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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 .