23105 - Band B - Vulnerabilities, Victims and Family Justice Policy
About the Units
The Family & Criminal Justice Policy Directorate sits at the heart of MoJ’s policy agenda, working to reform complex systems that deal with some of the most vulnerable members of our society. The Vulnerabilities policy unit, the Victim and Witness Policy unit and the Family Justice Policy unit are fast paced exciting teams delivering on high-profile portfolios. All these units work closely with Ministers, No10 and the Senior Judiciary to tackle a range of complex issues and everything the teams do to deliver wide ranging portfolios is uniquely focussed on supporting those that need it most.
The Vulnerabilities Policy, unit is a relatively new. We lead on the Ministry of Justice’s cross-cutting vulnerabilities agenda, and aim to improve the experience of vulnerable people across the justice system. The division includes teams working on domestic abuse, mental capacity, child sexual abuse, criminal injuries compensation, and Registered Intermediaries, allowing us to bring a greater focus to supporting vulnerable users and protecting their rights whilst also playing a key part in the Government’s wider vulnerabilities agenda.
The Victim and Witness Policy unit is responsible for delivery of the recently published Victims Strategy and includes teams working on a new consultation on the Victims Code, sexual violence, commissioning of services for witnesses and victims of crime, parole policy from a victim’s perspective and how we respond to major incidents such as the Grenfell Tower disaster and terror attacks.
The Family Justice Policy unit is responsible for some of the most vulnerable children who need to be cared for by a local authority or placed for adoption, as well as children who find themselves the subject of a parental dispute about child arrangements when their parents have divorced or separated. The unit is also responsible for the legal processes by which adults can end their marriage or civil partnership with each other, including dividing assets and ongoing maintenance payments.
Joining our team(s) will give you opportunities to:
- Use and develop policy making, problem solving and strategic thinking skills across a number of complex and challenging issues
- Work closely, and often at speed, with senior officials and Ministers, as well as press and private offices on high profile issues;
- Work in partnership with other government departments, operational partners at a local level, and a wide range of high-profile stakeholders on a suite of interesting policies;
- Demonstrate and enhance your financial and analytical skills working closely with finance and analytical colleagues to understand the financial impact of policy ideas and make innovative policy within wider financial constraints;
- Manage key relationships with senior judiciary and ensure that the Government and the Courts work together effectively to deliver for vulnerable people; and
- Develop your leadership skills.
Flexible working (including home working, condensed hours and job sharing) is available.
Job Description
We are looking for 4 highly motivated and self-starting individuals to join the teams and support the Band A policy leads. Roles may include supporting development high-profile policy on the rights of victims of crime and criminal injuries compensation, policy on support to vulnerable victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system, policy on improving the operation of the family courts and supporting development of the future provision of services to witnesses in criminal courts, or working on family justice reform to develop and deliver changes to reduce family conflict and better protect children and vulnerable adults.
Roles will require you to work flexibly across the unit in which you are placed, making strategic connections to the wider work of the division and building relationships and connections across the department and its agencies. You will need to quickly establish a good rapport with a wide range of stakeholders including senior Judiciary and lawyers and representatives of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. You will also need to deliver at pace and be comfortable working with considerable autonomy. Previous policy experience is essential and familiarity with project management principles and working with the judiciary is desirable. Some travel may occasionally be required.
Duties may include:
- Policy development and delivery:
- Producing clear and concise advice / submissions to senior officials and Ministers on complex issues.
- Producing replies to PQs, Ministers Cases and other correspondence and preparing briefing (including topical briefs) and Q&A
- Building strong multi-disciplinary teams across government and operational agencies who work collaboratively to inform advice on policy, responding to urgent issues as they arise.
- Working with financial and analytical colleagues to estimate the impact and benefits of new policies including financial and equality impacts.
- Managing the interface between Ministerial and judicial decision-making in the family courts and overseeing the work of a judicial committee
- Contributing to the project management and governance of projects within the unit, by preparing relevant progress papers and updates for senior colleagues and governance boards.
- Line management for Band C colleagues.
Skills & Qualifications
You are required to have:
- Excellent written skills.
- The ability to make sound judgements and provide well-articulated advice.
- Knowledge and familiarity with basic project management approaches is desirable.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, tact and diplomacy and experience in dealing with senior figures, preferably including the judiciary;
- Good political awareness and the proven ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences and to negotiate solutions to problems.
It would also be desirable to have:
- Some background in working with the courts and the judiciary and be comfortable in dealing with legal issues.
You will be required to provide evidence of the following competencies:
- Leading and communicating
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Collaborating and Partnering
- Delivering at Pace
Further information about each competency can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework
How to apply
The roles are available to substantive Band Bs and candidates on promotion. Applicants should send a CV and covering letter setting out how you meet the competencies above by 27th December. In the event of receiving a high number of applications we will sift initially on the leadership competency. If you would like to find out more about the roles we will be holding an open morning at 102 Petty France on Thursday 13th at 11.30. Please contact Loretta D’Costa if you would like to attend (Loretta.d’costa@justice.gov.uk – 07580 906783). Applicants should also inform their line manager of their interest in this post before submitting their expression of interest.
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.
02/01/2019, 23:55 hours.
Closing Date: 2nd January 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.