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General Information

Salary
£35,335 - £37,847
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Internal
Location
Barnsley, Bedlington, Beverley, Bradford, Bridlington, Darlington, Doncaster, Durham, Gateshead, Grimsby, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Hull, Kingston-upon-Hull, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newton Aycliffe, North Shields, Scarborough, Sheffield, Skipton, South Shields, Sunderland, Wakefield, York
Region
North East
Closing Date
24-Nov-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
11723

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service

Regional Support Unit: North East Region

Job Title: Judicial Liaison Manager – North East Region

Pay Span or equivalent:  HEO

About us

HM 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. 

There is a high expectation of all staff regardless of the job they do and the need for more robust performance management. The organisation has adopted new ways of working to ensure that it focuses on just that which is essential to HMCTS.

HEO staff will need to display a commitment to four key principles: Continuous change, continuous improvement (CI) 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

HMCTS is embarking on a period of significant change.  Strong leadership is a critical element in this being successful.  As a manager within HMCTS the jobholder must provide clear direction and focus, visibly championing the changes which deliver greater efficiencies.  The HMCTS Executive Team 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 jobholder will need to help staff and other stakeholders to understand the impact of the changes and the reasons for them, recognising that staff will need support during what will be an unsettling period.  This will include helping staff prepare for changes and supporting them through it.  There may also be times when it will be necessary to deliver difficult or unwelcome messages.  This must be done sensitively, but firmly, addressing any inappropriate reactions or responses. 

The key purpose of the role is to

Manage the Circuit and District Bench team(s) within the Regional Support Unit for the North East Region, supporting the Delivery Director, 2 Presiding Judges and Family Presiding Judge   This involves overseeing the booking and training of all Recorders and Deputy District Judges; the itineraries for all Circuit  and District Judges; ensuring all records are maintained with 100% accuracy and providing information and advice on all aspects of appointments, retirements, authorisations, bids and forecasting on the Circuit and District Benches.

The post-holder will be expected to stand in for the Head of Judicial Liaison where necessary. They may also be expected to act on behalf of the Presiding Judges without reference

The post holders are 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. The post-holder will be responsible for a number of areas from the following list:

Key responsibilities

Operations

·       Support the Delivery Director, Heads of Jurisdictions and Cluster Managers in maintaining and / or improving performance and service delivery

·       Monitor the sittings days for all jurisdictions ensuring monthly reports are provided to the Delivery Director, Heads of Crime, CFT and RSU

·       Agree the deployment of newly appointed fee paid judiciary and oversee their training and booking to ensure the effective management of all fee paid judiciary across the Region

·       Regional Listing Co-ordinator with responsibility for the effective deployment of High Court Judges to the Region and management of their itineraries, including applications for Armed Police presence in Court

·       Produce business cases for judges to sit in retirement, renewal and extensions of  appointments and extensions to maximum sittings days

·       Responsible for the maintenance of the Judicial Harassment Protocol

·       Complete Expression of Interest exercises with judiciary to ensure sufficient tickets/ authorisations for all jurisdictions

·       Organise visits from the Presiders, Senior Presiding Judge or Lord Chief Justice to courts within the North East Region as required, including provision of briefing on each court

·       Provide briefings, draft reports, letters and minutes of meetings as required by the Delivery Director, Heads of Jurisdiction and Presiding Judges

·       Carry out tasks on behalf of the Presiding Judges. This will include communicating decisions or requesting information from the judiciary or administrators of the Region

·       Actively promote a partnership working relationship between HMCTS and the PJJ/FDLJ

·       Ensure effective contingency planning to allow business continuity in operations across the Region.

Business Management Information

·      Produce sittings days forecasts with varying degrees of frequency

·      Monitor and analyse judicial resources to determine the Region’s ability to achieve their sittings days allocations, highlight problems and recommend interventions to the PJJ/FDLJ, Delivery Director and Heads of jurisdictions

Analysis

·      Analysis of data for judicial bids and forecasting to ensure best use of resource

·      Monitor and analyse judicial losses to determine the need for business cases

·      Provide briefing and advice for the Presiding Judges in all issues relating to their statutory responsibilities

·      Ensure CJ and DJ lost days are accurately recorded and monitored

Communicating with the public, juries, the judiciary, other court and tribunal users and representatives of other agencies and organisations

Contact will be wide and varied but will likely include:

·       Members of the judiciary, including senior judges (i.e. Presiding Judges) on a continual daily basis

·       Members of court staff and senior management

·       Contacts across MoJ, Judicial Appointments Commission, Judicial Office, Judicial College

Team Management

·       Manage staff resources in a way that enhances the performance and develops the potential of all staff whilst at the same time ensuring the team provide the support needed by senior management; including setting objectives and hold regular reviews to provide honest feedback on performance and support development in line with guidance. Tackle under performance and manage sickness absence effectively

·       Work closely with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders within and outside of HMCTS, demonstrating good team working and communication skills

·       Ensure the team applies efficient working practices to manage an increasing workload and expanding responsibilities

Representation

·       Expected to represent the Region at various judicial meetings and training events

·       May be expected to represent the Head of Judicial Liaison at meetings

Specialisms

·       Knowledge of OPT and JI systems would be advantageous

·       Analytical skills to interpret data

·       Excellent communication skills are a pre-requisite for this role

·       Excellent drafting skills are a pre-requisite for this role

Accountability

·       Reports to the Head of Judicial Liaison.

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.

Location of Post

·       This post can be based anywhere in the NE region however occasional travel to other sites may be required

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The 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.

For nationally advertised roles: 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 Map. 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 hours 

The 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.

Benefits 

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual 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.

Pension 

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training 

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks 

The 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.

Eligibility

Staff 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.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

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 animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil 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 Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

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


Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Making Effective Decisions
Working Together
Delivering at Pace
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Statement of Suitability
Evidence of Experience
Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Interviews are expected mid December, in person
Behaviours
Making Effective Decisions
Working Together
Delivering at Pace
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Level of security checks required
DBS Basic
Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.