Personal Assistant

Salary 1



£31,169 - £32,760




Number of jobs available 1



1




Detail of reserve list 1



12 Months




Region 1



London




City/Town 1



London




Building/Site 1



RCJ LONDON, WC2A 2LL




Grade 1



EO




Organisation Grade for MoJ 1



EO




Post Type 1



Permanent




Working Pattern 1



Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working




Role Type 1



Operational Delivery




Job description 1

His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service

Job Title: Personal Assistant

Pay Span: Executive Officer

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

Location & Terms of appointment

This is a permanent post based in the Royal Courts of Justice, London.

Background and key purpose of the role

The King’s Bench Division is one of the three divisions of the High Court, together with the Chancery Division and Family Division. It is the largest of the three divisions and has the most varied work, which consists mainly of personal injury, negligence (including professional negligence), breach of statutory duty, media and communications claims including defamation, other tortious conduct, breach of contract and breaches of the Human Rights Act 1998.

The judiciary allocated to the King’s Bench Division consists of High Court Judges, including the President of the King’s Bench, and there are Judges who are referred to as Masters, one of which is the Senior Master. A Master is a Judge who at first instance in the High Court deals with all aspects of a claim, from its issue until trial, the trial is before either a High Court Judge or a Master.

Role Purpose

An exciting opportunity has arisen to act as the Personal Assistant to the Senior Master of the King’s Bench Division. This is a business-critical post, where the post-holder will need to manage conflicting priorities and use their initiative. The post holder will work in a fast-paced and exciting environment where you will need to anticipate and resolve issues, prioritise competing demands and successfully support your principal so they are able to deliver their responsibilities. The post-holder will be required to liaise with the Senior Master and other judges, and stakeholders both inside and outside of HMCTS. Discretion is important in this role given the variety of information and ceremonial areas.

This role will suit candidates who are flexible, resilient, and pragmatic with strong interpersonal and organisational skills. You will be comfortable managing your own workload whilst enjoying being part of a wider King’s Bench teams.

Key responsibilities may include:

• Diary management, including managing meeting requests, organising meetings and making the travel requirements as needed. You will be expected to look ahead to identify busy periods and work that is likely to demand time and proactively manage diaries to align with that.


• Overseeing inboxes as required, including identifying anything urgent or important which needs to be dealt with quickly; and taking responsibility for commissioning and collating responses to requests for information or action. You will therefore need to set up and maintain an effective filing and archiving system and be able to respond to enquiries and requests.


• Develop strong working relationships with the Masters of the King’s Bench, Private Offices of the Heads of Divisions, specifically the President of the King’s Bench Division, and their wider teams. You will be required to handle any sensitive information in a confidential manner.


• Providing broader administrative support, including ensuring that papers and other relevant material are available in advance of meetings, and liaise regarding travel arrangements. You will also be required to provide support to the Masters’ of the King’s Bench Division, including supporting team meetings.


• Taking ownership of tasks on behalf of the Senior Master. You will need to create effective systems to ensure work preparation and attendance of ceremonial events are tracked and delivered on time, communicating with relevant stakeholders regularly to prioritise and agree deadlines and escalating where necessary when these are missed.


• The Senior Master holds the ceremonial office of King’s Remembrancer. As part of this role, you will be required to provide administrative support to the Chief Clerk to the King’s Remembrancer in relation to annual ceremonial duties.

Person Specification:

Given close working with the judiciary, senior officials across Government, and a wide range of other stakeholders, the post holder will be expected to be able to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate excellent organisational and inter-personal skills, whilst managing a busy inbox. The role is fast paced, challenging, and stimulating, offering significant scope for personal development and stretch. The post-holder will be required to manage conflicting priorities, manage confidential and sensitive information. The post-holder will be required to work collaboratively with the wider Masters’ Listing team, drawing links with colleagues across the Judicial Office, HMCTS and wider stakeholders as necessary. The ability to build and maintain resilient relationships against shifting priorities and a demanding workload is important.

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• A passion for excellent service delivery.


• Has great attention to detail and an ability to work at pace calmly.


• Excellent organisational and task management skills.


• Confident building strong personal relationships across a large and complex organisation.


• Excellent written and oral communication skills.


• Can work on own initiative and prioritise workload to meet conflicting objectives.


• Highly resilient and takes “can do” attitude to resolving issues.


• Proficient Microsoft Office software skills.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in an administrative or business support role.

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 2):


• Communicating and Influencing


• Managing a Quality Service


• Working Together

In the event we receive a large volume of applications, we will sift using the Communicating and Influencing Behaviour as the lead assessment criteria.

If selected for interview, you will be tested against the following Success Profile Behaviours (Level 2):

• Communicating and Influencing


• Managing a Quality Service


• Working Together

Interviews will also test 3 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:

Working Hours / Pattern:

These operational roles are 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 are agreed prior to appointment. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be treated fairly and, on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy. 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.

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.

Further Information:

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. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirements of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-team in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/

To Discuss the position

If you would like any further information or wish to discuss this post, please contact Elaine Harbert via email [email protected] or call 0207 947 6911.

Additional Information 1

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). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

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.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

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.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please see our Disability Confident Scheme Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

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.

Interview dates 1



Expected: Interviews will be held at the end of May/early June




Closing Date:

07/05/2024, 23:55 hours.

Contact information 1



If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected] Please quote the job reference - 86440.




Level of security checks required 1



Counter-Terrorism Check (CTC)

To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.

For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).

If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:

• You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government


• You were studying abroad


• You were living overseas with parents

In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.

Success Profiles

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.

if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL ([email protected]) in the first instance

We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours


Communicating and Influencing - 250 word limit


Managing a Quality Service - 250 word limit


Working Together - 250 word limit


A sift based on the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.


Behaviours


Communicating and Influencing


Managing a Quality Service


Working Together


Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families


• 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules