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.
The Judicial & Legal Services Directorate is recruiting for one HEO role which sits in the Judicial Policy Resourcing and Engagement Division. The Division has 4 teams and covers a wide range of policy issues related to the ways in which judges and magistrates are recruited, remunerated and supported, and supports the Government’s engagement with the judiciary, including the Lord Chancellor’s important relationship with the judiciary. Our work is of central importance to ministers and the Department as we contribute to the Ministry of Justice’s objective of upholding the rule of law and defending the independence of the judiciary. This role is within the Judicial Policies Review team, a small team working closely with the Judicial Office to review policies in a number of areas to improve cohesion across the judiciary with the overall objective of developing more consistent sets of T&Cs that are more transparent and equitable across the judiciary.
Location
Successful candidates will have the option to be based at one of the following locations:
- 102 Petty France, London
- 5 Wellington Place, Leeds (occasional travel between Leeds and London may be required post Covid-19)
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.
At the moment the majority of our staff are currently working from home due to Covid-19
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 recruitment campaign.
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.
Job Description overview
As a Policy Advisor this post offers excellent opportunities to get involved in some of the following activities:
- Review and shape policies as they apply to the wider judiciary and magistracy from the beginning of development all the way through to implementation;
- Support the process of public consultation of proposed policies through to helping to progress new legislation through Parliament;
- Manage and drive judicial engagement with ministers and MoJ senior leaders, working across the department and developing close working relationships with ministerial and judicial private offices.
This is a stretching role that would be a good fit for an experienced and strategic HEO.
Judicial Policies Review
- Work with policy, legal and analytical colleagues to develop policies to support the objectives of the Judicial Policies Review.
- Support and interpret analysis of existing policies and vulnerability of these to litigation.
- Support the wider team and ensure all workstreams are in line with the project management timelines for the review
- Provide project management support to the Judicial Policies Review working group and wider team.
The post will require the post holder to work closely with a wide range of colleagues and partners in the justice system, including Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, Judicial Office and the senior judiciary, establishing strong working relationships built on mutual trust. They will be required to lead communication and consultation on various new judicial policies understand and embody equality and diversity implications of policy work.
The work of the Division is fast moving, varied and interesting including contact with Ministers, who take a genuine interest in our work, senior officials, senior judiciary and other stakeholders. You will also be expected to contribute to the team’s other priorities, working with lawyers, analysts, finance and HMCTS colleagues to ensure that other judicial policy projects are delivered. You will also be expected to get involved in other key aspects of judicial policy work including briefings to ministers and senior officials, answers to parliamentary questions and correspondence.
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.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Skills and Experience
Essential criteria:
- Excellent written and numerical skills, with experience in using data to inform your work;
- Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills;
- Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing;
- Ability to make sound judgements and provide well-articulated advice;
- The ability to manage a varied workload, and to identify priorities proactively;
- Grasp complex issues quickly and manage competing views within policy development.
Desirable criteria:
- Previous policy experience
- Prior knowledge of the judiciary or magistracy.
Application process
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.
Experience
You will be asked to provide a Work History during the application process in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.
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
- Act promptly to reassess workloads and priorities when there are conflicting demands to maintain performance.
- Show a positive approach to keeping the whole team’s efforts focused on the top priorities.
- Promote a culture of following the appropriate procedures to ensure results are achieved on time whilst still enabling innovation.
Communicating and Influencing
- Communicate in a straightforward, honest, and engaging manner, choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact.
- Ensure that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, taking into consideration the diversity of interests.
- Ensure communication has a clear purpose and considers people’s individual needs.
Seeing the Big Picture
- Understand the strategic drivers for your area of work.
- Align activities to contribute to wider organisational priorities.
- Remain alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact your work area.
Making effective decisions
- Understand own level of responsibility and empower others to make decisions where appropriate.
- Analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from internal and external sources to support decisions.
- Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making.
- Display confidence when making difficult decisions, even if they prove to be unpopular
Leadership
- Ensure colleagues and stakeholders have a clear understanding of objectives, activities and time-frames.
- Take into account different individual needs, views, and ideas, championing inclusion and equality of opportunity for all.
- Consider the impacts of own and team’s activities on stakeholders and end users. Role-model commitment and satisfaction with role.
- Recognise and praise the achievements of others to drive positivity within the team.
- Effectively manage conflict, misconduct and non-inclusive behaviour, raising with senior managers where appropriate
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (HEO and SEO or equivalent):
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf
Candidates invited to interview
Candidates will be required to give a 5-minute presentation at interview. Details of this will be sent to those candidates who are invited for 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 during the week commencing 28 March 2022.
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 do get in touch if you would like to know more about the role or what it is like working in our team. Kieran Cunningham – Kieran.cunningham@justice.gov.uk
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 - Don’t 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.
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