Defence Business Services - DBS - AFCLAA Case Officer
Ministry of Defence
Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 14th November 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
Armed Forces Criminal Legal Aid Authority (AFCLAA)
Trenchard Lines
Upavon
Wiltshire
SN9 6BE
About the job
Job summary
Are you a dedicated person who is passionate about making a difference?
Would you like to work for the Ministry of Defence?
Defence Business Services (DBS) is one of the largest shared service organisations in Europe that provides a wide range of corporate services, to over 1.2 million end users, including serving and past military and families, as well as MoD civil servants and industry. DBS delivers large scale administration and smaller specialist services to enable the wider MOD to focus on its core aims, maintaining the UK’s Defence and Security. Services include Human Resources, Pay, Veterans, Finance and Procurement.
- Our Vision - To support UK defence customers with outstanding service every time.
- Our Mission - Together we will proudly support Defence, continuously improving and delivering flexible, timely, sustainable and value for money services that underpin the whole force and enhance operational capability.
DBS is committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues. We are building an inclusive culture and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society.
We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us through opportunities to develop your skills and experience. We also offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career accessible to you and offer a Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%. Where your role permits, we support a blended working approach alternatively known as hybrid working.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
Come and join the DBS community today!
Job description
The Armed Forces Criminal Legal Aid Authority is a tri-service organisation, which sits wholly outside all Service Chains of Command; the Authority retains sole and independent responsibility for all aspects of the provision of criminal legal aid for members of the Armed Forces, and eligible members of the civilian community subject to service law outside the UK.
AFCLAA’s core business is the provision of (criminal) legal aid to eligible personnel, and the management of legally aided cases from initial application through to final settlement of all bills. AFCLAA will, on behalf of the defendant, instruct a legal representative and otherwise monitor the progress of the case.
The responsibilities are wide, ranging from matters relating to strategy and overall management of Armed Forces Criminal Legal Aid, to advice on policy issues, liaison with the MOD and the single services when change is mooted; and working with the Treasury Solicitor at judicial review of legal aid cases. The post holder is responsible:
- To Head Armed Forces Criminal Legal Aid Authority for the handling of applications for legal aid by service personnel, their dependents, and civil servants both in UK and overseas.
- For all aspects of legal aid provision and case management, from initial application to the final settlement of fees at case conclusion, for up to 200 live cases at any one time, ensuring all relevant procedures and timelines are met in accordance with the civilian legal aid scheme regulations.
- For all financial aspects of case management including negotiating fees/costs with legal representatives (Solicitors, Barristers, or their support staff), and others i.e Experts, as appropriate to the case and in line with The Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations, latest revise. In particular, negotiate/agree fees with legal representatives, before instruction, for Overseas cases, discussing options available to secure the required outcome within financial constraints and MOD regulations.
- To consider and make informed decisions in response to requests for prior authority to incur additional costs from legal representatives.
- For the determination (review) of all bills received from legal representatives, including Experts, and authorisation of appropriate fees payable and for any subsequent re-determination requests where payments/deductions of the original bill are challenged.
- Liaise with units and interaction with the Service Prosecution Authority (SPA), Military Court Service (MCS) and other key stakeholders, both internally and externally, when necessary, to contribute to efficient and effective legal aid processes.
- To positively promote AFCLAA’s role and responsibilities and the principles/benefits of legal aid to all staff by presenting at the Army/RAF Discipline Courses on a regular basis
This role is predominantly office based in the geographically remote location of Upavon with some Hybrid working.
Person specification
The job entails dealing with important legal documents, which demand attention to detail and accuracy. Complete impartiality is essential when handling casework and in all dealings with parties. In addition, the job holder must be able to work under pressure, be flexible and have a good eye for detail. As well as carrying out routine clerical work, the job holder must be prepared to help in other areas of AFCLAA in the absence of other members of staff.
A confident person who is capable of dealing with the Service chains of command at any level on sensitive issues involving all aspects of service discipline.
Good organisational and drafting skills with the ability to prioritise their work.
Must be tactful, diplomatic and resolute in their dealings with external contractors (legal teams), internal stakeholders (including applicant and Unit support staff) and other parties within the Service Justice System.
A methodical worker, who works well under pressure, has a keen eye for detail and demonstrates discretion at all times.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
- An environment with flexible working options Monday-Friday
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service (pro rata). In additional to 8 public holidays per year, you will also receive leave for HM The Sovereign's birthday
- Hybrid working where role permits
- An opportunity to be considered for Reward and Recognition - £250-£5000 per year
- Family-friendly policies including - parental leave and adoption leave
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- Professional and personal development of skills
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- Minimum of 15 days special leave in a rolling 12 month period for volunteer reserve commitments
- Special paid leave to volunteer up to 6 days per year
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Allowances
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Employment Hours
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
Please ensure that at the application and interview stages of the campaign you review the Success Profiles Framework to assist you in the demonstration of your skills and experience.
Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.
Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on your Primary: Behaviour - Communicating and Influencing, Secondary: Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions. In this instance the remaining elements will be tested at interview.
At application stage you will be assessed against the following:
Behaviours:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Experience:
- CV
- Personal Statement
At interview you will be assessed against the following:
Behaviours:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
In the rare case where individuals have exact matching scores, the order of merit will be determined based on the behaviour scores at interview in the following order:
- Behaviour - Communicating and Influencing
- Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
- Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service
- Behaviour - Delivering at Pace
If candidate scores are still exact, the merit order will then be determined on the sift score in the below order or priority:
- Behaviour - Communicating and Influencing
- Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
- Experience - Personal statement
- Experience - CV
We want to offer opportunities to all who are successful at interview for our roles, but this isn’t always possible, so we do hold candidates on an active reserve list for 12 months.
Application sifting to take place week commencing: 20/11/2024
Interviews are currently taking place via face to face and will be conducted week commencing: 27/11/2024
A minimum of 2 full working days’ notice will be provided for interviews. We endeavour to stick to these dates, but these are subject to change around business needs. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBS-EnhancedRecruitmentTeam@mod.gov.uk
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.
The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
To assist with your application please find attached -
DBS Candidate Information Guide - Working for Defence Business Services - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
(26) UK Ministry of Defence: Life , LinkedIn
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Kirstie Chandler
- Email : Kirstie.Chandler563@mod.gov.uk
- Telephone : 01980 61 8915
Recruitment team
- Email : DBS-EnhancedRecruitmentTeam@mod.gov.uk
Further information
