74886 - Crown Court Clerk

£29,664 - £31,200
20
12 Months
London
Harrow , Hendon , Isleworth , Kingston-upon-Thames , London, Woolwich
HARROW CROWN HARROW, HA1 4TU, INNER LONDON CROWN LONDON, SE1 6AZ, ISLEWORTH CROWN ISLEWORTH, TW7 5LP, KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES CROWN KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES, KT1 2BB, WOOD GREEN CROWN LONDON, N22 5LF, WOOLWICH CROWN LONDON, SE28 0EY, London CTS Central Criminal Court, EC4M 7EH
EO
EO
Permanent
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Operational Delivery

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.

These positions are available for external applicants as well as existing civil servants on level transfer or promotion. 

New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum. Secondments and loans will be considered on an individual basis.  

HM Courts and Tribunals Service

Directorate: London Region

Job Title: Crown Court Clerk (20 posts available)

Locations: Central Criminal Court/City Nightingale Court, Harrow Crown, Inner London Crown, Isleworth Crown, Kingston upon-Thames Crown, Wood Green Crown/Hendon, Woolwich Crown

Duration: Permanent Contract

Pay Span or equivalent: EO (Band D)

Salary: London (within M25): £29,664 - £31,200

These positions are available for external applicants as well as existing civil servants on level transfer or promotion.

New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum. Secondments and loans will be considered on an individual basis. 

Background:

HM Court and Tribunals Service is an agency of the Ministry of Justice and provides the supporting administration for the judiciary across England and Wales. It presently delivers services to the public directly in court and tribunal buildings, remotely via business centres and through limited services via the internet. HMCTS’s ambition is to improve the services we deliver to the public directly in court and tribunal buildings, design new Courts & Tribunals Service Centres to deliver a national business and enhance our digital on-line services.

Consequently, there are high expectations of all staff regardless of the job they do and high performance is expected from everybody. The organisation is continuously adopting new or better ways of working to ensure that it focuses on just that which is essential.  EO grade staff will need to display a commitment to four key principles: continuous change, LEAN principles, managing uncertainty and improving performance. All those appointed to new roles in HMCTS must be wholeheartedly committed to these principles and evidence this in their application.

The Crown Court Clerk role offers an exciting and unique opportunity to work with the judiciary and ensure high-level support is provided to operational delivery teams in maximising court room efficiency. We are looking for highly motivated, professional and confident staff with excellent communication skills that want to join us on this challenge to ensure delivery of our world leading justice system continues to serve and meet the publics needs and expectations.  We need resilient, resourceful and adaptable people to support us on this journey.

These operational roles are customer facing, requiring successful applicants to be office based to provide HMCTS services to the public. HMCTS offers a flexible working system in many of its offices, subject to business needs being met

The Role:

Our justice system defends our fundamental rights and freedoms. It is a cornerstone of our modern society and it must serve all those who call on it, when they call on it. From some of the most vulnerable people in our society, to families in crisis, claimants and commercial businesses – we have a responsibility to deliver a Justice system that is accessible to everyone and operates efficiently. 

As a Crown Court clerk you will play a vital role in our Justice system working in a unique and rewarding position, where you will be a key participant within a live Crown Court, however we appreciate this role is not for everyone. It is a unique position at the heart of justice, which requires you to have high emotional resilience and be able to understand and be sensitive to many, sometimes difficult, issues and take a non-judgmental approach to our service users.

We are looking for confident communicators; people who are able to speak publicly and have the self-assurance to confidently liaise with the Judge, the defence, prosecution, media, members of the public and more, regarding complex and sensitive matters in a calm and professional manner. 

To be successful in this role, you will need to have experience of effectively managing your time, working in a complex environment under pressure and to targets, able to produce time critical court orders and to record hearing outcomes accurately and efficiently.   You will be an active part of a clerking team to ensure the smooth running of all the crown courts sitting daily and to maximise judicial sitting time and will ensure the appropriate codes of conduct are applied to the courtroom and other areas of the court premises whilst the court is sitting and to actively intervene where required and encourage compliance.

