22778 - Assistant Secretary to the Civil Justice Council

Overview

This vacancy is available to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited NDPBs who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition, or were appointed to a permanent post in accordance with an exception certified by the Civil Service Commissioners.

An opportunity has arisen to work in the CJC as part of the wider Master of the Rolls’ Private Office as Assistant Secretary to the Civil Justice Council. Reporting to the Council’s Secretary (the Master of the Rolls’ Private Secretary), the postholder will have a large degree of autonomy in running and supporting the Council, and in shaping policy.

The Civil Justice Council is a statutory non-departmental advisory body, chaired by the Master of the Rolls, providing advice to the Lord Chancellor on the modernisation and reform of the civil justice system.   The post provides an ideal opportunity to develop good working relationships with members of the judiciary, officials, lawyers and other stakeholders in the civil justice arena. It also offers the opportunity to gain experience of working as part of a busy Private Office.

The job will involve the planning, organisation, and attendance at a number of council and working party meetings and events, management of the Council website, Council finance, and potentially some delegated responsibility for some Private Secretary duties.

It provides opportunities for working on very interesting projects with some of the country’s leading experts, and is a perfect introduction to policy making and support.

Contact:           John Sorabji, Acting Private Secretary to the Master of the Rolls Tel: 020 7947 7830

Main Duties

Civil Justice Council

The Council was established by the Civil Procedure Act 1997, and is required to:

• Consider how to make the civil justice system more accessible, fair and efficient;
• Advise the Lord Chancellor and the judiciary on the development of the civil justice system
  refer proposals for changes in the civil justice system to the Lord Chancellor and the Civil Procedure Rule Committee; and
• Make proposals for research

The Council is chaired by the Master of the Rolls and meets four times a year. The majority of its work is done through a network of ad hoc working groups, who meet as and when required. Current examples are groups on fixed costs in lower value clinical negligence claims, facilities for vulnerable witnesses in civil courts and anti-social behaviour injunctions. The post also sends civil justice updates to members and seeks comments in-between meetings on issues – most typically in preparing responses to major consultation papers.

The Council gets involved (in roughly equal measure) in projects which it either proactively works on under its own initiative, a current example being the work on Alternate Dispute Resolution; or work which is commissioned by Government.

The Assistant Secretary will be responsible for the management of, and support to, the Council and its working groups including; the planning and organisation of meetings, the preparation of agenda, papers and minutes; management of the Council’s website and overseeing the co-ordination of the Business Plan and Annual Report; recruitment for new members of the Council and other ad hoc projects such as overseeing conference organisation. The job holder will be supported by and manage a Band D Administrator and Finance officer.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate some proven experience of drafting and committee work, moderate IT skills and communication and influencing skills.

Master of the Rolls’ Private Office

Supporting the Council will be a major part of the post, although as a member of the Master of the Rolls’ Private Office team, the job holder will assist the Private Secretary in support of the Master of the Rolls and the wider civil justice agenda. It will be important that the job holder is willing to be flexible.

The post will lead on supporting the Master of the Rolls in his work as Chairman of the Advisory Council on National Records and Archives.

Job Description

Duties may include:

• Managing an effective working relationship with the senior judiciary and Private Secretary, CJC members and stakeholder groups.
• Resolving complex or difficult issues and negotiating solutions throughout the development of proposals, and ensure they are underpinned with evidence.
• Ensuring issues are dealt with, exercising judgement.
• Providing high quality, timely accurate and clear advice / briefing on a wide range of civil justice issues (and other areas falling within the Master of the Rolls’ responsibilities). This will require being aware of what is going on across the civil justice system and the post-holder will need to understand and be able to summarise complex policy and operational issues quickly.
• Drafting complex and important submissions and briefings or consultation responses.
• Drafting the CJC Business Plan and Annual Report.
• Line managing a Band D finance and administrative support officer.

Skills & Qualifications

The successful candidate will be organised, strategic, have excellent and concise communications skills, and be able to prioritise and handle multiple issues concurrently. The post holder must be able to perform independently at a high level.

Person specification:
You will be required to provide evidence of the following Competencies:

Seeing the Big Picture:

• Develop an understanding of own area’s strategy and how this contributes to Departmental priorities
• Be alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact or benefit own and team’s work
• Actively seek out and share experience to develop understanding and knowledge of own work and of team’s business area.

Changing and Improving:

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

Making Effective Decisions:

• Explore different options outlining costs, benefits, risks and potential responses to each
• Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making to help build engagement and present robust recommendations.
• Make decisions when they are needed, even if they prove difficult or unpopular

Collaborating and Partnering:

• Establish relationships with a range of stakeholders to support delivery of business outcomes
• Actively seek input from a diverse range of people
• Encourage collaborative team working within own team and across the Department

Leading and Communicating

• Clarify strategies and plans, communicate purpose and direction with clarity and enthusiasm
• Stand by, promote or defend own and team’s actions and decisions where needed
• Confidently engage with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels to generate commitment to goals

Delivering at pace

• Clarify business priorities, roles and responsibilities and secure individual and team ownership
• Act as a role model in supporting and energising teams to build confidence in their ability to deliver outcomes
• Maintain effective performance in difficult and challenging circumstances, encouraging others to do the same

Closing Date: 17th December 2018 at 23:55

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 22778.