69589 - Head of Eligibility, Civil & Family Legal Aid Policy, Access to Justice Policy Directorate

The national salary range is £63,185 - £72,720, London salary range is £66,698 - £76,760. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
1
12 Months
London, Yorkshire and the Humber
Leeds , London
102 PETTY FRANCE (MOJ) LONDON, SW1H 9AJ, 5 WELLINGTON PLACE LEEDS, LS1 4AP
Grade 6
Grade 6
Permanent
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Policy

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.

The Access to Justice Policy Directorate is recruiting permanently for a G6 role. This campaign is open to current Civil Servants on level transfer and suitable candidates on promotion.

Location:

Successful candidates will have the option to be based at one of the following locations:

  1. 102 Petty France, London
  2. 5 Wellington Place, Leeds (occasional travel between Leeds and London may be required post Covid-19)

In order for Policy Group to meet its evolving business needs all Policy Group staff are expected to attend their base location (102 Petty France or 5 Wellington Place Leeds) at least 2 days a week.  This hybrid working arrangement is not contractual and as a result staff could be asked to attend their base location more frequently.

Ways of Working

At the MoJ we believe and promote alternative ways of working, these roles are available as:

  • Full-time, part-time or the option to job share
  • Flexible working patterns
  • Flexible working arrangements between base locations, MoJ Hubs and home.

At the moment the majority of our staff are currently working from home due to Covid-19.

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.

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

Job Description overview

Legal aid policy is an exciting, fast-paced and challenging policy area which has significant interest from our Ministerial Team, Permanent Secretary, HM Treasury and the Judiciary, as well as a highly engaged and vocal stakeholder base. We work on a daily basis with lawyers, analysts, finance and other policy teams, particularly Legal Support, Legal Services and Criminal, Civil and Family Justice Policy teams, as well as with operational colleagues in the Legal Aid Agency, to shape, develop and improve the legal aid system.

We are a friendly and highly motivated team who look out for each other and therefore maintain a high level of resilience even when the pressure is on. The Legal Aid Policy Division cuts across a wide range of departmental and cross-government policy areas, making a role in legal aid a great opportunity to better understand the wider strategic context. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and committed Grade 6 or Grade 7 on promotion to deliver a response to the Means Test Review consultation, implement a strategy for civil legal aid sustainability and evaluate what works and support the whole division in delivering key priorities for Ministers and OGDs.

This is a critical leadership role in a high profile, controversial policy area which is a priority for the Ministry of Justice and wider Government.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)

MoJ is one of the largest government departments, employing around 70,000 people (including those in the Probation Service), with a budget of approximately £9 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.

Access to Justice Directorate - what we do

As a core part of the MoJ’s Policy Group, the Access to Justice Directorate is a great place to work and consists of six individual Deputy Director-led policy Divisions including: Civil Justice and Law; Death Management, Inquests and Coroners; Dispute Resolution; Legal Support and Fees; Courts, Tribunals and Transparency; and Legal Aid. We also have a central team that provides the overall Directorate wide corporate business support.

As a Directorate we develop policy and deliver services to ensure that every person has equal opportunity to seek justice. We help ensure that people get the right support at the right time, providing them with the appropriate means to endorse their rights and entitlements.

We pursue fairer outcomes and strive to prevent problems from escalating. To deliver a system which is fair, accessible and resilient, we work collaboratively with others and respond to the diverse needs of users. We proactively engage with economic and societal changes and technological advances, taking an innovative and evidence-based approach to deliver access to justice for all.

We work closely with a huge variety of cross-government and external stakeholders including HM Courts and Tribunal Service, the judiciary, legal profession, business, the enforcement industry, the third sector and numerous other government departments.

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

The Legal Aid Policy Division – who are we and what do we do

The Legal Aid Policy Division helps facilitate access to and equality before the law for those who are most in need. We ensure that users who meet relevant merits and means tests can be properly advised and effectively participate in proceedings making the justice system function smoothly and efficiently.

We seek to deliver high quality and sustainable provision. To facilitate delivery of this, we work closely with stakeholders and operational partners to identify and meet the varying and changing needs of users. We do this by working collaboratively with stakeholders, operations and users.

Legal aid policy is dynamic. It adapts to changing needs. We seek to ensure that those in need of advice and representation can access quality provision, even if they lack the financial means to do so. This ensures the justice system works fairly for all involved.

The role

This is an exciting opportunity to shape a range of policy including the Government’s response to the Means Test Review Consultation and a market economist review of civil legal aid markets.  The role also oversees the portfolio, programme and stakeholder management for the whole Division including leading on cross-cutting commissions for Parliament. 

It is a senior leadership role which will provide strategic direction and ownership of a high-profile area of policy with links to several other areas of the department and wider Government. The key challenges are:

  • implementing the complex Means Test Review proposals, working closely with the Legal Aid Agency
  • leading a civil legal aid review aiming to inform policy development for civil legal aid ahead of the next Spending Review
  • ensuring that fast-paced delivery nonetheless takes account of the potentially significant legal and reputational risks to the department including the trade-offs, particularly at a time of heightened stakeholder dissatisfaction with the current legal aid system
  • working collaboratively with other parts of the department and OGDs, most notably with the Home Office who are leading on the National Security Bill
  • creating a culture to use evidence, data and information in an iterative, agile and innovative way to steer policy and delivery in this space, with specific oversight of an early legal advice pilot
  • ensuring appropriate connections are made with other policy teams and with the Legal Aid Agency

This is a high-profile, intellectually demanding role in which the successful applicants will be very visible to Ministers and senior officials. 