You will manage a team that you will be able to successfully lead ensuring they meet their objectives; managing both team and individual performance. 

Learning quickly, being able to adapt at short notice and having a high level of attention is essential as you will be taking verdicts and conducting arraignments amongst many other duties. We are constantly investing in digital solutions to allow us to improve the way we deliver the justice people deserve in today’s world, so it is imperative that you are IT proficient and able to adapt to new systems and technologies.

You will manage a team that you will be able to successfully lead ensuring they meet their objectives, managing both team and individual performance. 

This role gives you the opportunity to make a difference in HMCTS and gives you the benefits of working within the Civil Service. 

We’re passionate about delivering justice for everybody in the UK. That means having a diverse workforce that fully represents the people we serve. If you have the confidence and desire to make a difference and are interested in applying for this role, please see the Crown Court clerk job description. 

Key Purpose:

To manage a courtroom to ensure that cases are dealt with promptly in liaison with judiciary, legal profession and staff to ensure that all subsequent results are accurately & promptly recorded in line with targets. Also, to ensure that all ancillary duties are carried out effectively.

Please note, whilst the post holder will be allocated to a specific office base, there may be a need for flexibility to work regularly at other local HMCTS sites / courts.

This role is part of the Operational Delivery Profession. Operational delivery professionals are the outward face of government, providing essential services to the public in a variety of roles. They work in many different departments and agencies across the breadth of the UK, delivering service to customers in

•    Face-to-face roles in HMCTS for example a court usher
•    Contact Centre roles in HMCTS for example call centre advisers
•    Processing roles in HMCTS for example Staff at the County Courts Money-Claims Centre and Courts and Tribunal Administration

Being part of the operational delivery profession means belonging to a cross-government community of people.  This will offer you access to information on professional standards, skills development and qualifications to help you continue to improve your development and performance and expand your career options.

Key Responsibilities:

Administration:

•    To ensure that a comprehensive log is kept of representation orders and that a judge’s report is available at all sentence hearings.
•    To accurately prepare case summaries for Resident Judge.
•    To ensure that applications for representation orders are checked and approved upon authorisation of Judge.
•    To determine all claims for costs including re-determinations, Prior Authority and Wasted Costs and provide written reasons in accordance with the appropriate regulations and within targets.
•    To determine accurately witnesses’ expenses within target times and provide written reasons upon request when required in accordance with guidelines.
•    Process general correspondence within target and in particular procedural deadlines for any resulting amendments.
•    Ensure compliance with financial and operational risk management policies when determining and processing costs in accordance with department guidelines.
•    Undertake any allocated tasks as part of the role i.e. PA Role to Judiciary when required; arranging marshalling and swearing in of Justices.

Operations:

•    To ensure efficient through put of listed work in the allocated court room on a daily basis, giving appropriate support to judiciary and keeping the List Office and other agencies fully appraised of developments when necessary. 
•    To meet with the Judge before sitting and to be available in Court as required.
•    To maintain full recording of hearings using the DARTS technology ensuring accurate audio allocation to correct cases. 
•    To sit in court on a daily basis and ensure that cases called on time, all parties are in court at appropriate time. Correct phraseology used for arraignment, empanelling, taking verdicts 
•    To maintain the court file including accurate recording of relevant matters and judicial decisions, accurate completion of Xhibit/Common Platform log and Crest Orders and all subsequent forms, orders and results exported onto the Portal within Target.
•    Carry out 100% HMCTS assurance programme compliance of all Resulting and ensure appropriate risks are identified and managed. 
•    Ensure that appropriate codes of conduct are applied to the Courtroom and other areas of the Court premises whilst sitting and during adjournments and to actively intervene and encourage compliance.
•    To ensure that obligations under the Victim Code and the standards under the Witness Charter are complied with.
•    Ensure all court users are treated fairly and with respect and understand how their own performance impacts on that of the court and the confidence of users.
•    Ensure that appropriate files are passed to administration teams within agreed target times.
•    Take part in and deliver employee engagement activities to effect good working relationships with staff and to improve service delivery and staff morale / motivation.
•    Comply with HMCTS values, policies and procedures (including diversity, attendance and discipline).
•    Maintain effective working relationships with the judiciary, supporting agencies, voluntary and user groups. Working with agencies to improve the level of service offered to users. 
•    Apply LEAN principles, tools and techniques to working practices to improve efficiency of operations.
•    Perform any Incident Control Duties as required in the ‘in court role’

Team Leadership:

•    Lead a team of staff ensuring that its members are organised, and fully skilled to meet their work objectives. Effectively managing both team and individual performance, addressing any issues as they arise, in line with HR policy.

