27710 - Assistant Private Secretary and Deputy Deployment Officer to the President of the Queen's Bench Division
Job Description
This is an exciting and busy post in a Judicial Private Office that would suit someone looking for exposure to a wide range of work, giving the post holder a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth knowledge of the judiciary, the court service and the administration of justice.
The post is in the office of the President of the Queen’s Bench Division (PQBD), which is transitioning to new leadership. Dame Victoria Sharp took up her appointment on 24 June 2019 and this is an exciting opportunity to work directly with the PQBD, supporting her in this senior post. You will also work closely with the judiciary at all levels, other private offices, HMCTS and other key stakeholders to ensure the smooth running of the Queen’s Bench (QB), the largest division of the High Court.
You will operate in a friendly team which covers all aspects of management of the Queen’s Bench Division and provides support and advice to the judiciary on criminal justice policy. There will therefore be opportunities as the post holder develops in their role to become involved in a broad range of work. The post holder should be expected to manage multiple, fast changing priorities and provide high quality and considered advice on all QB matters.
The Judicial Office
“Strengthening the rule of law and improving the administration of justice by supporting the leadership and governance of our independent judiciary.”
The Judicial Office was established in 2006 following the implementation of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 which made the Lord Chief Justice (LCJ) the Head of the Judiciary.
The Judicial Office is an arm’s length body of the Ministry of Justice based at the Royal Courts of Justice. We are a unique branch of the civil service, dedicated to supporting the judiciary and promoting judicial independence, to maintain confidence in the rule of law. We help the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals fulfil their responsibilities to the judiciary, in an ever-evolving justice system. We provide operational support, policy, legal and handling advice through a number of specialist teams.
We have consistently high staff engagement scores and can offer frequent opportunities to get involved in the management and running of the department.
The role has two main functions;
Deputy Deployment Officer
This aspect of the role is about supporting the efficient operation of the High Court and Crown Court through the allocation of judges. In short, the post holder supports the deployment of 71 High Court Judges to undertake work across England & Wales on behalf of the President of the Queen’s Bench Division (PQBD). The post holder will directly support the Deployment officer in the same office, helping gather information, including about the progress of hearings at the Royal Courts of Justice and around the country, and will make well-informed decisions as to how best to allocate judges to the highest profile and most complex cases. The post holder can expect to be given areas to manage independently including organising the termly circuit bidding process; out of hours duty; leading on compensatory leave and vacation duty for all QB judges. Along with other responsibilities and projects, the post holder will be responsible for maintaining records and collating statistical information relating to deployment in the Queen’s Bench Division. Cross Deployment across divisions is also a key priority and the post holder will be expected to work closely across judicial private offices and the digital team to develop this system.
Assistant Private Secretary
This part of the job be focused on providing assistance to the PQBD in carrying out her role managing and giving pastoral care and guidance to 71 QB judges reporting to a Band B Private Secretary. The work will be flexible but activity will likely include attending meetings with the PQBD and preparing briefings, managing correspondence and working alongside the PQBD’s clerk to manage her diary, working closely with teams in the judicial office to manage appointments and retirements from the QB, working with the Judicial College to ensure judges both new and in post undertake the correct training and development and supporting the PQBD to ensure all other aspects of the QB are running smoothly. In addition to this, the post holder will have responsibility for organising an annual QB conference, which will take place on an annual basis, working directly with judicial leads to set it up from scratch, setting strategic direction and agenda, organising guest speakers and all other aspects of delivery of the event.
Due to judicial sitting patterns, meetings often have to be arranged before and after court sitting times. This post is not suitable for job sharing or reduced hours working.
Skills and Qualifications
Excellent communication skills are key as the post-holder will work closely with very senior members of the judiciary, senior officials across Government and other stakeholders.
Discretion and an ability to build trusted relationships is essential
The post holder must be able to work flexibly, managing multiple changing priorities, with excellent organisational skills and be resourceful in order to respond to unusual or unforeseen challenges at short notice.
A proactive approach to work responsibilities and the ability to work effectively on your own, whilst ensuring colleagues are kept informed and feed in where appropriate
Knowledge of the court system and judiciary would be an advantage.
Competencies
You be asked to provide answers to the following behaviours:
Seeing the Bigger Picture
Making Effective Decisions
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Selection process details:
An initial sift based on the lead competency may be held if a large number of applications are received.
If your application progresses to a full sift, all competences will then be considered. Feedback is not available for those not invited to interview.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment, and upon request.
Expenses are not available for travel to interview.
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 voluntary benefits,retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
- 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.
24/07/2019, 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.