69789 - Assistant Private Secretary to the President of the Family Division/International Family Justice Support Officer
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.
Overview
This is an exciting opportunity to work in a busy Judicial Private Office supporting some of the most senior judiciary in the country. The postholder will support the leadership of the Private Office of Sir Andrew McFarlane, the President of the Family Division (PFD). Based within the Grade 1 listed Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ), the postholder will work closely with the PFD to support the delivery of his delegated leadership responsibilities.
The Judicial Office
The Judicial Office is an Arm’s Length Body of the Ministry of Justice. We are a unique branch of the civil service, independent from Government, and dedicated to supporting judges, promoting judicial independence, strengthening the rule of law and improving the administration of justice by supporting the leadership and governance of the judiciary.
We ultimately report to the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals to enable them and the wider judicial leadership team, of which the PFD is a key part, to fulfil their leadership responsibilities to the judiciary and an ever-evolving justice system.
As a small organisation we offer distinctive opportunities. Staff at all grades have exposure to members of the senior judiciary and are encouraged to observe meetings of the Judicial Office Management Board.
The Team
The Private Office to the President of the Family Division supports Sir Andrew McFarlane in his role as the Head of Family Justice. The team consists of the Private Secretary and Deputy Private Secretaries, as well as the Legal Adviser to the President, a Family Policy/Strategy lead, an Assistant Private Secretary/ Family Operations Officer and Senior Personal Secretary. The team also delivers the secretariat support to the Family Justice Council.
The Role
The postholder will be jointly responsible for management of the International Family Justice Office (IFJO) alongside the President’s Legal Adviser, providing high quality support to the senior judiciary heading up the IFJO. Building strong relationships with stakeholders across the system such as domestic and overseas judiciary, government officials and external bodies will be imperative.
Alongside IFJO work, the postholder will hold Assistant Private Secretary responsibilities, supporting the President of the Family Division in his priorities for the Family Justice System. This may include supporting key projects, the Court of Protection and organising conferences and committee meetings.
Main areas of work will include the following:
- Management of the IFJO mailbox jointly with the legal adviser.
- Working with the legal adviser to respond urgently to case management queries from overseas and domestic judiciary, external bodies and members of the public.
- Supporting the Judicial Head and Deputy Head of the IFJO.
- Organising and supporting the legal adviser with judicial visits from overseas.
- Organisation of crossover meetings or conferences involving both the PFD’s Office and IFJO.
- Networking/contact with external bodies and agencies.
- Planning, monitoring and finance responsibility for the IFJO budget.
- Secretarial responsibility (including preparing agenda and minutes) for the International Family Law Committee meetings.
- Secretarial responsibility (including preparing agenda and minutes) for the Officials Working Group meetings.
- Attending the Child Abduction Co-ordination Group meetings.
- Supporting the deputy private secretaries in the administration and secretariat of Court of Protection business where required.
Other responsibilities include providing support, leadership and guidance for courts judiciary, particularly to leadership judges. You may also be required to attend other ad hoc meetings, as well as have the ability to act as an ambassador for the PFD, communicating with senior stakeholders with accuracy and sensitivity towards views, concerns and questions as required.
Person Specification
The successful candidate will have:
- strong organisational skills, an ability to deliver under pressure and experience of working closely with senior figures. The position involves providing support to the President and his leadership Judges in the exercise of their statutory and leadership functions.
- excellent oral and written communication skills to build good working relationships with all levels of the judiciary, Judicial Office colleagues, and officials from other government departments.
An awareness of family law and/or experience of working with the judiciary would be desirable, but not essential.
We will assess you against the following behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at pace
- Working together
- Managing quality service
- Communicating and influencing
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
- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
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.
06/02/2023, 23:55 hours.
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.
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
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.