Unit Manager

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) protects people in England and Wales who may not have the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves, such as about their health and finance. We are an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), set up in 2007 following the introduction of the Mental Capacity Act of 2005.

OPG is responsible for registering lasting powers of attorney (LPA) and enduring powers of attorney (EPA) and supervising deputies who are appointed by the Court of Protection.

Power of Attorney Services (POAS) processes incoming power of attorney applications on behalf of the Public Guardian, within agreed targets and performance indicators. POAS comes under the Operations directorate of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG.)

OPG is a fantastic place to work offering a range of development opportunities. The OPG has signed up to the 'Time to Change' pledge which supports mental health in the workplace, as well as recently receiving a health and wellbeing charter accreditation as we are committed to developing a supportive and inclusive environment that reflects the diverse community we serve.

OPG is currently going through an extensive period of organisational change. This will be delivered by our transformation programme - "OPG 2025". The ambitious plan is about changing the way we provide services. It will help us meet the growing needs of our users, partners and our stakeholders. It will make sure our users experience a better level of support. Overall, it will help us to respond to the changing needs of society. This is so we can better support adults at risk and create high-quality services that are accessible and affordable.

OPG is aiming to have a Digital Power of Attorney in place that meets our customer and stakeholder needs. We aim to have a multiskilled, flexible workforce, working within office/home based locations to meet civil service environment.

Our Birmingham office is located centrally within walking distance to Birmingham New Street and Snow Hill train stations as well as the Mailbox and Broad Street.

Job Description, Duties and Responsibilities -

• You will support and contribute to the aims, objectives and performance of the Office of the Public Guardian to ensure delivery targets, as set out in the Business Plan, are met.


• You will have the ability to adapt to differing business needs quickly, monitoring progress against targets and measures; proactively addressing resource and delivery pressures, taking a proportionate approach to risk, problem solving, adherence and assurance.


• You will plan and forecast resources in order to deliver operational objectives with the proper and efficient use of resources.


• You will be responsible for accurate and quality processing in order to reduce re-work and to ensure a high level of customer service. You'll oversee feedback from complaints and lessons learnt for your business area, as well as reviewing processes and making recommendations for improvement with the customer experience at the heart of everything we do.


• You will organise and participate in team meetings, developing close working relationships across operations and the wider organisation.


• You will act as a role model, demonstrating behaviours within the MOJ Leadership statement and the organisation's values.


• You will be clear, honest and transparent in your communication and management, making decisions that involve the relevant people at the right time, involving frontline staff in decision making where able.


• You will be responsible for and be open and comfortable with leading and engaging your team through periods of change, particularly 'OPG 2025'. You will deliver change and communication through being a positive, visible, approachable leader, inspiring trust by tackling difficult issues, obtaining feedback and creating a culture of inclusion and innovation.


• You will proactively develop and manage talent by promoting a learning environment to maximise team and individual performance and development e.g. taking responsibility in supporting staff through the appropriate training.


• You'll take responsibility for your own learning and development with the support and guidance of your line manager.


• You will positively promote and implement diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity in all areas of work supporting initiatives within the organisation.


• You'll have a strong knowledge of HR policy where you will identify poor performance, attendance and conduct issues adopting a coaching style, for resolution, acting as appropriate in accordance with MOJ policy, whilst also recognising positive performance using reward and recognition schemes.


• You'll contribute to the development of smarter working across the department, reviewing more efficient, flexible and convenient ways of working, exploiting digital channels where possible.


• You'll take reasonable care for the health and safety of others and abide by relevant Health and Safety Procedures and policy.


• You may be asked to undertake ad hoc projects as agreed with the Operational Delivery Manager which are commensurate with the skill set of this post., If you are successful at sift, you will be invited to an interview which will use the Civil Service Success Profiles. At interview candidates should expect strength-based questions and questions relating to the following Civil Service behaviours:


• Leadership


• Communicating and Influencing


• Changing and Improving


• Delivering at Pace


All interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview., 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, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

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.,
• 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


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.
Success Profiles

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.
if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance
Supporting document 1 1
HEO JD campaign April 2024.pdf - 114KB
Supporting document 2 1
Candidate Info Pack.docx - 1720KB
Converted File Candidate Info Pack.docx.pdf - 505KB

We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage., The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.


• Ability to work at pace and meet challenging deadlines, which requires you to be flexible/adaptable, setting priorities as the workload and focus of the teams within your area change.


• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.


• Attention to detail, good analytical and problem-solving skills and an aptitude for long-term thinking.


• Leadership qualities and have an interest in developing yourself and those you manage, as well as being committed to improving team processes.


• Assurance of Business Quality and Performance expectations.


• Ability to work with a variety of internal and external customers at all levels.


• Experience of managing large operational teams


• Experience of applying HR policies.


Desirable

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft IT Packages, To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.


For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert)., Leadership
Communicating and Influencing
Changing and Improving
Delivering at Pace
Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.
Any candidate who has been assessed as being appointable to the role they applied for may be offered a similar, lower grade role, if one is available. Furthermore, any candidate who has just missed meeting the criteria for a particular role, may be appointed to a similar role at a lower grade if such a role is available, and if they have been assessed as meeting the criteria for the lower grade role. These appointments will also be made in merit order.

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.

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 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

• To Shared Service Connected Ltd (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);


• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);


• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)


The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. 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.