Independently investigating Miscarriages of Justice

Candidate Information Pack for the post of:Human Resources Caseworker (HRC 4/20)

Starting salary: £35,409Closing date: 11.55pm on 27th September 2020

Criminal Cases Review Commission

The CCRC deals with complex matters across a broad range of cases and has dealt with some of the most serious miscarriages

of justice of the last fifty years.

Our valuesIntegrity, Motivation, Proactivity,

Accountability, Courtesy, Timeliness.

The CCRC is based in Birmingham and is the independent organisation set up to investigate suspected miscarriages of justice from magistrates’ courts, the Crown Court in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Court Martial and Service Civilian Court.

We take a fresh, independent look at suspected miscarriages of justice. Our principle role is to investigate cases where people believe they have been wrongly convicted of a criminal offence or wrongly sentenced.

Ultimately, we assess whether convictions or sentences should be referred to a court of appeal.

Further information on the CCRC may be found at www.ccrc.gov.uk

Welcome

The CCRC is looking for a HR professional with a wide range of casework experience, who can give detailed and timely advice and coaching to support managers with issues and queries across a wide range of areas including performance management, grievance, sick absence, welfare and recruitment. You will also be involved in project work linked to organisational change and modernisation of our HR processes and strategies.

The CCRC is going through extensive change with an IT Transformation programme nearing completion, migration to a new HR system, an accommodation move in 2021, the need to explore new ways of working and the implementation of a new People Strategy means our small HR team needs some extra help.

You will work closely with the Head of Human Resources on a wide range of work from employee relations to recruitment and project work with the support of two HR Advisors who will be keen to learn from you. If this sounds interesting, then I look forward to hearing from you.

Robin Davis Head of Human Resources

Job DescriptionJob Title Human Resources Caseworker – Job DescriptionReports to Head of Human ResourcesGrade Equivalent to HEO/Level 3Hours 37 hrs per week. Flexible working is available Term This role is Fixed Term for up to 24 months

Purpose of the role

To support the Head of Human Resources in providing expert HR advice to line managers within the Commission, building their capability through coaching and support in the handling of management issues.

The role will also provide support on recruitment and project work, leading on particular work areas and projects where directed by the Head of HR in order to support the implementation of the CCRC People Strategy.

Key Responsibilities

To support the Head of Human Resources by leading on the provision of expert guidance and support to Managers and Directors in line with HR best practice and current employment legislation on complex, HR related issues.

To assist the Head of Human Resources by taking the lead in the management of specific projects as part of the CCRC People Strategy.

Key Tasks

To lead on the provision of HR advice to Managers and Directors ensuring the Commission has excellent management of its employees covering all aspects of performance, competence, conduct and attendance.

Provide direct guidance and detailed expert advice to managers and decision makers throughout all stages of informal and formal procedures, hearings and appeal processes, seeking external advice where appropriate.

To work closely with managers to build future capability in management of their teams To work with the Head of HR to advise the Senior Management team on developing and

implementing new flexible ways of working for the organisation. To play a key role in assisting the Head of HR in the Delivery of the CCRC People

Strategy; reviewing our approach to recruitment; staff development; reward and retention; management; culture and work environment, taking the lead in managing the delivery of specific projects where required.

Provide HR support and advice as part of the Commissions’ IT Transformation Programme and Accommodation move, including introduction of and migration to a new HR system

To develop the HR Advisors within the team, developing their skills through support and coaching

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Person SpecificationExperienceEssential Desirable

Experience of managing complex casework, using and interpreting HR policies and procedures and use of best practice within employment legislation and conditions of service in the Civil Service or wider Public Sector.

Involvement in the delivery of HR Projects

Working under pressure and delivering to tight deadlines

Building and managing relationships and partnerships at all levels of the organisation

Digital proficiency – use of HR systems and proficiency in all Microsoft programmes (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams)

Recruitment experience in the public sector and practical experience of success profiles and their use.

Implementation and migration to a new HR system.

Using data to make decisions and influence.

Technical Skills & QualificationsEssential Desirable

Full or part-qualified member (Level 5) of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), or equivalent professional qualification or knowledge.

Behaviours Essential Desirable

The following behaviours have been identified at Level 3.  For further details, please see the Civil Service Behaviours framework.

Managing a Quality Service (Lead behaviour)

Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace

AbilityEssential DesirableNA

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Guide to Completing the Personal Statement and Behaviour Outlines

Personal Statementno more than 1250 words outlining how you meet the Essentisal and Desirable Experience and Technical Skills requirements, as detailed in the Person Specification.

Please describe, with examples of your experience and in no more than 1250 words, why the Commission should employ you for the role. You should cross reference to your CV relating how your skills and knowledge meet the Essential and Desirable Criteria in the Experience and Technical Skills sections of the Person Specification. You should make sure you give examples of how you meet each point. You should pay particular attention to the Essential Criteria, but also give examples for the Desirable Criteria.

We would recommend the STAR model to structure your answers:

Situation (what was the setting and conditions, and what was your role);

Task (what specifically needed to be done when, why, etc.);

Action (what did you do in terms of your own contribution and ensuring the contribution of others, How you did it and why);

Result (What the outcome was and how you contributed to it what difference did you make)

Behaviours

The CCRC uses the Civil Service Success Profiles framework. You should produce a short statement that describes one relevant example of your best achievement using the 1st person singular (‘I’ not ‘we’) using a maximum of 250 words for each behaviour.

Again, we would recommend using the STAR model.

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

REMUNERATION The starting salary for the post is £35,409 per annum, based on a full time 37 hour week.

Pension - Working at the CCRC, you will be eligible to join the Civil Service pension arrangements, which form an important part of the pay and reward package we offer our employees. If you join the pension arrangements we will contribute a significant amount of money to your pension.

1 post. Fixed term for a period of up to 24 months. Full time/part time. A secondment or loan will also be considered.

BENEFITS The opportunity to choose your work location and be either office or homebased

29 working days annual leave allowance, in addition to 8 statutory bank and public holidays.

The Civil Service Pensions Scheme - A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. Visit Civil Service Pensions for more information.

Generous paid maternity, paternity and shared parental leave (SPL) which is in excess of the statutory minimum.

Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket and the purchase of a bicycle;

Occupational Health Services and an Employee Assistance Programme;

3 paid volunteering days per year;

Free eye tests and contribution towards lenses/spectacles for VDU users, if appropriate;

We have Flexible working patterns including access to a Flexible Working Scheme, allowing you to vary your working day as long as you work your total hours per week.

SECURITY CLEARANCEThis role requires clearance to CTC (Counter Terrorist Check) level before any appointment can be confirmed. This process can take up to 12 weeks. To meet CTC requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the date of application. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you will be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why. 

If you do not meet the above requirement, 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

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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.

LOCATIONThe CCRC’s office is based at one location in Central Birmingham.  At the moment the majority of our staff are working from home, with limited numbers able to work safely in the office.

The CCRC is exploring new ways of working and so can offer a choice of contracts, depending on your chosen work location:

Homeworker – You are contractually ‘home-based’ and required to work from home (in the UK only). Your home is your substantive and permanent place of work. You will be required to undertake travel for meetings and team-events.

Office based – Your contractual workplace will be the CCRC’s Office in Birmingham. This will be your substantive and permanent place of work. Your regular agreed working pattern and working time may be split between your contractual workplace and home.

It is important to note that, for both of the above options, the role will involve travel for business-related purposes e.g. conferences and training, as and when necessary with potential overnight stays.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas. 

CODE OF CONDUCTStaff are expected to abide by a written Code of Conduct. Staff are also bound by provisions in the Act that make it an offence to disclose information obtained by the Commission in the exercise of its functions, except in certain prescribed circumstances.

WORKING AT THE COMMISSIONThe Commission actively seeks to provide a supportive environment in which all staff are encouraged to, and can, give their best. The open-plan working environment encourages this approach. Employees are encouraged to share their knowledge with colleagues and to develop their skills and experience.

