Candidate Brief, September 2017 2
Independent Non-Executive Chair, Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service
Candidate Brief
Brief for the position of
Independent Non-Executive Chair,
Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service
September 2017
Contents
Background Page 2
Role of HMCTS Board Page 3
Terms and Conditions of Appointment Page 4
Role of the Board Chair Page 5
Person Specification Page 6
How to Apply Page 7
Recruitment Timetable Page 8
Background
Candidate Brief, September 2017 3
Independent Non-Executive Chair, Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) was created in April 2011 as an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. It uniquely operates on the basis of a partnership between the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals. It currently has around 15,000 staff, operating from around 500 locations with a gross annual budget of c£1.7 billion, approximately £800 million of which is recovered in fees and income from service users. It handles more than 2 million criminal cases, 1.8 million civil claims, more than 150,000 family law disputes and almost 800,000 tribunal cases annually.
HMCTS is responsible for the administration of the criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales and non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. This means that crimes are brought to justice; children are kept safe; business dealings are securely underpinned; and people know that Government cannot ride roughshod over them.
HMCTS supports a fair, efficient and effective justice system delivered by an independent judiciary. It is governed by a Framework Document, which formally sets out the duties and responsibilities of the Board of HMCTS as well as its Chair and Chief Executive. A copy can be seen on the HMCTS website: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/corporate-reports/hmcts/2014/hmcts-framework-document-2014.pdf
Transforming Our Justice System
Our vision is to have an efficient and effective courts and tribunals system which enables the rule of law to be upheld and provides access to justice for all. Our courts and tribunals underpin justice, and affect the lives of millions every year. We are proud of what we do, and of the heritage and reputation of our system. But we know that technology and modern ways of working could make it better yet, and make sure we continue to lead the world.
HMCTS has a £1 billion vision for a world-class court system that is not just the best, but also the most modern in the world. Our six-year programme will: modernise the court estate; update and replace its technology; speed up and streamline working practices; refurbish buildings to reduce maintenance costs; and provide much improved services for service users, especially vulnerable witnesses and victims.
Our programme of reform will provide entirely new ways to access justice – with simple matters dealt with rapidly online, from fixed penalties for the lowest-level crime to an efficient service for uncontested divorce, and a new Online Court that combines mediation and dispute resolution.
It will also reshape all our existing services so that they work better for users, with fewer but better court and tribunal buildings; skilled, knowledgeable and customer-focused staff; exponentially more use of video in court, including for vulnerable victims and witnesses who prefer to give evidence by video link; and slick digital systems replacing laborious, slow, and error prone paper processes.
In just a few short years we will have revolutionised how justice is administered for the people at its heart. The experience will be one where everyone who uses the courts and tribunals feels that they’ve been treated swiftly, fairly and with respect.
The Lord Chancellor, Lord Chief Justice and Senior President of Tribunals launched their ‘Transforming our Justice System’ vision in September 2016, which can be found on our website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-our-justice-system-joint-statement
More information about HMCTS’s change programme can also be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/justice-matters, along with our Annual Reports and Business Plans http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/hmcts
Role of the HMCTS Board
The HMCTS Board is responsible for overseeing the leadership and direction of the agency in delivering the aims and objectives set by the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice.
It plays a vital role in shaping and directing the organisation, ensuring that it is equipped to deliver high quality and cost effective services to court and tribunal users, and continuing to drive forward HMCTS’s six-year programme of reform.
The Board is responsible for:
¾ Advising, providing challenge and scrutiny and, where necessary, giving direction to the Chief Executive in relation to the strategic objectives and performance targets of the agency, as well as the overall delivery of its business plan.
¾ Ensuring that planning, performance and financial management of the agency is carried out efficiently and effectively and with openness and transparency in relation to the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice.
¾ Approving the allocation of the annual budget and any significant in-year changes to it.
¾ Supporting the maintenance of a strong working relationship between HMCTS and the judiciary at all levels.
¾ Approving the agency’s corporate governance framework and controls, and monitoring their operation.
The Board’s membership comprises, in addition to the independent Non-Executive Chair: three Non-Executive Directors, three senior judicial representatives, a Ministry of Justice representative member, the HMCTS Chief Executive and three additional Executive Directors.
In order for HMCTS to discharge its responsibilities appropriately and effectively, day-to-day and operational leadership of the agency is delegated to the Chief Executive.
Terms & Conditions of Appointment
Time Commitment and Remuneration
¾ The Chair post requires a time commitment of approximately 25 days a year, for which the annual salary is £20,000.
¾ Reasonable travel and subsistence expenses (2nd class travel is encouraged) will be reimbursed.
