SPA Court Team Officer – Executive Officer

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA Catterick), Military Court Centre, Leyburn Road, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, DL9 3LN

About the job

Job summary

The Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) provides for the independent, efficient and consistent consideration of criminal cases and offences contrary to service discipline. It will initiate prosecutions where justified and conduct fair and thorough proceedings in the service courts of first instance and the service appellate courts, whilst liaising effectively with the police and dealing with prosecution witnesses and victims of crime with care and sensitivity. Whilst maintaining independence from the service chain of command, the SPA fulfils its functions in support of operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces throughout the world. Act as representative of the SPA at Military Court Centres to support successful delivery of trials and sentencing exercises, assist Prosecuting Officers and the Court in the Court Martial and Summary Appeal Court.

The post is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Initial preparation for witness attendance: Ensure case information and witness details are recorded and to undertake the witness calling process within the required time scale. 

Maintain and Monitor Witness attendance: To send out calling notices, receiving and monitoring the acknowledgements of attendance, recording on witness recording spreadsheet, and ensuring contact details are correct. Producing first hastening letters when required and in cases of no response, seeking to contact the witness. Ensuring witnesses who are reluctant to attend, or fail to reply, are addressed, and highlighted to line manager or prosecutor. Keeping Assistant Prosecuting Officers (APOs) informed of changes. 

Dealing with witnesses appearing remotely: To assist with witnesses who appear remotely, undertaking test links, ensuring that the strict remote guidance is followed and statements and exhibits are sent in line with the prosecutors’ directions. Ensuring an Oath or Affirmation is sent to the remote witness. 

Dealing with witnesses at Court: Meeting victims and witnesses at court as the first point of contact on the first day of the trial or when scheduled. To assist the APOs when necessary, undertaking the Pre-Court visits and Pre-Court briefing on the day of the trial. 

Booking Travel and Accommodation: Booking travel and accommodation efficiently in terms of timescales and in line with MOD/SPA financial practices, looking for cost effectiveness and best value within guidance. Making a log of victim/witness accommodation requirements for audit purposes. Liaison with MCS Court staff and units to ensure deconfliction of hotel bookings with other parties attending the Court Martial. 

Lunch Booking: Arranging and book lunches as required. 

Standard Operating Instructions (SOPs): To provide feedback on suggestions in relation to the SOPs and standard templates so they reflect process changes and incorporate best practice. 

APO Cover: If necessary, provide cover for APOs for witness related and administrative tasks.

Person specification

Essential: Ability to work on your own, excellent organizational and administrative skills, comfortable with IT and working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word, excellent interpersonal skills, occasional overnight travel and flexibility regarding working hours, willingness to undertake Witness Handling training.

Desirable: Knowledge of military structures and organisations. Working knowledge of using Microsoft teams applications.

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,580, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,569 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Mr Mark Lloyd
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: [email protected].

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