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.
These operational roles are customer facing, requiring successful applicants to be office based to provide HMCTS services to the public. HMCTS offers a flexible working system in many of its offices, subject to business needs being met.
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.
Please note the position at Leeds Magistrates Court is based at Leeds, LS1 3BE.
Background
The Tribunals Service and Her Majesty’s Court Service were integrated into a single Agency, Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service on 1st April 2011. Bringing these two organisations together has removed duplication in management functions and increased the efficiency of the administration, which has enabled HMCTS to reduce what it spends away from the front line substantially.
Consequently, there are high expectations of all staff regardless of the job they do and high performance is expected from everybody. The organisation is continuously adopting new or better ways of working to ensure that it focuses on just that which is essential.
EO staff will need to display a commitment to four key principles: Continuous change, LEAN principles, managing uncertainty and improving performance. All those appointed to new roles in HMCTS must be wholeheartedly committed to these principles and evidence this in their application.
Overview
As a new organisation 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
- Act as a court associate in accordance with directions of the justices’ clerk, or their nominee, in court with a district judge and to keep a full and accurate record of proceedings.
- Undertake such administrative roles as appropriate to grade as directed by the line manager.
Key responsibilities
Administration
- To ensure that all relevant documentation is completed fully, accurately and in timely manner (including cracked and ineffective trial monitoring forms).
- To ensure that the court case files are kept properly and tidily.
Drafting • To take a note of the evidence given and any legal submissions.
- To make a full and accurate record of all adjudications made.
Operations
- To be aware of, and act on, any special requirements such as video equipment, tape recorder, interpreter etc.
- To be in court no later than 20 minutes before the start of the court list.
- Thoroughly check case papers in good time before the court session.
- In the absence of an usher, to call in witnesses and administer oaths and affirmations.
- To use the Libra computer system to access the diary, book trials, adjournments, move cases, result cases and produce all relevant documents including warrants and others, and validate court sessions.
- To meet with the district judge ten minutes before the start of the court and appraise him of the state of the day’s list and throughout the day as necessary.
- To be able to answer questions on the case (in particular being able to give a history of the case) in court and to the district judge as required.
- Ensure the effective management and planning of the business within the courtroom.
- Take part in 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).
- To participate in any relevant training as required.
- Apply LEAN principles, tools and techniques to working practices to improve efficiency of operations.
Team leadership
- All Band EO staff are expected to deal with other ad hoc management roles including line management of Band AO and AA staff as required.
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 Cluster Delivery Manager
Communicating with the public, juries, the judiciary, other court and tribunal users and representatives of other agencies and organisations
- Maintain effective liaison with judiciary, user groups and representative organisations.
- Think beyond own area of responsibility, considering wider policy and organisational implications of issues.
- Implement local communication plans which meet the needs of the target audience.
Representation
- Represent the function you have been assigned to at an operational level
Specialist roles
- 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
- The court associate will report to a manager within the administration team who will be their line manager. When acting as an associate in court the post holder will be accountable to, and subject to the directions of the legal team 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.