Job description
Admin Assistant – 71475
£23,000
London
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.
Directorate: Operations
Job Title: Admin Assistant x 10
Location: Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL
Duration: Permanent
Pay Span or equivalent: AA
Salary: London (within M25): £23,000
These positions are available for existing civil servants on level transfer or promotion. Secondments and loans will be considered on an individual basis.
Background:
HM Courts and Tribunals Service is responsible for the administration of criminal courts, civil courts, family courts and tribunals in England and Wales working with an independent judiciary to provide a fair, efficient and effective justice system. Currently, HM Courts and Tribunals Service is embarking on a period of significant change which will require strong leadership in this critical role, operating in a culture of openness and honesty.
Overview:
Good administrative staff with excellent customer service skills are vital to the effective operation of the Courts, Tribunals and other offices within His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). Most of the staff within HMCTS are employed in administrative roles.
Admin Assistants provide general admin support to the various teams within the court/tribunal/office or provide support to other functions within HMCTS. Although many of the tasks are straightforward, regulated by well-established guidelines and/or detailed instructions, some initiative may be required. Advice is readily available and standard procedures are usually followed. Admin Assistants work within a team with regular management support and are responsible for their own time.
Whilst the post holder will be allocated to a specific office base, there may be a need for flexibility to work on an ad hoc basis at other local HMCTS offices.
Key Responsibilities:
Administration
- Collecting and delivering files and bundles to the judiciary and clerks ensuring they have the necessary papers
- Creating, updating, distributing and tracking files, bundles, documents, tapes;
- Creating and/or maintaining databases, lists, manuals; completing documents including standard letters, forms, applications, orders, records, registers, statistics etc with clearly defined information using electronic and paper systems.
- Maintaining the Court Library (including e-transcripts and books)
- Sorting and delivering lists of hearings for internal and external notice boards
Correspondence
- Copy/audio typing, completing standard letters, forms, registers, etc where the information is clearly defined.
- Straightforward drafting such as acknowledgements and receipting, confirmations, court orders, warrants etc.
- Amending standard instructions, manuals and directories, circulating and distributing documents, journals etc.
Post Handling
- Opening, sorting, distributing and dispatching post
- Collecting and delivering post from appropriate offices
Monitoring Stock
- Including stationery and other supplies against requirements and inventories, establishing requirements, completing order forms, stock distribution
- Collecting and distributing stationary around the offices
Data Entry and recording
- Resulting, checking accuracy and completeness against guidelines or a proforma,
- Straightforward money handling e.g. issuing jury payments, spending petty cash under instruction.
Operating equipment
- Office and court equipment e.g. computers, fax machines, scanners, photocopiers, franking machines, switchboards, messaging equipment, tape and video recorders etc.
Handling telephone calls
- Answering standard enquiries and passing messages to others.
Arranging meetings
- Using electronic diaries, booking rooms and accommodation, making travel arrangements.
Reception of parties to court
- Preparing rooms for hearings, tribunals, trials, meetings etc.
- Providing Usher cover as necessary
Essential Skills and Qualifications:
Experience of working with the public in a busy public service environment.
Ability to use a computer at the level required for the work.
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.
Application Process:
To apply for this position please complete the online application form, ensuring you provide the following:
A 250-word suitability statement against each of the following Success Profile Behaviours (Level 1):
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Changing and Improving
In the event we receive a large volume of applications, we will sift using the lead Success Profile Behaviour: Working Together.
If selected for interview, the Success Profile Behaviours listed above will also be tested / assessed (Level 1).
Interviews will also test two Strengths.
Please note, face to face interviews will be required for candidates progressed from sift stage.
Further information on Success Profile Behaviours and Strengths, as well as the required standards for this post (Level 1), can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
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
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.
Location:
This post is based in the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL. Travel to other court sites across the region will be required.
Terms & Conditions:
Working Hours / Pattern:
Standard full-time working hours are 37 hours per week.
Security checks required
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC).
Flexible working options
HMCTS offers a flexible working system in many of its offices.
Job Sharing and Reduced Hours
All applications for job sharing or reduced hours will be treated fairly and, on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the MoJ’s flexible working policy and equality policy.
Excess Fares and Relocation Allowances
This job is not eligible for relocation allowances, but excess fares may be considered in accordance with MoJ’s excess fares allowance policy.
Salary
£23,000
Additional Information
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on ‘modernised’ terms in their current post or onto ‘unmodernised’ MoJ terms if they are on ‘unmodernised’ terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail [email protected]);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([email protected]);
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.
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.