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APPLICATION AND SELECTION

The closing date for applications is 11.55pm on 27th September 2020

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

To apply, please provide us with:

your CV or equivalent biographical information - no longer than 4 sides of A4. Please ensure you do not include anything that that identifies you individually, such as age, gender, ethnicity or disability status;

a personal statement of no more than 1250 words outlining how you meet the Essential and Desirable Experience and Technical Skills requirements, as detailed in the Person Specification.

an outline of how you meet each Behaviour, as listed in the Person Specification. Please use a maximum of 250 words for each behaviour.

a completed Personal Details and Equal Opportunities monitoring form.

Completed applications should be sent to: hr@ccrc.x.gsi.gov.uk

If you are selected for appointment, the Commission will carry out enquiries into your previous employment, your availability to work in the UK and your health. It is a requirement that the post holder achieves the necessary security clearance level.

Existing Civil Servants sign a new employment contract and do not have continuous service on joining the CCRC, however, pensionable service with the Civil Service Pension Scheme would continue.

Sift Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview The interview will be a combined interview mixing questions to test your Experience, Behaviours and Strengths. We do not advertise the Strengths being tested as we want to hear your first, unrehearsed, natural response to Strength questions.

Coronavirus We are closely monitoring the situation with regard to Coronavirus and will be following central Government advice as it is issued. There is therefore a risk that recruitment to this post may be subject to change at short notice. Please continue to follow the application process as normal and ensure that you check your emails regularly for any updates from us as this is how we will communicate with you. If you are successful at the sift stage you will be invited to an interview, which will be held via Microsoft Teams.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Reserve List A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Disability Confident Scheme As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from individuals with disabilities and we make adjustments, wherever possible, to include everybody in our recruitment and selection process. The Commission is committed to:

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Interviewing all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum standard for the advertised essential criteria, even if the standard is subsequently raised to manage applicant numbers;

Providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process;

Being flexible when assessing people, so disabled job applicants have the best opportunity to demonstrate that they can do the job and;

Making reasonable adjustments through the recruitment and selection process.

We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum selection criteria. By minimum criteria we mean that you must provide us with evidence in your application that you meet the level of Experience, Technical, Behaviours and Abilities defined as essential. Please see page 4 of the Equal Opportunities form for more details.

If you require any assistance with applying please contact hr@ccrc.x.gsi.gov.uk

If you require any assistance or adjustments to be made at the interview, please contact us on hr@ccrc.x.gsi.gov.uk or complete the box on page 4 of the Equal Opportunities form.

NATIONALITYThe post is open to UK Nationals, Commonwealth Citizens, EEA nationals of other member states, Swiss nationals and certain non-EEA family members. Applicants must have been resident in the United Kingdom for at least three years preceding the application. Other nationalities may also be able to apply, but there should be no employment restriction on an applicant’s permitted stay in the United Kingdom. If unsure of your status please follow the links below or contact the HR team on hr@ccrc.x.gsi.gov.uk

Civil Service Nationality Rules

Countries in the EU and EAA

EQUAL OPPORTUNITYThe Commission welcomes applications from candidates regardless of ethnic origin, religious belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age or other irrelevant factors. Commissioners and staff are expected to adopt the same principles of equality when carrying out their duties for the Commission, both internally and when dealing with external stakeholders.

DATA PROTECTION ACT 2018As part of any recruitment process, the CCRC collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants. The CCRC is committed to being transparent about how it collects and uses that data and to meeting its data protection obligations.

The CCRC will hold recruitment records for a period of two years after the end of the relevant recruitment process. This will ensure that there is sufficient information to conduct an investigation if you submit a complaint. At the end of that period or once you withdraw your consent, your data is deleted or destroyed.

If you agree to allow the organisation to keep your personal data on file, the CCRC will hold your data on file for consideration for future employment opportunities. At the end of that period or once you withdraw your consent, your data is deleted or destroyed.

If your application for employment is successful, personal data gathered during the recruitment process will be transferred to your personnel file and retained during your employment. The periods for which your data will be held will be provided to you in a new privacy notice.

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Please see our website for further details. 

COMPLAINTSIf you wish to make a complaint in relation to any stage of the recruitment and selection process please email Robin Davis, Head of Human Resources at hr@ccrc.x.gsi.gov.uk. Please ensure that you quote the vacancy reference number. If you remain dissatisfied following the outcome of your complaint you have the right to contact the Ministry of Justice to pursue it further.

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