60449 - Presenting 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.

Presenting Officer (HEO)

This position is based at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), Alexander Bain House, Glasgow, G2 8JQ

CICA is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. As an organisation we provide financial compensation to victims of violent crime in Scotland, England and Wales.

We receive over 30,000 applications for compensation a year and while we know that financial compensation can never fully redress what victims may have suffered, what we do is an important part of providing justice for victims. We are committed to delivering a fair, sensitive and efficient service to all applicants and work closely with stakeholders and customer insight to ensure the victim is at the heart of everything we do.

We employ around 300 people and are based in Glasgow city centre with excellent transport links.  We are a small, engaged, productive workforce with a real sense of corporate community and are recruiting for people who are bright, motivated, passionate about delivering excellent customer service and who want to use their talents to help make a difference to the lives of innocent victims of violent crime. We are recruiting for people who are passionate about customer service and share our values of Purpose, Humanity, Openness and Together.

We have an exciting opportunity to join us at the Higher Executive Officer level as a Presenting Officer. You are invited to apply to join our small and dedicated team of Presenting Officers who represent CICA in Appeal Hearings before the independent First-tier Tribunal. These Hearings may take place by video link, telephone or in person at Tribunal Centres throughout Great Britain. Appeal Hearings in person reduced significantly during the pandemic and they remain less frequent. However, there is ongoing requirement to travel to Tribunal Centres on occasion and this may be for a period of up to five days at a time.    

These positions are based at CICA, Alexander Bain House, Glasgow, G2 8JQ, however, CICA has invested in smarter working technology to ensure that flexible working options are available. 

The Role

The Presenting Officer role involves a strong commitment to delivering personal and team objectives linked to our Business Plan. We are looking for people with strong decision making and communication skills, who can show empathy, humanity and a passion for delivering excellent customer service.

You will:

• Consider and prepare CICA’s response to appeals submitted to the independent First-tier Tribunal by applicants to the criminal injuries compensation schemes
• Represent CICA at Appeal Hearings before the independent First-tier Tribunal, making oral submissions and responding to questions from the Tribunal Judges and the appellant or their representative
• Respond to Directions issued by the First-tier Tribunal and preparing written submissions where appropriate
• Show sensitivity and compassion at all times, whilst maintaining your own personal resilience whether speaking to people on the telephone or at Appeal Hearings
• Possess excellent written and oral communication skills – both written submissions and oral presentation are fundamental to the role
• Provide feedback to decision-making colleagues on decisions from Appeal Hearings and provide advice and support to enable more effective decision-making
• Where capacity within the Presenting Officer team permits, make decisions on applications for criminal injuries compensation
• Work flexibly, professionally and collaboratively with others including legal advisers, operational colleagues and external stakeholders in HM Courts and Tribunals Service
• Keep up-to-date with technical and legislative developments and regulations and disseminate this as required
• Recommend and implement quality initiatives to enhance and add value to CICA as well as making an effective contribution to quality initiatives

Essential criteria:

• Excellent drafting and oral communication skills
• Ability to self-manage, plan and prioritise
• Ability to review extensive and complex information, swiftly identifying the relevant facts and issues
• Excellent analysis and investigative skills requiring a strong attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal skills to develop effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders

The following criteria are not essential, however, candidates who can offer this experience should provide relevant evidence in their application.

 Desirable criteria:

• Experience in handling complex casework and decision making
• Experience of working with legal documents and/or statutory regulations
• Experience of presenting in a formal environment

Selection Process 

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience. 

To apply, you will need to provide your work history and complete a personal statement, maximum 750 words, outlining how your personal skills, qualities and experience match the Essential Criteria and (where relevant) the Desirable Criteria outlined above. You will also be asked to provide an example of how you have demonstrated the behaviour ‘Communicating and Influencing’. (maximum 250 words).

You should read each of the Essential Criteria and think about a time or an example that can help demonstrate your knowledge/skills. Remember, this must be evidence based and your answers should be clear, concise and reflect what actions you undertook. You may want to use the STAR(R) approach to respond to each criterion. (Situation, Task, Action, Result and Reflection)

If you are invited to interview, we will assess you against these behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing’
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality service
• Delivering at Pace

During the panel interview, you will be asked behaviour-based questions to explore in detail what you are capable of and strength-based questions to explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the job role.

If a large number of applications are received, we will sift on the lead behaviour of Communicating and Influencing.

Interviews are expected to take place in late July or early August.

Important Information Regarding Interviews

Interviews will be conducted in our office in Alexander Bain House.

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

A reserve list will be created and will be valid for 12 months if further vacancies arise for this or similar roles at Higher Executive Officer, candidates may be appointed from the reserve list in order of merit.

We offer flexible working 7am – 7pm, Monday to Friday. This role is offered on a full-time (37 hours per week) or part-time working pattern, however we would ask that applicants make themselves available on a full-time, fixed hours basis (9am to 5pm) for the initial training period which takes up to 8 weeks. This is to ensure the best training and consolidation experience for our new Presenting Officers.

If you are currently working for an Other Government Department (OGD) and would like to consider the impact on your pay when joining CICA, please email the Corporate Support Team at corporate.support@cica.gov.uk. For queries about the role, please contact Allan Finnie (allan.finnie@cica.gov.uk).

CICA is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences, who meet the criteria and have relevant experience they can bring to the role. All appointments will be made on merit based on fair and open competition.

Disability Confident

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Reasonable Adjustments

Tell us if you have a disability when you apply, and we can offer reasonable adjustments to help with the selection process. 

If you require any assistance at any time, please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am-6pm) or e-mail MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com.