About the job

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

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 is an operational role that is customer facing, requiring successful applicants to be office based to provide HMCTS services to the public.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. HMCTS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs and are agreed prior to appointment. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.  

In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return. Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis should be obtained before commencing the application process.

New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum.

Existing Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed on the salary minimum of the pay band or with an increased salary of 10% on their existing base salary (restricted to the new pay band maximum), whichever is the higher.

Existing Civil Servants moving at the same grade will retain their existing remuneration package.

Who are we?

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is an agency of the Ministry of Justice. We provide support for the legal system across England and Wales, ensuring justice works for everyone.  

Our justice system defends our fundamental rights and freedoms. It is a cornerstone of our modern society and it must serve all those who call on it, when they call on it. From some of the most vulnerable people in our society, to families in crisis, claimants and commercial businesses – we have a responsibility to deliver a Justice system that is accessible to everyone and operates efficiently.  

HMCTS are undergoing a significant change programme, and to support this we are expanding our resourcing function to manage the recruitment of critical posts into our Operational area’s. 
    
What will you be doing?

HMCTS is embarking on a period of significant change.  Strong leadership is a critical element in this being successful.  Jobholders who have responsibility for managing staff will be required to provide clear direction and focus, visibly championing the changes which deliver greater efficiencies.  The HMCTS Delivery Directors expects managers in the organisation to operate in a culture of openness and honesty, demonstrating a commitment to change through involvement and empowerment, and by delivering results.

The key purpose of the role is to

• To manage the courtrooms to ensure that cases are dealt with promptly in liaison with judiciary, legal profession and staff and to ensure that all subsequent results are accurately & promptly recorded in line with targets. Also to ensure that all ancillary duties are carried out effectively.

Key responsibilities

Administration

• To ensure that a comprehensive log is kept of representation orders and that a judge’s report is available at all sentence hearings.
• To accurately prepare case summaries for Resident Judge.
• To ensure that applications for representation orders are checked and approved upon authorisation of Judge.
• To determine all claims for costs including re-determinations, Prior Authority and Wasted Costs and provide written reasons in accordance with the appropriate regulations and within targets.
• To determine accurately witnesses’ expenses within target times and provide written reasons upon request when required in accordance with guidelines.
• Process general correspondence within target and in particular procedural deadlines for any resulting amendments.
• Ensure compliance with financial and operational risk management policies when determining and processing costs in accordance with department guidelines.
• Undertake any allocated tasks as part of the role i.e. PA Role to Judiciary when required; arranging marshalling and swearing in of Justices. 

Operations

• To ensure efficient through put of listed work in the allocated court room on a daily basis, giving appropriate support to judiciary and keeping the List Office and other agencies fully appraised of developments when necessary. 
• To meet with the Judge before sitting and to be available in Court as required.
• To maintain full recording of hearings using the DARTS technology ensuring accurate audio allocation to correct cases. 
• To sit in court on a daily basis and ensure that cases called on time, all parties are in court at appropriate time. Correct phraseology used for arraignment, empanelling, taking verdicts 
• To maintain the court file including accurate recording of relevant matters and judicial decisions, accurate completion of Xhibit log and Crest Orders and all subsequent forms, orders and results exported onto the Portal within Target.
• Carry out 100% HMCTS assurance programme compliance of all Resulting and ensure appropriate risks are identified and managed. 
• Ensure that appropriate codes of conduct are applied to the Courtroom and other areas of the Court premises whilst sitting and during adjournments and to actively intervene and encourage compliance.
• To ensure that obligations under the Victim Code and the standards under the Witness Charter are complied with.
• Ensure all court users are treated fairly and with respect, and understand how their own performance impacts on that of the court and the confidence of users.
• Ensure that appropriate files are passed to administration teams within agreed target times.
• Take part in and deliver 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).
• Maintain effective working relationships with the judiciary, supporting agencies, voluntary and user groups. Working with agencies to improve the level of service offered to users. 
• Apply LEAN principles, tools and techniques to working practices to improve efficiency of operations.
• Perform any Incident Control Duties as required in the ‘in court role’ 

Team leadership 

• Lead a team of staff ensuring that its members are organised, and fully skilled to meet their work objectives. Effectively managing both team and individual performance, addressing any issues as they arise, in line with HR policy.

Processing and managing casework 

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

Calculations and analysis 

• Identify and implement solutions to local problems, referring more complex problems to the line manager

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

• Ensure effective and timely liaison with Judiciary, Counsel, List Officer, Jury Officer, Ushers and Court users to maintain high levels of court performance.
• Ensure Customer Standards are maintained and improved; complaints and dealt within target and in line with HMCTS Complaints Handling Policy and any feedback on lessons learnt is shared with staff. 

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   

• Reporting to a Delivery 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.

Operational Delivery in HMCTS

This role is part of the Operational Delivery Profession. Operational delivery professionals are the outward face of government, providing essential services to the public in a variety of roles. They work in many different departments and agencies across the breadth of the UK, delivering service to customers in

• Face-to-face roles in HMCTS for example a court usher
• Contact Centre roles in HMCTS for example call centre advisers
• Processing roles in HMCTS for example Staff at the County Courts Money-Claims Centre and Courts and Tribunal Administration

Being part of the operational delivery profession means belonging to a cross-government community of people.  This will offer you access to information on professional standards, skills development and qualifications to help you continue to improve your development and performance and expand your career options.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,223, HM Courts and Tribunals Service contributes £7,377 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)
• 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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window). 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.