Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service Board Member
- Body
- Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
- Appointing Department
- Ministry of Justice
- Sector
- Regulation
- Location
- London
- Skills required
- Regulation
- Number of Vacancies
- 2
- Remuneration
- £286.82 per day
- Time Requirements
- 35 days per year
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
15/08/2022
-
Closed for Applications
12/12/2022 at 11:00
-
Panel Sift
17/02/2023
-
Final Interview Date
TBC
-
Announcement
TBC
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Ed Lidington
- Added
- 11/08/2022
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Departmental Official
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- Panel Member
- Sally Cheshire
- Added
- 11/08/2022
- Positions
- Representative of Organisation
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- Panel Member
- Amerdeep Somal
- Added
- 11/08/2022
- Positions
- Independent Member
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Vacancy Description
The purpose of the Cafcass Board is threefold: to ensure good governance across the organisation, to add value to Cafcass’s strategic direction and programmes, and to ensure that Cafcass’ policies are compatible with those of the Secretary of State.
The Board is responsible for:
• Establishing and taking forward the strategic aims and objectives of Cafcass consistent with its overall strategic direction and within the policy and resources framework determined by the responsible Minister;
• Ensuring that the responsible Minister is kept informed of any changes or risks that are likely to impact on the strategic direction of Cafcass or on the attainability of its targets, and determining the steps needed to deal with such changes or risks;
• Ensuring that any statutory or administrative requirements for the use of public funds are complied with; that the Board operates within the limits of its statutory authority and any delegated authority agreed with the Department, and in accordance with any other conditions relating to the use of public funds; and that, in reaching decisions, the Board takes into account guidance issued by Department;
• Ensuring that it receives and reviews regular financial information concerning the management of Cafcass; is informed in a timely manner of any concerns about the activities of Cafcass; and provides positive assurance to the Department that appropriate action has been taken on such concerns;
• Demonstrating high standards of corporate governance at all times, including by using the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee to help the Board to identity, address and manage key financial and other risks;
• Ensuring Cafcass is compliant with appropriate adaptations of sections of Corporate Governance in Central Government Departments: Code of Good Practice;
• Ensuring suitable business continuity arrangements are put into place and tested; and
• Appointing a Chief Executive and, in consultation with the Department, setting performance objectives and remuneration terms linked to those objectives for the Chief Executive, which give due weight to the proper management and use of public resources.
Person Specification
- Commitment to improve the outcomes for children and young people in family court proceedings. Ability to work as part of a Board to advise, challenge and hold to account Cafcass leaders and our partners to deliver positive change for children involved in legal proceedings;
- Knowledge of the family justice system: Proven experience of (or a commitment to quickly acquire) an understanding of the family justice system and children’s services, including child safeguarding priorities and programmes, children’s social care and court work;
- Excellent communication and influencing skills: Ability to gain the respect and confidence of senior stakeholders and to collaborate effectively with them to achieve shared goals across a complex system;
- Ability to contribute towards strategy and good governance: Appreciation of the management of operational and financial risk in the public, private or voluntary sectors.
Desirable criteria
Candidates should ideally have experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Promoting organisational values, behaviours and diversity: Able to evidence leading or promoting values and improving equality and diversity within an organisation;
- Cultural and organisational transformation: Experience of leading, managing and embedding change through people, practice and technology;
- Digital engagement and data analytics/insights: Understanding of how to use digital and social platforms to engage with a variety of audiences and/or use data analytics tools to provide insights to support policy and operational change.
How to Apply
To make an application, please send:
- A CV (maximum two sides of A4) detailing your qualifications, employment history and any appointments or offices you hold. Please also provide your preferred contact number and email address.
- A personal statement (maximum two sides of A4) providing evidence against the role criteria and your suitability for the post. Please consider the role and criteria carefully in preparing your statements. Information from AAP indicates that applications which offer specific and tailored examples against the criteria, making clear the candidate’s role in achieving an outcome are often the strongest. Structuring the statement around the criteria using relevant headings also aids clarity.
Guidance on how to write a successful application can be found at Appendix 2.
Supporting Documents form (attached separately on cabinet office website)
- Conflicts of interest and Previous Conduct: If you have any interests that might be relevant to the work of Cafcass, and which could lead to a real or perceived conflict of interest if you were to be appointed, please provide details in your supporting documents.
Given the nature of public appointments, it is important that those appointed as members of public bodies maintain the confidence of Parliament and the public. If there are any issues in your personal or professional history that could, if you were appointed, be misconstrued, cause embarrassment, or cause public confidence in the appointment to be jeopardised, it is important that you bring them to the attention of the Assessment Panel and provide details of the issue/s in your supporting letter. In considering whether you wish to declare any issues, you should also reflect on any public statements you have made, including through social media. The Advisory Assessment Panel may explore any issues with you before they make a recommendation on the appointment. Failure to disclose such information could result in an appointment either not being made or being terminated.
Conflicts might arise from a variety of sources such as financial interests or share ownership, membership of, or association with, particular bodies or the activities of relatives or partners. If you need further advice, please contact Mark Lambert at PublicAppointmentsTeam@justice.gov.uk
- Signifcant Political Activity
- Number of other public appointments held
- Referee details – please give names/contact details of two referees (who will be contacted if you are shortlisted for interview);
Diversity monitoring –Please complete this online form here. Information is requested for monitoring purposes only and plays no part in the selection process. It will be kept confidential and will not be seen by the AAP.
Please send your CV, personal statement and supporting documents to: PublicAppointmentsTeam@justice.gov.uk quoting reference PAT160065 in the subject line of your email. We will acknowledge receipt.