Processing & Managing Casework:

•    Work with staff to ensuring that casework is appropriately managed, providing information / advice where process deviations have occurred.

Calculations and Analysis:

•    Identify & implement solutions to local problems, referring more complex problems to the line manager

Communicating with the public, juries, the judiciary, other court and tribunal users and representatives of other agencies and organisations:

•    Ensure effective and timely liaison with Judiciary, Counsel, List Officer, Jury Officer, Ushers and Court users to maintain high levels of court performance.
•    Ensure Customer Standards are maintained and improved; complaints and dealt within target and in line with HMCTS Complaints Handling Policy and any feedback on lessons learnt is shared with staff.

Specialisms:

•    To have a working knowledge of functions undertaken within the Cluster, to support the development and review of policies and procedures. 
•    To provide specific functions as directed by line management in line with the SOP for providing that service.

Other Duties:

The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post.

Locations:

Whilst business needs are constantly changing, we currently have vacancies in the following Crown Court locations. 

Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey)/City Nightingale Court, Harrow, Isleworth, Inner London Crown Kingston upon Thames, Wood Green/Hendon, Woolwich. 

The application form will allow you to select up to 3 preferred locations.

Please note, the Central Criminal Court and Wood Green Crown Courts operate satellite sites. For example, Hendon is a subsidiary of Wood Green. Candidates selecting these sites will be required work/travel to these satellite sites on a temporary or regular basis. Where applicable, associated travel cost/time will be applied in line with organisational policies. For employment contract purposes, candidates will be appointed to the main site.

Successful applicants will be vetted to Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) level. However, some sites require the higher-level Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) checks to be completed. Once allocated a site these checks, where applicable, will be undertaken.

Subject to business needs, you may be required to travel to alternate locations to support the continuation of operations across the London Crown Courts – where applicable, associated travel cost/time will be applied in line with organisational policies.

Essential Skills & Criteria:

To be successful in this role, you should have the following:

•    Experience of working in an administrative role in a customer focussed environment
•    Proficient with IT and Microsoft Software packages
•    Excellent communication and organisational skills

Application Process:

To apply for this position please complete the online application form, ensuring you provide the following:

A 250-word suitability statement against each of the following Success Profile Behaviours (Level 2):

•    Making Effective Decisions
•    Communicating and Influencing 
•    Managing a Quality Service

In the event we receive a large volume of applications, we will sift using the lead Success Profile Behaviour:

Making Effective Decisions.

If selected for interview, the Success Profile Behaviours listed above will also be tested / assessed (Level 2). 

Interviews will also test two Strengths. Please also note that interviews may be required to be conducted via video conference. 

Further information on Success Profile Behaviours and Strengths, as well as the required standards for this post (Level 2), can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles     

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.

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.

Terms & Conditions:

Flexible working options

HMCTS offers a flexible working system in many of its offices.

Job Sharing and Reduced Hours

All applications for job sharing or reduced hours will be treated fairly and on a case by case basis in accordance with the MoJ’s flexible working policy and equality policy.

Excess Fares and Relocation Allowances

This job is not eligible for relocation allowances, but excess fares may be considered in accordance with MoJ’s excess fares allowance policy.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Interviews expected commencing 22nd June 2023

02/06/2023, 23:55 hours.

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com Please quote the job reference - 74886.

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
Communicating and Influencing - 250 word limit
Managing a Quality Service - 250 word limit

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
Behaviours
Making Effective Decisions
Communicating and Influencing
Managing a Quality Service
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.