Court Manager
Crown Prosecution Service
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 13th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
CPS Wessex is delighted to advertise the role of Court Manager
Please note that applicants must be aged 16 prior to starting in the role, start dates would be expected to be 8-12 weeks after the closing date of this advert.
Please note that as part of this role you will be expected to undertake direct line management responsibilities.
The office location can be either Eastleigh or Portsmouth, however the role is mainly based at Southampton Crown Court
Job description
As the focal point for day-to day contact with the Judiciary and Court Service over the running of the administrative functions in a designated Court centre, the post holder will manage the paralegal staff to make sure case quality and victim & witness care is maintained and improved.
Person specification
- Responsible for Quality Assurance monitoring of the Case Management System (CMS), dealing promptly with any issues arising from these reviews and ensuring cases progress through to finalisation ensuring CMS is used by all staff at all stages of the prosecution process in line with digital working.
- Responsible for identifying emerging issues in Court that would otherwise unnecessarily delay justice by intervening with the relevant Prosecutor, assigned advocate or appropriate official and then resolving them where practical or escalation where issues are more complex.
- Proactively liaise with the judiciary to resolve casework issues and act as a focal point for judiciary enquiries and ensure any issues raised are resolved in a timely manner to avoid unnecessary delay in court.
- Meaningfully engage representatives from other agencies within the CJS to ensure the smooth operation of CPS business at court, resolving issues in a timely manner (either personally or via escalation) and ensuring a proactive approach to case progression is maintained.
- Provide support and guidance so that all advocates, lawyers and paralegals are able to fulfil their responsibilities and act in accordance with the Speaking to Witnesses at Court CPS Guidance
- Responsible for the day-to-day management of the court centre ensuring the deployment of paralegal officers and assistants to court duties is in line with the national agreement.
- Proactively build and maintain good working relationships with external agencies to ensure smooth operation and effective delivery of CPS business; troubleshooting emerging issues where practical or escalating where complex so that the interests of the Justice System, victims and witnesses are best served.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Working Together
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Managing a Quality Service
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Leadership
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
Join the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and have a future that matters: Find Your Purpose
CPS is passionate about ensuring that we are a top performing organisation and a great place to work. We are committed to be an equal opportunities employer and creating a culture where everyone can bring their whole self to work and individuality is truly appreciated.
We want to ensure all our employees can thrive at work and home and offer a range of support to achieve a balance. This includes where possible, flexibility of working hours, flexibility to support caring responsibilities and a flexible approach to deployment, which means that where you work (i.e. a court, an office, or a remote setting such as your home) will be based on the kind of work you are undertaking.
This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our staff networks covering Disability, Faith and Belief, LGBTQI+, Race, Social Mobility alongside our Mental Health First Aiders Programme and Wellbeing Sessions.
CPS commits to offer its employees the following experience
• Impactful, purposeful work – making a difference to your local communities
• The ability to learn and grow, with access to the right opportunities and resources
• To care about your wellbeing
• To feel valued, trusted and included
We also offer the following range of benefits:
• Civil Service Pension
• Access to employee savings
• Cycle2Work scheme
• 25 days leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service.
• 1 extra privilege day entitlement to mark the King’s Birthday.
• Competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
• Flexible working and a family friendly approach to work.
• Childcare vouchers unless already registered with the Government Tax Free Childcare Scheme
The CPS has also designed a range of Management Development Programme to support all Aspiring, New and Experienced Managers in developing the skills, behaviour and knowledge to build their confidence and capability. We strongly recommend that all new managers undertake the Manager Induction.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
The recruitment process will consist of an online application and face to face interview which are expected to take place on 29th October 2024 at CPS Eastleigh, Black Horse House, Leigh Rd, Eastleigh SO50 9FH.
A member of our recruitment team will be in touch with further guidance, if you have any queries about this please contact stephen.oneill@cps.gov.uk
You should keep this this date free or notify us if you are not available. We will make every effort to accommodate you in your preference for dates; however we cannot guarantee that they will be met.
Personal Statement
You will also be asked to complete a statement of no more than 250 words per behaviour setting out how you consider your personal skills, qualities, experience, match the specified behaviours and requirements as detailed in the job description. In addition you will need to demonstrate the CPS or Civil Service Values.
