues and stakeholders fully informed of plans, possibilities and progress.
  • Identify common problems that affect service, report them and find possible solutions.
  • Deliver good customer service which balances quality and cost effectiveness.

If you are successful for interview, please note you will also be tested on strength questions at this stage.

 

Flexible working hours

The JCIO follows the Judicial Office policy of endeavouring to support requests for flexible working which enable business delivery and allow staff to achieve an effective work-life balance. Prospective candidates should note that the nature of work in the JCIO means that, while flexible working is supported, working away from the office for more than one or two days per week is unlikely to be possible.

The job holder must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English or (when specified in Wales) Welsh.

For more information about the post, please contact Kim Webb on 0207 073 0316.

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.

To be confirmed

26/09/2019, 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 - 29125.
Counter-Terrorism Check (CTC)

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 - word limit
Communicating and Influencing - word limit
Delivering at Pace - word limit

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
Behaviours
Making Effective Decisions
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Managing a Quality Service
Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.
Additional Assessment(s)
Written Exercise

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.