Policy and project responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for: 

  • implementing the Government’s response to the Means Test Review
  • managing varied pieces of litigation
  • progressing the civil legal aid sustainability review and associated pilots, a consultation on family legal aid in support of the Deputy Prime Minister’s priorities for family justice
  • progressing immigration and terrorism legislation in support of Home Office Bills
  • overseeing the cross-cutting function for the wider Division, which leads on portfolio management, planning and resourcing, responding to a wide range of commissions and stakeholder engagement
  • working with the Legal Aid Agency and its digital team on the policy development to ensure that the policy proposals are deliverable, including within the timescales required
  • leading and developing high functioning policy teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and diversity in policy making by looking at ways we can use evidence, data and research to support our work

People and corporate responsibilities

The post holder will have responsibility for leading a diverse team of around 17 people of mixed grades. The portfolio is divided into three teams led by G7s - the Civil and Family legal aid policy team; the Means Test Review team; and the divisional cross cutting team who lead on commissions for parliament, stakeholder management and portfolio and delivery including project and programme management.

The postholder will be a key member of the legal aid senior leadership team, role modelling inspirational, confident and engaging leadership and helping to create an inclusive and high performing division.

Within the wider Access to Justice (A2J) Directorate, they will be responsible for leading an area of the A2J People Strategy, under the sponsorship of a Deputy Director. They will also be expected to consider how their leadership and corporate work reaches beyond the Directorate into the wider Group and MoJ.

Essential Skills and Qualifications

The post holder will be able to demonstrate:

  • strong policy development and implementation skills, including the ability to develop policy proposals that are robust and defensible
  • inclusive leadership skills, including the ability to lead a diverse team from different backgrounds across a number of deliverables
  • excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build confidence and maintain relationships across Government and externally
  • how to bring strategic thinking to complex policy and delivery challenges, exercising sound judgement and bringing together a wide perspective of views
  • strong and clear communication skills, providing clear, evidenced advice and briefing, both written and oral, on complex policy areas to senior stakeholders and Ministers
  • the ability to use project and programme management skills in a fluid environment where priorities may need to change quickly

Desirable

  • It is desirable to have knowledge of legal aid, civil or family policy and/or government means testing frameworks.

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil Service Success Profiles framework.

Experience

During the application process you will be required to upload a CV in order for the panel to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.

We are also asking candidates to submit a Statement of Suitability up to a maximum of 1,250 words in which candidates are asked to set out how their skills and experience make them a strong match for the roles with reference to the skills and experience criteria above, using relevant examples to back up statements.

Behaviours

Please provide examples of how you have met each one of the behaviours listed below (see Annex A for more information):

  • Delivering at pace
  • Seeing the big picture
  • Making effective decisions
  • Communicating and influencing
  • Leadership

Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (Grade 7 and 6 or equivalent):

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf

Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on the lead behaviour of Delivering at Pace. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths.

Candidates invited to Interview

Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely.

During the interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours and Strengths from the success Profiles framework. 

There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.

You can refer to the CS Strengths dictionary for more details:  Success Profiles - Civil Service Strengths Dictionary (publishing.service.gov.uk)

All candidates will be required to give a presentation, the title of which will be shared with candidates who pass the sift. 

Interviews are expected to take place in February/March 2023.

At interview stage, if candidates do not score high enough to be appointed to a G6 role, but have passed the minimal requirements, they could be offered a Policy role at G7.

Candidates applying from HMPPS should note that the Ministry of Justice does not have the same conditions of employment as HMPPS. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful.

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.

Contact information  

Please do get in touch if you would like to know more about the role or what it is like working in our team: Lizzie Checkley and Claire Cooper, Joint Deputy Directors, Legal Aid Policy; Checkley.Cooper@justice.gov.uk

Annex A - The STAR method

Using the STAR method can help you give examples of relevant experience that you have. It allows you to set the scene, show what you did, and how you did it, and explain the overall outcome.

Situation - Describe the situation you found yourself in. You must describe a specific event or situation. Be sure to give enough detail for the job holder to understand.

  • Where are you?
  • Who was there with you?
  • What had happened?

Task - The job holder will want to understand what you tried to achieve from the situation you found yourself in.

  • What was the task that you had to complete and why?
  • What did you have to achieve?

Actions - What did you do? The job holder will be looking for information on what you did, how you did it and why. Keep the focus on you. What specific steps did you take and what was your contribution? Remember to include how you did it, and the behaviours you used. Try to use “I” rather than “we” to explain your actions that lead to the result. Be careful not to take credit for something that you did not do.

Results - Don’t be shy about taking credit for your behaviour. Quote specific facts and figures. Explain how the outcome benefitted the organisation or your area. Make the outcomes easily understandable.

  • What results did the actions produce?
  • What did you achieve through your actions and did you meet your goals?
  • Was it a successful outcome? If not, what did you learn from the experience?

Keep the situation and task parts brief. Concentrate on the action and the result. If the result was not entirely successful describe what you learned from this and what you would do differently next time. Make sure you focus on your strengths.

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.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

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 are expected to take place in February/March 2023.

30/01/2023, 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 - 69589.


Contact information  

Please do get in touch if you would like to know more about the role or what it is like working in our team: Lizzie Checkley and Claire Cooper, Joint Deputy Directors, Legal Aid Policy; Checkley.Cooper@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.

In the event that we receive a large volume of applications we reserve the right to conduct the sift based on one lead behaviour. The chosen lead behaviour for this campaign is Delivering at Pace.
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
Delivering at Pace - 250 word limit
Seeing the Big Picture - 250 word limit
Making Effective Decisions - 250 word limit
Communicating and Influencing - 250 word limit
Leadership - 250 word limit
Experience
CV
Statement of Suitability - 1250 word limit
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Delivering at Pace, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
Behaviours
Delivering at Pace
Seeing the Big Picture
Making Effective Decisions
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.
Additional Assessment(s)
Presentation

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.