HQ Job Description (JD)
Band 4
Directorate: Public Sector Prisons
Job Description - Caseworker, PSP Litigation Team
Document Ref.
HQ-JES-2074 Caseworker, PSP Litigation Team v2.0
Document Type
Management
Version
2.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
16 January 2020
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
HQ- JES-2074 Caseworker, PSP Litigation Team v2.0
Job Description
Job Title
Caseworker, PSP Litigation Team
Directorate
Public Sector Prisons
Band
4
Overview of the job
The post holder is responsible for ensuring public sector prison litigation from
offenders, staff and third parties is managed effectively and in the best interests of
the HMPPS. The post holder manages their own caseload and reports to the Litigation
Manager: PSP Litigation Team.
The post holder will be responsible for administrating processes within the PSP
Litigation Team, assisting the management of litigation processes ensuring data
integrity, adhering to financial principles, policy and procedures. They will provide
accurate and reliable litigation management information to support performance
measures within Region.
This is a non-operational job without line management responsibilities.
Summary
The post holder is responsible for administration and maintaining oversight of
litigation against the HMPPS. Many of these cases will be high profile matters that
present significant financial, operational and reputational risks for HMPPS.
The post holder will need to liaise with numerous stakeholders in HMPPS and the
wider MOJ, including prison and probation staff, policy colleagues and HMPPS
appointed legal advisors. In addition the post holder will be required to liaise on a daily
basis with lawyers, claims handlers and, on occasion, barristers.
The post holder will be expected to ensure, so far as is possible, that a consistent and
coherent approach is adopted to litigation and the right instructions are provided to
lawyers and claims handlers to protect the interests of HMPPS and deliver savings.
The post holder will also be required to identify high risk cases, potential trends and
information gaps and bring these to the attention of their managers and/or other
stakeholders.
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities
Activities and Duties
and duties:
? Contribute toward the development of PSP policy, procedures and practise and
ensure consistency of application.
? Contribute to the achievement of Service Delivery Indicators (SDIs) and
standards within work area, verifying and signing off documentation as
appropriate.
? Attend relevant team meetings as and when required to provide feedback on
good practice examples, to promote awareness for better and more efficient
ways of working.
? Act as a point of contact for relevant external stakeholders.
? Act as requisitioner or approver dependant on policy.
? Personally manage litigation cases. The job holder will have to consider
evidence, along with legal advice and provide instructions to claims handlers
and lawyers to ensure a consistent and proportionate response to claims
brought against HMPPS in an attempt to reduce litigation spend.
? Seek approval in line with delegated authority levels within the Finance Manual.
? Represent HMPPS at case conferences with Counsel ensuring that the interests
of the Ministry of Justice are protected.
HQ- JES-2074 Caseworker, PSP Litigation Team v2.0
? Act as a source of advice and assistance for colleagues managing litigation
(HMPPS appointed solicitors and the relevant managers within
establishments/Region). Provide support and advice to ensure a consistent
approach and share learning.
? Personally manage a caseload that includes some high risk and occasionally high
profile cases, ensuring that the reputation and interests of HMPPS are
protected. Brief Governors, Deputy Directors and Directors as required through
the management chain.
? Assess claims and make recommendations with regard to evidence collected,
business risk, cost and expected outcomes.
? Provide advice on policy changes following analysis of litigation case outcomes
and Judicial Reviews.
? Instruct/liaise with HMPPS appointed legal advisors to provide support and
advice on the prison environment.
? Analyse caseloads within PSP Litigation Team and prepare reports on trends and
case outcomes.
? Disseminate learning from litigation on a case by case basis so as to promote
best practice within the team and across HMPPS.
? Contribute to improving the efficiency of the team by actively participating in
team meetings, contributing ideas and views.
? Engage with a range of business areas across establishments, Region, HMPPS
and in MOJ, raising litigation awareness and maintaining the good reputation of
the Team.
? Ensure the approved IT case management system is updated and accurate so as
to enable accurate reports to be generated on numbers, outcomes and spend.
? Provide input and support to ensure the PSP and national business plan
objectives are achieved.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not
intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable
alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant
adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall
be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
Behaviours
? Making Effective Decisions
? Delivering at Pace
? Working Together
? Changing and Improving
? Managing a Quality Service
? Developing Self and Others
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8.
Experience
Technical
? Good IT skills ensuring that related electronic systems are accurately
Requirements
populated.
? Conversant with programmes such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Ability
? Able to work to tight deadlines and prioritise workload in line with demand.
HQ- JES-2074 Caseworker, PSP Litigation Team v2.0
Minimum Eligibility
? All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post.
? All external candidates are subject to 6 months’ probation. Internal candidates are
subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within
HMPPS.
? All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or
organisation which HMPPS consider to be racist.
Hours of Work
Leave Blank
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
To be used by the JES Team only
HQ- JES-2074 Caseworker, PSP Litigation Team v2.0
Success Profile
Strengths
Behaviours
It is advised strengths
Ability
Experience
Technical
are chosen locally,
recommended 4-8
Making Effective Decisions
Able to work to tight
Good IT skills ensuring that related
deadlines and prioritise
electronic systems are accurately
workload in line with
populated.
demand.
Conversant with programmes such as
Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Delivering at Pace
Working Together
Changing and Improving
Managing a Quality Service
Developing Self and Others
Choose an item.
Choose an item.
HQ- JES-2074 Caseworker, PSP Litigation Team v2.0