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.
Policy Adviser, Criminal Justice System Secretariat
HEO
Courts, Criminal and Family Justice Directorate
The Court Recovery, Criminal and Family Justice Directorate is recruiting permanently for a HEO Policy Adviser role. This campaign is being run externally and so is open to all who consider themselves suitable for the roles and meet the eligibility criteria in the wider advert within Civil Service Jobs.
Location:
Successful candidates will have the option to be based at one of the following locations:
1. 102 Petty France, London
2. 5 Wellington Place, Leeds
Occasional travel between the two locations may be required.
In order for Policy Group to meet its evolving business needs all Policy Group staff are expected to attend their base location (102 Petty France or 5 Wellington Place Leeds) at least 2 days a week. This hybrid working arrangement is not contractual and as a result staff could be asked to attend their base location more frequently.
Ways of Working
At the MoJ we believe and promote alternative ways of working, these roles are available as:
Full-time, part-time or the option to job share
Flexible working patterns
Flexible working arrangements between base locations, MoJ Hubs and home.
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.
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
Salary
New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum of the pay range.
If you are already a civil servant and are successful in an external recruitment competition for a role with us, your starting pay will be the better of:
promotion terms or transfer terms, as appropriate; or
pay on appointment arrangements (minimum of pay range)
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
MoJ is the largest government department, employing over 90,000 people with a budget of approximately £10 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.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
What We Do
The Court Recovery, Criminal and Family Justice Directorate sits at the heart of MoJs policy agenda, working to reform complex systems that deal with some of the most vulnerable members of our society. The teams in the Directorate work to ensure that the criminal and family justice systems are straightforward, efficient, work for everyone, and are focused on solving peoples problems in a way that reserves court for the more complex issues.
Within the Directorate is the Criminal Court Policy and Criminal Justice Strategy Unit. The teams help create a modern courts and justice system by leading policy development on criminal court reform. We work across the Criminal Justice System tackling strategic risks and enabling ministers to provide firm leadership through the Criminal Justice Board and other cross-system governance structures.
Policy Adviser in the Criminal Justice System Governance team
Role Description
We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual to join the Criminal Justice System (CJS) Secretariat as an HEO Policy Adviser. It is a high-profile and fast-paced team, and you will have regular exposure to Ministers and senior officials.
The role is challenging but rewarding, and sits right at the heart of the Criminal Justice System, supporting Ministers in ensuring the system is modern, effective and efficient. You will be joining a small team that is friendly, supportive and fun, and has adopted flexible working practices to ensure personal wellbeing and a genuine life/work balance.
The team runs the Criminal Justice Board (CJB), chaired by the Lord Chancellor, and other groups which form the governance framework which has national oversight of the CJS. On behalf of the Secretary of State, Ministers, and the Permanent Secretary, the team sets the governance agenda, delivers its objectives and oversees the implementation of its activity, driving change across the CJS. The team champions cross-system and collaborative ways of working and identifying opportunities to improve the CJS in the long term.
The team is also responsible for the relationship between the national CJB and Local Criminal Justice Boards. There are ample opportunities to visit national, regional and local colleagues to gain a full understanding of how national policy is delivered on the ground.
Responsibilities will include:
providing professional secretariat support to cross-criminal justice governance structures (e.g, co-ordinating the arrangement of meetings, developing effective agendas, commissioning and drafting impactful papers, working closely with private offices, drafting accurate minutes and driving work between meetings);
working at pace to respond to changing priorities and diary commitments;
Managing relationships with Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJBs);
Building effective relationships and working with colleagues across the department and CJS (including HO, Crown Prosecution Service, and police) to ensure issues are brought to governance fora at the right time to support effective decision making at the necessary level.
understanding and interpreting information from a range of sources to horizon scan, identify upcoming issues and concerns in the CJS, creating coordinated plans to bring them to the relevant governance forums for effective decision-making;
drafting briefings for ministerial meetings with leaders in the CJS, working collaboratively and often at pace to identify contributors and collate advice;
Successful candidates will demonstrate the following skills and experience:
strong organisational skills with ability to manage multiple competing priorities and be flexible to respond to reactive pressures.
ability to build strong relationships and communicate effectively with peers as well as senior stakeholders.
ability to keep one eye on the bigger picture whilst maintaining keen attention to detail.
ability to make effective decisions within own remit and responsibility level.
high standard of accuracy and attention to detail, with strong writing and editing skills, grammar and spelling.
experience of delivering within a fast-paced environment, meeting deadlines and escalating emerging issues and risks.
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 in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.
You will also be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words to explain how you meet the essential skills for the role, outlining your relevant experience, as well as explaining your motivation for applying.
Behaviours
Please provide examples of how you have met each one of the behaviours listed below (see Annex A for more information):
Delivering at Pace
Working Together
Managing a Quality Service
Seeing the Big Picture
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (Level 3 Grade HEO or equivalent): 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 Delivering at Pace. 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.
You can refer to the CS Strengths dictionary for more details: Success Profiles - Civil Service Strengths Dictionary (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Interviews are expected to take place in w/c 13th May.
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
Please get in touch with Amy Daly ([email protected]) if you would like to know more about the role.
Annex A - The STAR method
Using the STAR method can help you give examples of relevant experience that you have. It allows you to set the scene, show what you did, and how you did it, and explain the overall outcome.
Situation - Describe the situation you found yourself in. You must describe a specific event or situation. Be sure to give enough detail for the job holder to understand.
Where are you?
Who was there with you?
What had happened?
Task - The job holder will want to understand what you tried to achieve from the situation you found yourself in.
What was the task that you had to complete and why?
What did you have to achieve?
Actions - What did you do? The job holder will be looking for information on what you did, how you did it and why. Keep the focus on you. What specific steps did you take and what was your contribution? Remember to include how you did it, and the behaviours you used. Try to use I rather than we to explain your actions that lead to the result. Be careful not to take credit for something that you did not do.
Results - Dont be shy about taking credit for your behaviour. Quote specific facts and figures. Explain how the outcome benefitted the organisation or your area. Make the outcomes easily understandable.
What results did the actions produce?
What did you achieve through your actions and did you meet your goals?
Was it a successful outcome? If not, what did you learn from the experience?
Keep the situation and task parts brief. Concentrate on the action and the result. If the result was not entirely successful describe what you learned from this and what you would do differently next time. Make sure you focus on your strengths.
