57998 - Jurisdictional Support Officer

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Background 

Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunals Service is an agency of the MoJ and provides the supporting administration for the judiciary across England and Wales.  It delivers services to the public directly in court and tribunal buildings, remotely via business centres and some limited services via the internet. 

There are high expectations of all staff regardless of the job they do and good performance is expected from everybody. The organisation is continuously adopting new or better ways of working to ensure that it focuses on just that which is essential. 

HMCTS has a once in a generation opportunity to transform the entire Courts and Tribunals Service through the HMCTS Reform Programme, enhancing the provision of a world-class justice system, in a manner that provides an improved user experience at reduced cost to the taxpayer. This will contribute to consolidating the UK’s position at the forefront of an increasingly competitive international legal market as well as ensuring access to justice for all. 

The programme includes modernising the court estate, updating and replacing its technology, speeding up and streamlining working practices, refurbishing buildings to reduce maintenance costs and provide much improved services for service users, especially vulnerable witnesses and victims. Effective staff engagement at this time of such significant change will be critical to success; maintaining a positive and lasting connection between HMCTS management and its staff. 

An effective courts and tribunals service is fundamental to our democracy, underpinning the rule of law. This is an opportunity to work in a role that will support and enable a major transformation programme, designed not just to give our courts and tribunals a sustainable and affordable future, but improve how we deliver justice. 

Overview 

HMCTS is a continually changing organisation. Strong leadership is a critical element in this being successful. As a leader and manager within HMCTS the jobholder must provide clear direction and focus and visibly championing the changes which deliver greater efficiencies. HMCTS Senior Management Team expects all leaders to operate in a culture of openness and honesty, demonstrating a commitment to change through involvement and empowerment, and by delivering results. 

These posts can accommodate an applicant's current location by providing work space within Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service locations nationwide. Attendance at 102 Petty France, London and other locations for business purposes is also needed on occasions. 

The key purpose of the role: 

The Development Directorate is responsible for the national business strategy, operational policy and modernisation of courts and tribunals. 

The job holder will play a key role in supporting the Crime Service Owner and Service Managers in the day to day management of developing and implementing improvements to national crime business processes and Standard Operating procedures across criminal courts, particularly as a result of legislative changes. The job holder will be responsible for supporting and leading improvement activity and problem solving to ensure we keep the business running smoothly whilst reform is designed and implemented. Additionally, the job holder will be responsible for co-ordinating supporting activities within the team – and may have some line management responsibility for business support staff. 

You will provide high quality written and oral advice to senior civil servants, ministers and judiciary, advising on proposals and promoting alternatives to meet HMCTS’ objectives. You will work flexibly across the directorate to provide input into key areas of work. 

Key interactions will be with: 

• HMCTS Operational and Reform teams
• Policy and Legal teams within MoJ and across Government
• Wider Judiciary
• Other Government departments/Partner organisations including Crown Prosecution Service, HMPPS, Criminal Justice Partners, Home Office etc
• Key stakeholders in the justice system 

Key responsibilities: 

Operations 

·         Work within and across jurisdiction(s) on improvement and transformation opportunities. 

·         Where appropriate make recommendations based on the results of investigation and analysis to operational jurisdictional processes and support operations in implementing changes.

·         Based on risks and benefits analysis, have a good understanding of the potential impact of policy changes proposed by Other Government Departments (OGDs), MoJ policy or justice system partners within your jurisdiction/ operational area and provide advice accordingly;

·         Some post holders may be required to provide Secretariat support to Jurisdictional or Operational Boards.

·         Providing recommendations to the service manager on how to influence, as necessary, OGDs, MoJ policy and justice system partners in developing policy change where change would significantly benefit HMCTS operations and criminal courts.

·         Participate and contribute in continuous improvement and/or business transformation initiatives for your jurisdiction(s). This is likely to include:

·         Participating in the delivery of particular improvement/transformation priorities;

·         Implementing and updating Standard Operating Models and Procedures;

·         Support the design and implementation of professional frameworks and knowledge management networks

·         Promote and encourage HMCTS staff to follow operational processes and procedures in court and tribunal jurisdictions

. ·         Ensure FOIs, PMQs, PQs, MCs and TOs are handled within Departmental time-scales (draft as necessary).

·         Assessing the impact of policy proposals/new legislation/all other factors on the jurisdiction, covering a wide variety of subject matters, and minimising the impact on HMCTS financial resources, staff and IT systems.

·         Improve SOPs and other operational guidance by providing advice on operational matters to ensure SOPs can support the work of tribunals and deliver benefits to the business.

·         Looking at workload and performance trends to inform policy, processes and change plans.

·         An ability to interpret the jurisdiction’s operational management information.

·         Draft briefings and other products as required. 

Leadership 

·         Lead discussions within internal stakeholders assessing the impact of proposed improvements, working with them to secure their buy-in and support and leading them through implementation

·         Represent the Department in discussions with internal and external stakeholders on changes to criminal processes and organisational design, identifying the impact of those changes for stakeholders and working with them to devise solutions which improve end to end performance.

·         Leading individual pieces of work for which they are responsible and delivering these within agreed timescales.

·         The post holder may be responsible for the line management of one or more Band D. 

Representation of the Department

·         Represent HMCTS both internally and externally in areas criminal business improvement and change.

·         Lead by example, role modelling ethics, integrity, impartiality and the elimination of bias by building diverse teams and promoting a working environment that supports the Civil Service values and code. 

Policy 

·         Work with policy groups to develop organisational strategy and design in line with policy proposals, ensuring that policies meet the needs of HMCTS and are operationally deliverable.

·         Reviewing, improving and updating Standard Operating Models and Procedures in line with policy and operational changes taking place within and outside of HMCTS.

·         Developing innovative proposals for introducing policy and structural change, drawing on best practice for managing change.

Accountability

·         Reporting to a Band B within the jurisdictional service team. 

Other duties 

The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post. 

Essential Skills:

• Experience of working in a legal setting within the criminal justice system.
• Ability to read and interpret the law.
• An interest in how legislation is made and implemented.

Desirable:

• A law degree or equivalent, i.e. GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law). 

Application Process

As part of the application process, we ask you to provide a CV and 500-word statement that outlines your suitability for the role, including how you meet the essential criteria, and demonstrates the following behaviours at Band C/HEO/Level 3. 

• Working together
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

Further information on Success Profiles and required standards for this post (Level 3) can be found at: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles         

Should you be successful at the application stage you will be invited for an interview, which may be conducted via video conference.  The three Success Profile Behaviours listed above will also be tested at interview stage. 

Terms & Conditions:

Flexible working options 

HMCTS offers a flexible working system in many of its offices. Many people in the division work flexibly, including our Deputy Director and several team leaders – we would welcome a conversation about flexibility and whether/how we can make that work with the business need. 

Job Sharing and Reduced Hours

All applications for job sharing or reduced hours will be treated fairly and on a case by case basis in accordance with the MoJ’s flexible working policy and equality policy. 

Excess Fares and Relocation Allowances

This job is not eligible for relocation allowances, but excess fares may be considered in accordance with MoJ’s excess fares allowance policy