Legally Qualified Chairs
- Body
- West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner
- Appointing Department
- Ministry of Justice
- Sector
- Regulation
- Location
- West Midlands, West Mercia, Staffordshire & Warwickshire
- Skills required
- Regulation
- Number of Vacancies
- TBC
- Remuneration
- Please see below
- Time Requirements
- Candidates must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 5-year basis.
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
04/06/2019
-
Closed for Applications
14/06/2019 at 17:00
-
Panel Sift
TBC
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Final Interview Date
TBC
-
Announcement
TBC
This is not a ministerial appointment.
Vacancy Description
David Jamieson, elected Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands is seeking to appoint legally qualified chairs to join the list of people able to chair police misconduct hearings. These hearings preside over serious misconduct cases in what is an important aspect of the disciplinary rules that govern the police in England and Wales.
Successful candidates will also join the Panels to Chair hearings for the Police and Crime Commissioners of West Mercia, Staffordshire and Warwickshire, and the work will therefore be varied across the entire region.
Police and Crime Commissioners have the challenging role of ensuring that the people of the West Midlands are served by an efficient and effective police force. Transparent, fair and robust
arrangements for police officer discipline are an important way of inspiring public confidence in the high professional standards and ethical values of our police.
An important principle is for misconduct processes to build trust and confidence in policing both for our communities, but also for the staff working within policing; a commitment to fairness and transparency, with a particular emphasis on understanding the issues that are important to our diverse communities is critical in this role.
Applications are sought from qualified lawyers who can demonstrate integrity and independence of mind, commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, analysis, sound judgement and an objective approach to issues presented. You must satisfy the judicial appointment eligibility condition on a 5-year basis as set out in section 50 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. Attendance at training events is a mandatory condition of appointment for these posts, with the first training event on 7 October 2019.
We are looking to increase the diversity of our current panel to make it more representative of our communities. Applications from under-represented groups, particularly BAME, LGBTQ and female colleagues, are particularly welcomed.
Person Specification
Essential criteria
-
- Experience of chairing meetings and ability to exercise control over proceedings
- Experience of evaluating evidence, or information and making objective, unbiased, thoughtful decisions
- Experience of report writing, writing deliberations or case notes
- Excellent communication skills
- Good understanding of the diverse communities of the West Midlands
Desirable criteria
- Able to demonstrate previous committee or judicial work or service on a Board or Council.
Applicants will be assessed against the following qualities and abilities:
- Intellectual Capacity
- Quickly absorbs and analyses complex information with ease.
- Knowledge of the police disciplinary legislative framework, case-law and underlying principles, or the ability to acquire this knowledge.
- Personal Qualities
- Integrity and independence of mind.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Sound judgement.
- Decisiveness.
- Objectivity.
- Learns and develops professionally.
- Maintains up to date knowledge of issues relevant to the role.
- An ability to understand and deal fairly
- Shows awareness of equality and diversity issues that may arise in policing
- Committed to public interest, impartiality, and fair treatment.
- Listens with patience and courtesy.
- Authority and Communication Skills
- Inspires respect and confidence.
- Questions effectively.
- Engages constructively in debate and challenges others appropriately.
- Excellent presentation skills
- Efficiency
- Works at speed, including when under pressure.
- Manages time effectively and produces clear reasoned decisions expeditiously.
- Works constructively with others.
- Makes effective use of technology, including computers, video- and telephone-conferencing.
- Effective Chairing
- Maintains firm and effective control of hearings.
- Explains the procedure and any decisions reached clearly and succinctly to all those involved.
- Maintains authority when challenged.
- Excellent interpersonal skills involving all members of the Committee in a facilitative, enabling manner.
- Excellent drafting skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate, well-structured determinations.
Qualifications and training required
Candidates must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 5-year basis[1]
Successful candidates will be required to undergo a security vetting process
STANDARD ELIGIBILITY CLAUSES FOR LEGALLY QUALIFIED CHAIR’S SELECTION EXERCISES
Age
There is no upper or lower age limit for candidates for this post apart from any statutory retirement age for judicial appointments.
Nationality
Candidates will need to fulfil one of the following nationality requirements:
Be a citizen of the United Kingdom
Be a citizen of the Republic of Ireland
Be a citizen of a commonwealth country or
Hold dual nationality, one of which falls in one of the above categories
Disability
If appointed, reasonable adjustments will also be considered to ensure that a disabled judicial appointee can take up and perform in office.
Health
Candidates must be capable of fulfilling the particular judicial office they have applied for. If a health condition constitutes a disability within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010, or for Northern Ireland within the Disability Discrimination Act, if appointed, reasonable adjustments will be considered on taking up office and during service
[1] As set out in section 50 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
Additional Information
Remuneration:
Fees will not differ whether or not the Chairman is a QC.
Legally Qualified Chairs fees may be claimed at the following rates:
Full day – sittings of more than 4 hours (excluding meal breaks) – £366.
Half day – sittings of more than 4 hours or less (excluding meal breaks) – £183
Expenses
Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. Travel expenses will be reimbursed for standard fares only.