Location
¾ Meetings are usually held either at Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, 102 Petty France, Westminster, London SW1H 9AJ or Rolls Building, Fetter Lane, London, EC4A 1NL.
¾ Occasional travel to other locations will also be required.
Period of Appointment
¾ The term of appointment is four years.
Conflicts of Interest
¾ All non-executive board members are expected to adhere to the Nolan Principles of Public Life. In line with these standards, and in parallel with the standards expected of civil servants, non-executives should not misuse their official position or use information acquired in the course of their official duties to further their private interests or those of others.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2
Role of the Board Chair
The primary duty of the Chair is to lead the Board in the successful performance of its functions. This will include:
¾ Providing ongoing leadership, vision and direction to the Board and the wider organisation, ensuring that it has the maximum impact possible.
¾ Working effectively with the executive, judicial and non-executive members to ensure that the Board provides strong leadership.
¾ Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with important stakeholders, including Ministers, senior judiciary, legal professionals and other key influencers.
¾ Along with the Chief Executive, engaging with stakeholders and HMCTS staff to communicate HMCTS’ role and priorities.
¾ Ensuring that the Board sets overall strategy and objectives and provides advice, challenge, counsel and support for the Chief Executive and Executive Team in achieving those objectives.
¾ Provide challenge and formal approval to recommendations made by the Executive team on key strategic issues.
¾ Supporting HMCTS in securing the resources it needs to effectively and efficiently discharge its functions and duties.
¾ Scrutinising the Executive and supporting the Accounting Officer in ensuring that the organisation uses its resources efficiently and effectively, delivering value for money for the taxpayer.
¾ Chairing Board meetings, ensuring collective working and a high standard of open discussion and decision-making.
¾ Identifying and adopting best practice approaches for the board, ensuring its effectiveness as a team and maximising members’ contributions as skilled individuals.
¾ Ensuring that the Board and its members observe the highest standards of propriety and operate in accordance with the Nolan principles of standards in public life.
Person Specification
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the following essential criteria:
¾ Ability to lead the Board of a major national operational agency, using sound judgement and decision-making to ensure successful delivery in a highly complex organisation.
¾ Ability to support an organisation through a period of significant change and cultural development as demonstrated by experience in either the private or public sector.
¾ Ability to build a positive working relationship with the Chief Executive and the wider Board to drive improvements in the organisation’s performance.
¾ Ability to apply strategic insight and constructive challenge to the Executive team’s plans across wide-ranging strategy, delivery and organisational issues.
¾ The ability to make strategic decisions within a complex and shifting external landscape.
¾ Ability to access, build strategic working relations with and influence high level stakeholders and be an effective public ambassador for HMCTS.
¾ Excellent diplomatic skills and the ability to build strategic consensus and to guide strategy development and delivery.
¾ Evidence of senior achievement in the private or public sectors, demonstrating the ability to make a strong personal contribution.
¾ Ability to demonstrate resilience in the face of pressure.
¾ Highly developed analytical capabilities, with the ability to effectively identify key issues in often highly complex information and make strong, robust judgments.
¾ Strong commercial awareness, through private or public sector environments.
¾ Personal integrity and resilience, demonstrable independence and other attitudes consistent with the expectations of senior public office in a high profile role.
How to Apply
The recruitment process is being undertaken by Odgers Berndtson on behalf of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service. If you wish to apply for this position, please supply the following:
¾ A comprehensive CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements.
¾ A covering letter (maximum two sides) highlighting your suitability and setting out how you meet the person specification. Please note that the covering letter is an important part of your application and is as much the means by which you will be assessed as your CV.
¾ Please provide details of two professional referees together with a brief statement of the capacity and over what period of time they have known you. Referees will not be contacted without your prior consent.
¾ Diversity monitoring form – our client for this assignment has asked us to collect diversity monitoring data. Your data will be stored separately from your application and will at no time be connected to you or your application.
To apply online (preferred) please visit: www.odgers.com/64269
If you are unable to apply online, applications should be emailed to:
Alternatively, please post applications to:
Government Practice
SJM/64269
Odgers Berndtson
20 Cannon Street
London EC4M 6XD
Further Information
If you would like an informal conversation about this role, please contact Simon McDonald on 020 7529 6359 or Laura Spurgin on 020 7529 1072.
Recruitment Timetable
Process / New Date /Closing date / 10th November 2017
Longlist meeting (candidates not required to attend) / 16th/17th November 2017
Preliminary interviews with Odgers Berndtson / w/c 20th November or w/c 27th November 2017
Shortlist meeting (candidates not required to attend) / w/c 4th December 2017
Stakeholder meetings / w/c 11th December 2017
Final panel interviews / w/c 18th December 2017