27042 - Private Secretary to the Senior Presiding Judge

£52,064 - £70,356
2
12 Months
London
London
London CTS Royal Courts of Justice, WC2A 2LL
Grade 7, Grade 6
A
Permanent
Full Time
Operational Delivery

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a busy Judicial Private Office and would suit someone looking for a stretching role, leading a team of 10 and working with some of the most senior judiciary in the country. Based in the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ), the post holder will work closely with the Senior Presiding Judge, now Lady Justice Macur, to head the teams supporting both her and the 14 Presiding Judges and 8 Family Division Liaison Judge she leads. The post holder is visible across the Judicial Office as a team leader in an important post.

The Judicial Office

The post is based in the Judicial Office (JO), an Arm’s Length Body of the Ministry of Justice. Our purpose is to strengthen the rule of law and improve the administration of justice by supporting the leadership and governance of our independent judiciary. We are a unique branch of the civil service, independent from Government, dedicated to supporting the judiciary and promoting judicial independence, to maintain confidence in the rule of law. We help the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals fulfil their responsibilities to the judiciary, in an ever-evolving justice system. Through our specialist teams we support some 22,000 judicial office holders, providing policy, legal and handling advice and operational support.

The Judicial Office reports to, and is accountable, to the Lord Chief Justice and was set up in 2006 to provide support to him and to the wider judiciary following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. In addition, we support, and are accountable to, the Senior President of Tribunals, whose responsibilities extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/judicial-office/

The Senior Presiding Judge

The SPJ’s responsibilities and remit include:

  • Representing the Lord Chief Justice on the HMCTS Board;
  • Providing support, leadership, and guidance for courts judiciary, in particular to leadership judges;
  • Addressing issues which impact on Judicial Morale;
  • The effective and efficient operation of the courts, including regular meetings with those involved in the work of the courts, and working with judges to understand and improve performance;
  • Acting as ‘Chief of Staff’ for the Lord Chief Justice, dealing with the day–to–day issues affecting the judiciary, across a wide-ranging field including diversity, HR casework, and appointments

Job Description

The successful candidate will be expected to build strong relationships with the SPJ and other senior members of the judiciary, gaining their trust, respecting their confidence and providing appropriate challenge. The post holder will need to work closely with colleagues in other parts of the Judicial Office and in HMCTS, investing time to develop good relationships to ensure the SPJ has all the information she needs to reach decisions and address the concerns of the judiciary. A key aspect of this role is to engage HMCTS to help them understand the judicial perspective on various services for which they are responsible including security and facilities management.

Main Responsibilities

  • Set the agenda and brief for regular meetings between the SPJ, Ministers, and senior officials from across Government and Agencies; note and pursue action points and communicate and implement decisions, working with colleagues in the JO Press Office and Communications Team where necessary.
  • Support the SPJ in her role as a member of the Judicial Executive Board, the Judges’ Council, HMCTS Board and HMCTS Property Board.
  • Support the SPJ in her leadership of the Presiding Judges’ and Resident Judges.
  • Work closely with colleagues across the relevant private offices and the Judicial Office Courts and Tribunals Reform team to ensure a joined-up approach to Reform projects as they transition into business as usual
  • Develop excellent working relationships with key contacts across HMCTS
  • Lead nine members of staff (a Band A Legal Secretary, two Band B’s, five Band C’s and a Band D) with a focus on training and development.
  • Ensure the team can respond flexibly, effectively and at pace, to requests for support across the full range of the Private Office's functions and that there are efficient systems in place to support the SPJ, Deputy SPJ, Presiding Judges and Family Division Liaison Judges.
  • Lead the team in:

    Person Specification

    The successful candidate must be able to influence and manage upwards and speak with authority when dealing with senior officials or judiciary. Excellent communication and leadership skills are required. Line management experience is desirable as is the ability to work collaboratively through building and maintaining a network of colleagues and contacts across various teams both within your own department and in external organisations.

    Desirable Skills

    Operational experience, particularly within the criminal justice system is desirable.

    Experience of working with the judiciary would be an advantage.

    You will be assessed against these behaviours during the selection process:

    • Communicating and influencing
    • Working together
    • Delivering at pace
    • Seeing the big picture

    Selection process details

    Applicants will be assessed using Success Profiles (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles) and the sift will assess the behaviours outlined above.

    At interview we will be assessing behaviours and strengths.

    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.

    Expected: w/c 22 July
    not applicable

    28/06/2019, 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 - 27042.

    For more information about the role, please contact Maxine Fidler on 020 7073 0317, or at Maxine.Fidler@judiciary.uk and she will arrange for you to speak to the vacancy manager.

    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
    Seeing the Big Picture - word limit
    Communicating and Influencing - word limit
    Delivering at Pace - word limit
    Working Together - word limit
    Experience

    Interview stage assessments

    There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
    Behaviours
    Seeing the Big Picture
    Communicating and Influencing
    Delivering at Pace
    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.