25738 -Tribunal Case Worker - Hagley Road

£26,161 - £33,601
1
12 Months
West Midlands
Birmingham
HAGLEY ROAD BIRMINGHAM, B16 8PE
HEO
C
Permanent
Full Time
Operational Delivery

Please note, All candidates that are successful at the sift stage will be invited to the interview stage. The Interview will comprise of two parts. The First part will be a scenario based Judicial Assessment. The second part will be a competency based interview on the 4 competencies listed above.

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Background:


HM Courts and Tribunals Service is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales, and non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland.


We are an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. Every year, we handle more than 2 million criminal cases, 1.8 million civil claims, 150,000 family law disputes, almost 800,000 tribunal cases and we collect over £440m of fines imposed by courts.


Our 15,000 people working in around 349 courts, tribunals and national centres, play a vital role in maintaining the rule of law, supporting access to justice for all, and providing support to an independent judiciary in the administration of justice.


HMCTS is in the second year of our ambitious six-year programme to reform the courts and tribunals system. Together, we are changing how we work to ensure that our justice system continues to lead and inspire the world, and works better for everyone, from judges and legal professionals, to witnesses, litigants and the vulnerable victims of crime.


Role Overview:


The First-tier Tribunal (Tax), is based at the Hagley Road Birmingham. It is the HMCTS national centre for the processing of cases in the First-tier Tribunal (Tax)- from issue of the case through to hearing, final determination and post hearing work. The team handle a wide range of cases from relatively straightforward appeals against fixed £100 late filing penalties, or duties on purchases or gifts from overseas to complex appeals involving hundreds of millions of pounds. The team have a good reputation for improving services to customers through continuous improvement, working with colleagues and stakeholder


Working within the First-tier Tribunal (Tax), the tribunal caseworker will be one of a team that support the effective administration of Tribunals business by undertaking a range of delegated decision making, case work and assessment activity to determine how best to advance case loads and remove any barriers to effective and timely case progression.


Key responsibilities:


Working closely with judiciary, legal professionals and tribunal administration teams, the tribunal caseworker will undertake initial assessments on a range of incoming tribunals work, including case files, applications and correspondence to establish the level of authority and expertise needed to address the case and determine the most effective route for case progression. Working to delegated judicial functions and working to directions from the judiciary, the tribunal caseworker will provide ongoing and proactive management of caseloads, identifying any barriers or risks to effective case progression and developing interventions or actions to resolve these, liaising with a range of key stakeholders and the public.


The appointment will be to the First-tier Tribunal (Tax); however, the caseworker will be expected develop expertise across a number of tribunal jurisdictions in order to provide flexible technical case support across tribunals business if required.


Key activities will include:


Initial Case Assessment


The tribunal caseworker will be required to undertake initial assessment on incoming tribunals documentation and liaise with various stakeholders, including service users, to ensure effective case progression, this may include:


  • Identify that claims / appeals have been lodged within the relevant timelines
  • Ensure that claims / appeals are being addressed by the correct tribunal and at correct tribunal tier
  • Ensuring claims / appeals are made on the correct documentation and that all the information necessary to progress the case is present
  • Ensuring claims and appeals are allocated to the correct appeal type and where appropriate listing track

Technical Casework


Using delegated judicial functions tribunal caseworkers will be required to provide ongoing, high quality casework throughout case progression, ensuring any potential barriers are addressed and that tribunal resources are effectively allocated. This may include:


  • Issuing directions to parties to file certain evidence and other documents
  • Giving of listing instructions to administrative staff
  • Ensuring the panel composition is appropriate to the case
  • Ensuring any interpreter requirements are identified
  • Effectively communicating with parties to an appeal by telephone, email and bespoke correspondence.

Applications from parties to the appeal


Working to delegated judicial powers, caseworkers will be expected to identify and sift applications, making decisions where appropriate on:


  • Postponing hearings
  • Transferring proceedings to another jurisdiction
  • Requests to withdraw proceedings
  • Extensions and variations of time to comply with an aspect of procedure rules
  • Requests to vary directions

Multi-Jurisdictional Expertise


Tribunal caseworkers will be expected to develop expertise across a number of tribunal jurisdictions in order to provide flexible technical case support across tribunals business.


Communicating with key stakeholders


  • Ensuring effective engagement with judiciary, user groups and representative organisations to progress tribunals work effectively
  • Think beyond own area of responsibility, considering wider policy and organisational implications of issues.

Administration


Undertake any administration necessary to support the effective delivery of the Tribunal Caseworker role, ensuring:


  • All relevant documentation is completed fully, accurately and in timely manner
  • All physical and electronic tribunal case files and records are properly and tidily maintained.

Accountability


The tribunal caseworker will report to a manager within the First-tier Tribunal (Tax).


In working under delegated judicial functions, the caseworker will receive significant technical input and direction from the relevant tribunal judiciary and in the Tax Tribunal from the Tax Appeals Registrar.


Other duties


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


Desirable Experience


Law degree, qualified accountant or equivalent technical experience in the application of tax legislation or appeals or social security legislation or appeals.


Location of Post


The role will be based at 54 Hagley Road Birmingham, although working from other regional HMCTS locations may be expected. National travel will be an occasional requirement.


Key Civil Service Competencies


You will be required to provide evidence of the following key competencies at Level 3


Changing and improving


  • Be prepared to take managed risks, ensuring these are planned and their impact assessed.
  • Actively encourage ideas from a wide range of sources and stakeholders and use these to inform your own thinking.
  • Be willing to meet the challenges of difficult or complex changes, encouraging and supporting others to do the same.
  • Regularly review procedures or systems with teams to identify improvements and simplify processes and decision making

Making Effective Decisions


  • Make decisions when they are needed, even if they prove difficult or unpopular.
  • Identify a range of relevant and credible information sources and recognise the need to collect new data when necessary from internal and external sources
  • Recognise the scope of your own authority for decision making working under delegated judicial functions.
  • Invite challenge and, where appropriate, involve others in decision making to help build engagement and present robust recommendations.

Collaborating and Partnering


  • Establish relationships with a wide range of stakeholders to support the delivery of business outcomes.
  • Actively seek input from a diverse range of people.
  • Readily share resources to support higher priority work, showing pragmatism and support for the shared goals of the organisation.
  • Encourage collaborative team working within your own team and across the Department.

Delivering at Pace


  • Show a positive approach in keeping your own and the team’s efforts focused on the goals that really matter
  • Take responsibility for delivering expected outcomes on time and to standard, giving credit to teams and individuals as appropriate.
  • Plan ahead but reassess workloads and priorities if situations change or people are facing conflicting demands
  • Regularly monitor your own and the team’s work against milestones or targets and act promptly to keep work on track and maintain performance

Operational Delivery in HMCTS


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.


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 salary sacrifice arrangements for childcare vouchers, and voluntary benefits such as retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • 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.

Expected end April 2019

26/04/2019, 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 - 25738.

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.

Candidate Information

You may be required to provide statements describing your skills and experience relevant to each of the selection criteria. We recommend that you structure any examples as Situation, Task, Action and Result. For more information about the recruitment process and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

In the event of a large number of applications, we reserve the right to undertake the following processes:


  • An automated online test where a benchmark must be passed to progress;
  • A sift on the lead selection criteria. If this happens, the lead criteria will be the first one listed in the advert.

During the selection process, you may be asked to undertake an additional assessment (such as written test). If this is applicable you will be notified of this when you are invited to interview.



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
Changing and Improving
Making Effective Decisions
Collaborating and Partnering
Delivering at Pace

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

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.

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.