64826 - Court Associate

£25,827 - £27,170
2
12 Months
South West
Plymouth
PLYMOUTH MAGISTRATES PLYMOUTH, PL1 2DP
EO
EO
Permanent
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Operational Delivery

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.

This position is available for existing civil servants on level transfer or promotion. Secondments and loans will be considered on an individual basis.

Background:

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is one of government’s largest agencies, employing around 16,000 staff, with a gross annual budget of c£1.6bn, and operating across around 350 sites across England and Wales. Our work underpins justice, affecting the lives of millions every year.

Consequently, there are high expectations of all staff regardless of the job they do, and high 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.

EO staff will need to display a commitment to four key principles: Continuous change, LEAN principles, managing uncertainty and improving performance. All those appointed to new roles in HMCTS must be wholeheartedly committed to these principles and evidence this in their application.

These operational roles are customer facing, requiring successful applicants to be office based to provide HMCTS services to the public. HMCTS offers a flexible working system in many of its offices, subject to business needs being met.

Key Purpose:

  • Act as a court associate in accordance with directions of the justices’ clerk, or their nominee, in court with a district judge and to keep a full and accurate record of proceedings.
  • Undertake such administrative roles as appropriate to grade as directed by the line manager.

Key Responsibilities:

Administration:

  • To ensure that all relevant documentation is completed fully, accurately and in timely manner (including cracked and ineffective trial monitoring forms).
  • To ensure that the court case files are kept properly and accurately.

Drafting:

  • To take a note of the evidence given and any legal submissions.
  • To make a full and accurate record of all adjudications made.

Operations:

  • To be aware of, and act on, any special requirements such as video equipment, tape recorder, interpreter etc.
  • To be in court no later than 20 minutes before the start of the court list.
  • Thoroughly check case documents in good time before the court session.
  • In the absence of an usher, to call in witnesses and administer oaths and affirmations.
  • To use the computer system to access the diary, book trials, adjournments, move cases, result cases and produce all relevant documents including warrants and others, and validate court sessions.
  • To meet with the district judge ten minutes before the start of the court and appraise them of the state of the day’s list and throughout the day as necessary.
  • To be able to answer questions on the case (in particular being able to give a history of the case) in court and to the district judge as required.
  • Ensure the effective management and planning of the business within the courtroom.
  • Take part in employee engagement activities to effect good working relationships with staff and to improve service delivery and staff morale / motivation.
  • Comply with HMCTS values, policies and procedures (including diversity, attendance and discipline).
  • To participate in any relevant training as required.
  • Apply LEAN principles, tools and techniques to working practices to improve efficiency of operations.

Team Leadership:

  • All Band D staff are expected to deal with other ad hoc management roles including line management of Band E and F staff as required.

Processing & Managing Casework:

  • Work with staff to ensuring that casework is appropriately managed, providing advice where process deviations have occurred.

Calculations and Analysis:

  • Identify and implement solutions to local problems, referring more complex problems to a Cluster Delivery Manager.

Communicating with the public, juries, the judiciary, other court and tribunal users and representatives of other agencies and organisations:

  • Maintain effective liaison with judiciary, user groups and representative organisations.
  • Think beyond own area of responsibility, considering wider policy and organisational implications of issues.
  • Implement local communication plans which meet the needs of the target audience.

Representation:

  • Represent the function you have been assigned to at an operational level

Specialisms:

  • To have a working knowledge of functions undertaken within the Cluster, to support the development and review of policies and procedures.
  • To provide specific functions as directed by line management in line with the SOP for providing that service.

Accountability:

  • The court associate will report to a manager within the Legal Team who will be their line manager.

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 & Criteria:

To be successful in this role, you should have the following:

  • Experience of working in an administrative role in a customer focussed environment
  • Proficient with IT and Microsoft Software packages
  • Excellent communication and organisational skills

Application Process:

To apply for this position please complete the online application form, ensuring you provide the following:

A 250-word suitability statement against each of the following Success Profile Behaviours (Level 2):

  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Communicating and Influencing

In the event we receive a large volume of applications, we will sift using the lead Success Profile Behaviour:

Managing a Quality Service.

If selected for interview, the Success Profile Behaviours listed below will also be tested / assessed (Level 2).

  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Working Together

Interviews will test four Strengths. Please also note that interviews will be conducted in via Teams.

Further information on Success Profile Behaviours and Strengths, as well as the required standards for this post (Level 2), can be found at:

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

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.

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.

Terms & Conditions:

Flexible working options

HMCTS offers a flexible working system in many of its offices.

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.

The job holder must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English or (when specified in Wales) Welsh.

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

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.

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.

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 moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

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

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.

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.

Interviews will take place the 28th October.

06/10/2022, 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@gov.sscl.com Please quote the job reference - 64826.

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 Managing a Quality Service.
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
Managing a Quality Service - 250 word limit
Delivering at Pace - 250 word limit
Communicating and Influencing - 250 word limit
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service, 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
Managing a Quality Service
Delivering at Pace
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
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.