In the role in the Criminal Special Measures Policy Team, you will be responsible for:

• Taking through parliament as part of the Courts and Tribunals Bill, clauses to clarify and strengthen the operation of special measures, based on recommendations from the Law Commission.
• Leading the updating and publication of the Achieving Best Evidence guidance which sets out the process for police interviews of vulnerable witnesses and includes advice on interview planning and preparation, trauma-informed practice and witness support.
• Flexibly supporting on other priority policy work across vulnerability and criminal law policy. In the past, this has included rapidly implementing measures to the law following the National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, implementing AI intimate image offences, introducing measures to criminalise animal sexual abuse and working on the updating on the Mental Capacity Code of Practice.
• Upholding the Government's position on special measures, clearly and sensitively drafting responses to correspondence from victims, stakeholders and MPs, and briefing ministers and senior officials.
• Working closely with His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service, the police, Crown Prosecution Service, National Crime Agency, victim support sector and academics to review and implement policy on the giving of evidence by vulnerable and intimidated witnesses.

Role 2: Is in the Sexual Offences Policy Team

The Sexual Offences Policy Team sits within the Violence Against Women and Girls and Victims Policy Unit.

The Sexual Offences Policy Team develops and implements evidence-based policies to improve the experience of the criminal justice system for victims of rape and other sexual offences. The work of the team underpins a key pillar of the Government's Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy. This is a high-profile policy area with significant ministerial and stakeholder interest.

The Violence Against Women and Girls and Victims Policy Unit is responsible for policy and strategy relating to victims, including victims of rape and domestic abuse, in the justice system. We work with operational, judicial and third sector stakeholders to design and deliver improvements to the justice system’s response these crimes and lead on systemic, multi-agency reform work to improve support and outcomes for victims and witnesses, to help them rebuild and recover from the impacts of crime and enable better justice outcomes.

In the role in the Sexual Offences Policy Team, you will be responsible for:

• Overarching policy relating to rape and sexual offence cases at court;
• Delivering on the government’s commitment to introduce specialist rape courts;
• Supporting governance structures set up to deliver and implement policy changes;
• Developing a strong network of colleagues across the Ministry of Justice, H M Courts and Tribunals Service, Crown Prosecution Service, Home Office and Judicial Office. Bringing third-sector organisations into policy development and managing relationships with external stakeholders;
• Developing a robust understanding of data to support policy development and delivery, working closely with analytical colleagues;
• Upholding the Government's position on sexual offences policy, clearly and sensitively drafting responses to correspondence from victims, stakeholders and MPs, and briefing ministers and senior officials;
• Flexibly supporting on other priority policy work across the Team/ Unit and supporting the corporate objectives of the Unit.

Skills and Experience

We are looking for capable, experienced and motivated candidates with strong policy development, drafting and stakeholder management skills, who are looking to develop through work on a range of high profile and priority projects.

These roles involve regular engagement with policy relating to the experience of victims. The roles can include exposure to sensitive and distressing material, including details of criminal behaviour, such as details of sexual offences. Applicants should consider whether they feel comfortable working with such subject matters on a regular basis.

Essential:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex information, identify key issues and risks, and develop evidence-based solutions and recommendations.
• Experience of leading the development and delivery of policy, including translating evidence into policy proposals, engaging stakeholders, securing decisions and supporting successful implementation. Candidates must be able to respond to changing pressures and priorities.
• Ability to understand complex issues and communicate them effectively to a range of audiences, including senior officials and external stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build consensus and maintain effective relationships across government and with external organisations.
• Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to understand the wider policy and organisational context while maintaining attention to detail and focus on delivery.

Desirable:

• Understanding of the criminal courts and criminal justice system

Additional Information

• If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.
• Candidates applying from HMPPS should note that the Ministry of Justice does not have the same conditions of employment as HMPPS. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful.
• The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description.

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.

You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Experience

You will be asked to provide a CV during the application process to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.

Behaviours

During the application process you will be asked to provide an example of how you have met the following behaviours:

• Seeing the big picture (Lead)
• Making effective decisions
• Leadership
• Working Together

Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at