24364 - Head of Courts and Tribunals Fees Policy
Overview:
Do you enjoy working on varied, high profile and fast paced work? Need a new challenge and fancy working as part of a dynamic, collaborative team?
Following a recent pivotal Supreme Court judgement and in recognition of the fact that there needs to be a more holistic approach for what court and tribunal fees look like in the future, we are looking for a Band A, who has a proven track record of excellent leadership, to develop and take forward a portfolio of fees reforms which support a modern, open and accessible system of courts and tribunals.
The Courts and Tribunals fees policy team is part of the Access to Justice Directorate within the Policy Communications and Analysis Group.
Courts and Tribunals Fees Policy is an exciting, fast paced and challenging policy area which has significant interest from our Secretary of State, Permanent Secretary, Ministers, No.10, HMT, Cabinet Office and Judiciary, offering a good opportunity to engage widely. We work on a daily basis with lawyers, analysts and finance colleagues in order to ensure well-rounded and robust advice that addresses complex issues.
We are looking for a motivated, self-starter to help shape, deliver and promote the court and tribunal fees policy work and:
- Provide the strong leadership necessary for the successful development of a portfolio of income reform projects. The full details of the portfolio are to be agreed, but will include the reforms to the Help with Fees scheme, and the options for re-introducing fees in Employment Tribunals.
- Lead engagement with a range of external stakeholders, including legal professions, representatives of employers and trades unions, as well as the judiciary, to help shape the reform programme.
- Take the lead in briefing Ministers, in writing and in meetings, on the progress of the options in the portfolio, enduring their views are reflected in the work as it develops.
We are looking for someone who is capable of being a strong and visible leader not only within the Legal Support and Court Fees Policy Team but also in the wider Access to Justice Directorate.
The role is offered to candidates on level transfer and on promotion from Band B. There may be other Band A opportunities in the directorate and so a reserve list of candidates may also be created for similar roles.
Job description: We are looking for someone who can demonstrate strong leadership across the full range of policy skills and competences. In particular we are looking for someone who can demonstrate:
- experience of developing evidence based policy and consultations. Work requires the ability to look afresh at existing practice and evidence, to develop new approaches supported by robust policy justifications to fee recovery.
- experience of developing and implementing secondary legislation.
- excellent stakeholder management skills as the post will require the development and maintenance of stakeholder relationships at a senior level in MoJ, HMCTS, with other Government departments, the Judiciary and external stakeholders.
- strong numeracy skills and can show that they are comfortable working with all forms of data and in preparing impact assessments and Equalities Statements.
Desirable skills/expertise
Previous experience of the work of the civil and family courts and tribunals and/or civil and family justice and tribunal policy would be helpful, but not essential.
Any additional skills/expertise required specific to this assignment which is not covered in the list above? N/A
Line management responsibilities: The post holder will be responsible for the direct management of a small, talented team of one Band B and one Band C to support this work.
Opportunities for development: This post offers opportunities to develop further the post holder’s policy development skills - the role will contribute to the departmental vision of a modern justice system. The role will also offer provide opportunities to develop stakeholder engagement skills through exposure to Ministers and external stakeholders.
Is the assignment open to flexible working (all assignments must be open to flexible working arrangements except in exceptional circumstances with clear business justification)? Yes. This is a full-time post based in 102 Petty France, however, applications for part-time working will be considered. In addition, the post is in a unit operating under the TW3 model and flexible working arrangements are actively encouraged.
Does the assignment require travel/overseas travel or some requirement to work additional hours? None.
Expected Start Date As soon as possible.
Relevant competencies
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Leading and Communicating
- Making effective decisions
- Collaborating and Partnering
- Delivering at Pace
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.
Eligibility
Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.
28/02/2019, 23:55 hours.
Closing Date: 28th February 2019 at 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.
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.
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.