- Leadership (Lead Behaviour)
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
Please note, the panel reserve the right to only assess the lead behaviour ‘Leadership’ at shortlist and raise the minimum standard pass mark.
We also assess your performance against our CPS values throughout the application process. We have four values:
- We will be independent and fair
We will prosecute independently, without bias and will seek to deliver justice in every case.
- We will be honest and open
We will explain our decisions, set clear standards about the service the public can expect from us and be honest if we make a mistake.
- We will treat everyone with respect
We will respect each other, our colleagues and the public we serve, recognising that there are people behind every case.
- We will behave professionally and strive for excellence
We will work as one team, always seeking new and better ways to deliver the best possible service for the public. We will be efficient and responsible with tax-payers' money.
You can read more about the CPS values on our website.
You will not be required to upload your CV however, when submitting your application there is a ‘CV section.’ You will be required to provide information regarding your employment history.
Please note that it is the candidate’s responsibility to provide the specified application information in the requested format to ensure that they are considered for the post.
Strengths
Please note, strengths will be tested at interview stage, the strengths being tested will not be shared in advance of the interview.
Use of AI
Candidates must ensure that their applications, including personal statements and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note, that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Other
This is a full-time post. However, requests for flexible, part-time working and job share will be considered, considering at all times the operational needs of the Department.
This role will be in line with our hybrid working principles which are:
- Attending with Purpose - Considering where we work, whether at court, in the office or at home we focus on the needs of our role, team and Service and the positive benefits to best support business outcomes.
- Focused on Wellbeing - Supporting our own and others’ wellbeing enables us to thrive through inclusive working practices and environments.
- Collaboration is Key - Recognising that collaboration is integral to how we learn, grow and develop, together we prioritise innovation and problem solving, to achieve shared objectives.
Therefore, this will mean it will be a mixture of home working, office working and travelling to courts, how this is split will depend upon the business needs and your role within the organisation.
Waiting List
Candidates who are recommended by the selection panel but not appointed to the current vacancy will be placed on a waiting list for 12 months and may be offered another post, should any further vacancies for a Court Manager arise in their chosen location. CPS may also approach candidates on the waiting list to fill other roles requiring similar knowledge and experience, including in other locations
Feedback
Feedback will not be provided until the vacancy is complete, please note that written feedback will not be provided for candidates who do not pass the application stage.
Excess Fares
Please note excess fares will not apply.
Fair Processing Notice (FPN)
From April 2018, the CPS will provide a Fair Processing Notice (FPN) to all new applicants after they have been successful at interview. These candidates will be informed that, as one aspect of pre-employment screening, their personal details – name, National Insurance Number and date of birth - will be checked against the Internal Fraud Database (IFD) and that anyone included on the IFD will be refused employment unless they can demonstrate exceptional circumstances.
The Strategic Resourcing team in the CPS will, on behalf of the vacancy holder, inform applicants when they are refused employment because of their inclusion in the IFD.
Current Civil Servants
Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further;
- Formal discipline action
- Any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance
- any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action
- Currently subject to probation
Civil Service Commissioners
If you are dissatisfied with the recruitment process and wish to make a complaint, please contact Strategic.Resourcing@cps.gov.uk with your concerns.
If you remain dissatisfied and wish to make a further complaint, please click on the following link to the Civil Service Commissioners complaints page https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/
Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles can be found here –
https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/
Details of the Civil Service Nationality Rules are located at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements. For the most up-to-date information on the requirements of working in the UK, please go to the UK Visas and Immigration website: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas
We would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.
Please note that some roles within CPS Direct maybe homeworking roles only, this will be clearly outlined within the advert under 'Job Summary'.
Clearance Required
The successful applicant will be required to secure DBS clearance; to speed up this process; you should bring 3 forms of ID with you on the day of interview. Data gathered from unsuccessful candidates will be destroyed in accordance with our Data Retention Policy.
If successful in obtaining an interview you will be asked to complete the Character Enquiry Form and Nationality and Immigration Questionnaire
(If you are an internal member of staff, you will not be required to undergo this DBS check as you will already hold this clearance)
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 : Stephen O'Neill
- Email : stephen.oneill@cps.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : strategic.resourcing@cps.gov.uk
