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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.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service

Job Title: Criminal Appeal Caseworker – Criminal Court of Appeal (3 posts available)

Location: Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL

Duration: Permanent Contract

Pay Span or equivalent: EO

Salary: London (within M25): £31,169 – £32,760

About HMCTS:

HM Courts and Tribunals Service is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. We work with an independent judiciary to provide a fair, efficient and effective justice system.

For more information about HMCTS and what we do, visit: https://www.hmctsjobs.co.uk/.

Overview:

Based within the Central Building in the main Royal Courts of Justice estate, the Court of Appeal Criminal Division (CACD) is a busy court that deals with criminal appeals against decisions made in the Crown Court. The Criminal Appeal Office (CAO) provides legal and administrative support to the CACD. The main appeal types are conviction and / or sentence. The CAO structure is split into two groups- Conviction and Sentence. Adminstrative staff in Conviction casework provide support for the complex casework lawyers in progressing applications. In Sentence casework cases are processed generally by admin staff, with checks made by lawyers on the lawfulness of the sentence.

Please note: this job title covers a number of similar specialist casework roles in the sentence and conviction groups. The job holder may be required to line manage a team of Administrative Officers (AO) staff.

The key purpose of the role is to

• Prepare sentence or conviction and special jurisdiction appeal cases for the consideration of CACD judges in accordance with office targets, taking account of offenders’ earliest date of release and any other factors of urgency such as age, vulnerability and ill health.
• Provide proactive case management and administrative support in relation to applications for permission to appeal to ensure that cases are managed both effectively and expeditiously.
• Assist in the delivery of performance against targets.

Key responsibilities

To prepare sentence or conviction and special jurisdiction appeal cases for the consideration of CACD judges in accordance with office targets and procedures. This will include but is not limited to the following:

In Sentence Group

• Checking for effective grounds of appeal, returning ineffective grounds and checking an accurate case record has been created on the office case management system.
• Personally determining the priority of each case (approximately 1,000 per year per caseworker) based upon factors including the age, health, earliest release date of the applicant and identifying whether to send the case to the Registrar of Criminal Appeals to consider a referral directly to the full Court of Appeal.
• Identifying, from the grounds of appeal, what documents and transcript will be required by the Single Judge when making a decision on leave to appeal; obtaining these documents from CJS partners, including confidential material.
• Checking Crown Court indictment, record sheet and transcripts for possible unlawful sentences and referring to CAO lawyers for legal advice.
• Preparing case papers for consideration by the Single Judge in accordance with the Criminal Appeal Act and Crim. Procedure Rules.

In Conviction Group

• Personally acting as casework support to HEO and lawyer case officers for own allocated caseload (approximately 200 complex cases per year per caseworker); implementing case directions given by senior judiciary or case officers and obtaining documents from CJS partners for the Single Judge and full Court of Appeal.

In both Sentence and Conviction Groups

• Management of a team of Band E administrative staff, ensuring they meet office targets and accurately send / respond to letters, forms and documents sent to / received from applicants/appellants, legal representatives and CJS partners (please note that not all casework EO roles include staff management).
• Responsibility for dealing with correspondence and enquiries.
• Using the case management system, monitoring the progress of own caseload, liaising with CJS partners and resolving problems as required, adhering to strict targets for sending cases to the Single Judge and average waiting times; preparing cases for listing, including the production of digital court bundles.

Corporate operational responsibilities

• Contribute to the delivery of operational, performance and service standard targets.
• Provide statistical data for the management team and judiciary.
• Contribute to meeting the objectives set out in the business plan, with particular focus on the team’s area of work.
• Monitor and proactively report on HMCTS operational controls.
• Ensure the risk management system and standards are applied by all staff in line with HMCTS/MOJ policy. Alert others, as appropriate, to risks which are not capable of local resolution.
• Deal with customers and complaints and address root causes of complaints.

Team leadership

• Assign responsibilities for action and monitoring progress against plans.
• Ensure that performance management and reward & recognition systems are utilised effectively throughout area of responsibility, ensuring consistent standards through benchmarking, and encouraging and rewarding good ideas and creativity.
• Identify staff potential and develop in line with business and individual needs.
• Be responsible for health and safety issues for the team and their immediate working environment.
• Take a lead in employee engagement activities to maintain good working relationships with staff and to improve service delivery and staff morale / motivation.
• Ensure staff are aware of HMCTS strategic objectives and/or are updated in relation to corporate messages.
• Role model HMCTS values, and apply policies and procedures (including diversity, attendance and discipline).
• All Band D staff are expected to perform other management roles in addition to their own role.

Processing and managing casework

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

Calculations and analysis

• Identify and implement solutions to local problems, referring more complex problems to a Delivery Manager.

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

• 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.
• Provide feedback to staff, judiciary and other stakeholders on performance against targets.
• Think beyond own area of responsibility, considering wider policy and organisational implications of issues.
• Attend and contribute at meetings of relevant User Groups.

Representation

• Represent the function you have been assigned to at an operational level.

Specialisms

• Recent knowledge and experience of working in the Criminal Justice System, particularly in the Crown Court or Criminal Appeal Office is desirable but not essential.

Accountability

• Reporting to a HEO Delivery Manager.

Essential Skills & Criteria:

• Team working
• Experience engaging with stakeholders / excellent customer service
• Good written and communication skills

Application Process

To apply for this position please complete the online application form. Using the Success Profile STAR methodology, provide a 250-word statement against each of the following Behaviours (Level 2):

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

In the event that we receive a large volume of applications we reserve the right to conduct the sift based on one lead behaviour. The chosen lead behaviour for this campaign is Making Effective Decisions.

If selected for interview, please note that will be held face to face. The above Success Profile Behaviours (Level 2) will be tested / assessed at interview, along with four Strengths.

Further information on Success Profile Behaviours and Strengths, as well as the required standards for this post (Level 2), 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.

Terms & Conditions:

Permanent Appointment
This appointment will be made on a permanent basis.

Working Hours / Pattern:
Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. Part-time and job-sharing working patterns within working hours are available but must meet business needs. We will do our best to let people with existing part-time contracts retain their contracted hours provided they are in line with current business needs. Please note that successful part time and job share candidates may be required to work full time for specific periods to complete and consolidate training.

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.

Annual leave:

Generous allowances for paid holiday starting at 25 days per year and rising to 30 days after 5 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 is calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Security Level:

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC).

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

£31,169 - £32,760

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.