About the job

Job summary

Diverse Perspectives and experiences are critical to our success, and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role. We look forward to receiving your application. 

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. 

We also offer the opportunity to speak to the vacancy holder prior to the advert closing to learn more about the role and the organisation. Please note that these discussions are not part of the formal assessment process, they are intended to give candidates the opportunity to learn about the role and the Civil Service.

If you are interested in participating in a discussion prior to the advert close date, please contact either Krystal Savoie at krystal.savoie@hse.gov.uk, and we will be happy to make arrangements for an informal discussion to take place. 

The Health and Safety Executive is recruiting a Paralegal to join the Legal Services Division. The successful candidate will join a small and expanding team within the division, working on the Building Safety Regulator function of the HSE. This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of a new regulatory regime and to and support the new team in providing legal advice and assistance on this crucial new regulatory role for HSE. 

Following Dame Judith Hackitt’s Building a Safer Future Report, the Building Safety Act 2022 created the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as part of HSE, alongside new powers and responsibilities. There are two main operational areas within BSR. The regulation of Higher Risk Buildings and the regulation of the Building Control Profession. Both areas will require legal advice and assistance to support decision making and formal legal action in courts and tribunals, including prosecution for non-compliance with regulatory standards and in relation to incidents. 

The work of the legal team will be wide ranging, interesting and challenging, including both criminal and civil proceedings, appeals against civil sanctions in the context of regulation of the building control profession, and supporting BSR’s role as a statutory consultee in planning applications and Inquiries.  Those involved will be playing a key role in contributing to the protection of people in the places they live and work.

Job description

As the successful candidate, the responsibilities of the role will be varied and will include:

• The provision of legal research and advice under supervision
• Assisting lawyers in the preparation of cases in legal proceedings
• Collation and review of evidence
• Arranging and attending case conferences
• Liaison with Counsel, BSR operational colleagues, witnesses, court staff and other Government Departments
• Collaborating with colleagues within the legal team to establish effective policies and procedures
• Arranging Court/Tribunal/Inquiry hearings, and attending as appropriate
• Preparation of Court bundles; legal documents; legal instructions.

Please note, part time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 0.8 FTE (30 hours per week). 

Travel

The post can be based in any one of our offices in England, Scotland and Wales. We envisage flexible teams which are also based across the country which will require regular travel to HSE’s headquarters in Bootle and, less regularly, to other HSE offices along with travel to Court Centres across the Country. The majority of visits will be ones which can be planned in advance and aren’t routinely/by exception required at short notice.  This may involve overnight stays.

Person specification

To undertake this role you will have:

• A good working knowledge of the Criminal Justice System and Criminal procedures in relation to prosecutions,
• Knowledge of practice and procedure of the First Tier Tribunals is desirable.
• Knowledge and experience of planning law is desirable.
• Experience in reassessing workloads and priorities
• Experience of working as part of a team
• Experience in maintaining accurate records

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,271, Health and Safety Executive contributes £7,634 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, Ability and Experience.

Application

Upon submitting your short application form, you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Judgement Test. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible, within 24-48 hours is recommended, to allow time to complete your full application. If you successfully pass the test, you will then be invited to complete the final stage of your application. You must complete your full application form and online tests by midday on 29th December. If you fail to complete the online test and full application form before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.

Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website

If you pass the Civil Service Judgement Test, you will then be invited to complete a CV which details your career history and key skills/experience.  You will then be asked to complete a Personal Statement (up to 500 words) which details how you meet the person specification within this advert. The final part of your application form will ask you to complete up to 250 words on the Behaviour 'Working Together'. 

Sift Information

The sift is due to take place week commencing 8th January 2024. You will be assessed on your Personal Statement and the Behaviour 'Working Together'.

In the event of a high number of applications at sift or that pass the interview standard we will assess on the lead Behaviour 'Working Together' only.

Interview Information

Candidates who are successful at sift and reach interview stage will be invited to interview. These are due to be held week commencing 22nd January 2024 and will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams.

You will be assessed on the four Behaviours detailed in this advert.

Further Information

Please note that a reserve list will be held for the period of up to 12 months. 

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application. 

For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached document.  

Any move to HSE from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at here 

If you have a disability and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: hr.resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk  

Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further; Formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action.

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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.