Job Description

Job descriptionProud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.Our Crown Court Clerks are essential to ensure Crown Court hearings run smoothly. They have the self-assurance to communicate confidently with the Judge and all participants and the skill to produce accurate and timely Court documents. Our Crown Court Clerk training programme provides a structured yet flexible approach to building the skills required to perform this vital role.It is a unique position at the heart of justice which requires you to have high emotional resilience and be able to understand and be sensitive to many, sometimes difficult, cases and take a non-judgmental approach to our service users.About usHM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family Courts and Tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues within HMCTS, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice. We're looking for individuals who are committed to public service and making a difference in people's lives to deliver justice. If you are interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.About youYou're a confident communicator; able to speak publicly, with the self-assurance to confidently liaise with the Judge, the defence, prosecution, media, members of the public and more, regarding complex and sensitive matters in a calm and professional manner.A real team player, working with the clerking team, you'll ensure the smooth running of all the Crown Courts sitting daily, able to intervene in Court when required and maximise judicial sitting time. With experience in producing exact and time critical documentation, your ability to focus will be key in taking verdicts, conducting arraignments, producing Court orders and recording hearing outcomes accurately and efficiently.Resilient and keen to learn, you're familiar with working within process and have the IT skills to adapt to new systems and technologies as we're constantly investing in digital solutions to improve the way we deliver the justice people deserve in today's world.Your skills and experiencexc2xb7 Able to speak publicly and within a court room environment.xc2xb7 Excellent communication, organisational and prioritisation skillsxc2xb7 Effective listening skills and the ability to multitaskxc2xb7 Ability to complete documents accurately and to deadlines.xc2xb7 IT proficient with the ability to learn and adapt to different technologies and software packages.This is a court room-based role and therefore hybrid working cannot be accommodated.Cardiff Crown Court is a busy 9 Court centre and lists for courts at Newport and Merthyr Tydfil. The court clerk team comprises of 20 plus clerks who all work closely together as a team to provide court cover and support across all three sites.This role gives you the opportunity to make a difference in delivery Justice and gives you the benefits developing your career in the Civil Service.For a full job description, please read the supporting document included below before applyingFurther details:New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum.Base location - Cardiff Crown Court, The Law Courts, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3PGFor this post, occasional travel to Newport Crown Court, NP20 4PR and Merthyr Tydfil Combined Court Centre, CF47 8BH will be required for cover when needed.Additional InformationThe 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.All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) - See . All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location's respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).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 hoursThe 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.BenefitsThe MoJ offers a range of benefits:Annual LeaveAnnual 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.PensionThe Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.TrainingThe Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.NetworksThe 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.EligibilityStaff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.Vacancies advertised cross-government are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.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 www.

or . You can determine your eligibility at . * Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.

• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil ServiceThe 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 . 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 Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail

); * To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (
); * To the Civil Service Commission (details available
)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.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 TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our .Diversity & InclusionThe Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the and the .Redeployment Interview SchemeCivil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.Civil Service Nationality RulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:

• 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)
• 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)Reserve listA reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Ministry of Justice