44812 - Senior Policy Advisers Victim and Witness Policy Unit Family and Criminal Justice Directorate (4 posts)

£30,989 - £47,591 salary dependent on location
4
12 Months
London, Yorkshire and the Humber
Leeds , London
102 PETTY FRANCE (MOJ) LONDON, SW1H 9AJ, 5 WELLINGTON PLACE LEEDS, LS1 4AP
SEO
B
Permanent
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Commercial, Finance, Policy

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

The FCJPD Directorate is looking to recruit up to 4 highly motivated Senior Policy Advisers at Band B (SEO equivalent). 

Location:

Successful candidates will be based at 102 Petty France, London or 5 Wellington Place, Leeds (occasional travel between Leeds and London may be required post Covid-19)

Current circumstances require everyone to work from home for all or the majority of the time depending on local restrictions and individual circumstances. Post pandemic it is expected that the post-holder will be present in the office for several days each week. 

Ways of Working

At the MoJ we believe and promote alternative ways of working, these roles are available as:

  • Full-time with flexible working patterns
  • Flexible working arrangements between base locations, MoJ Hubs and home.

At the moment the majority of our staff are currently working from home due to Covid-19

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)

MOJ is one of the largest government departments, employing around 70,000 people (including those in the Probation Service), with a budget of approximately £9 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales. 

What we do

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. We support Ministers on a broad range of issues: from ensuring that victims of terrorist attacks receive the best assistance possible, and that children at risk of harm are protected, to reforming the Criminal Justice System  to better supporting the two million people in England and Wales who are victims of Domestic Abuse each year. 

Victim and Witness Unit

The Victim and Witness Policy Unit sits within the Family & Criminal Justice Policy Directorate.  The Unit leads on fundamental systemic multi-agency reform to improve support for victims and witnesses. The Unit holds commissioning responsibility and has a £150 million per annum budget for support services for victims and witness. These services are delivered either through grants to Police and Crime Commissioners, or nationally commissioned third sector services for the victims of the most serious of crimes, such as rape and homicide. We are developing new delivery models for support services for witnesses, homicide and sexual violence victims. 

We are leading on a ground-breaking Victims Bill which will enshrine rights for victims into law, to be consulted on later this year which follows on from the new Victims Code which came into force on 1 April. 

Senior Policy or Commissioning Adviser – Victim and Witness Unit 

The roles

The successful applicants will:

  • Play an active role in the development of policy proposals and commissioning of victim services.
  • Provide strategic leadership and support on a complex funding and commissioning landscape, particularly making the link with policy and how improvements can be made.
  • Be proactive in monitoring trends and how we can deliver, fund and commission services better.
  • Engage successfully with different stakeholders and work with them to better meet policy objectives. Contribute to the progression of wider policy initiatives geared towards strengthening victim and witness policy.
  • Provide high quality advice and briefing to Ministers and senior officials.
  • Contribute positively to an ambitious and forward-thinking team. 

What we’re looking for:

  • Leader who can work with confidence and effectively in an environment with complex delivery relationships.
  • Proactive approach to work responsibilities and the ability to work effectively on your own, whilst ensuring colleagues and stakeholders are kept informed and feed in where appropriate.
  • Strong engagement and communication skills, with the ability to engage with key stakeholders at all levels of the organisation, across HMG and wider stakeholder groups.
  • Ability to think strategically about victim and witness services to see the bigger picture, as well as the ability to grasp new ideas and complex information quickly.
  • Excellent oral, numerical and written communication skills.
  • Experience with finance, funding or commissioning would be an advantage.
  • A high degree of empathy and personal resilience is required. 

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework

Experience

You will be asked to provide a CV during the application process. 

Behaviours

Please provide examples of how you have met each one of the behaviours listed below (see Annex A for more information): 

  • Making effective decisions
  • Seeing the big picture
  • Managing a quality service
  • Delivering at pace
  • Leadership 

Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (Level 3 – HEO and SEO or equivalent which can be found on page 5):

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf 

Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on the lead behaviour of Making effective decisions. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths. 

Candidates invited to Interview

Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely. During the interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours and Strengths from the success Profiles framework. 

Interviews are expected to take place in mid-July 2021. 

The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description. 

Contact information  

If you would like to find out more about the role, please contact Jasmin Cheung at jasmin.cheung@justice.gov.uk . 

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

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.

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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

1-    To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);

2-    To Ministry of Justice Resourcing (resourcing-services@justice.gov.uk);

3-    To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

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.

Grading Structure Review

The Ministry of Justice is currently undergoing a review of posts which are currently graded at Band A to realign our grading structure with the majority of the wider Civil Service.

Posts advertised at Band A may be graded at either Grade 6 or Grade 7 once the review has taken place.  

Interviews are expected to take place in mid-July 2021

21/06/2021, 23:55 hours.

Contact information  

If you would like to find out more about the role, please contact Jasmin Cheung at jasmin.cheung@justice.gov.uk .

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com Please quote the job reference - 44812.

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.

In the event that we receive a large volume of applications we reserve the right to conduct the sift based on one lead behaviour. The chosen lead behaviour for this campaign is Making Effective Decisions.
if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance

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

Behaviours
Making Effective Decisions - 250 word limit
Seeing the Big Picture - 250 word limit
Delivering at Pace - 250 word limit
Leadership - 250 word limit
Managing a Quality Service - 250 word limit
Experience
CV
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Making Effective Decisions, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
Behaviours
Making Effective Decisions
Seeing the Big Picture
Delivering at Pace
Leadership
Managing a Quality Service
Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.

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.