Appointment details

Lay Members for Wiltshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Recruitment Advisory Committee

Summary
About the appointment
Person specification
Application and selection process
Additional information for candidates
Attachments

Summary

Organisation: Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace
Sponsor department: Ministry of Justice
Location: South West
Sectors: Judicial, Prisons & Policing
Skills: Judicial
Number of vacancies: 5
Time commitment: Adhoc
Length of term: 9 years
Application deadline: 4pm on 30 July 2023

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Timeline for this appointment

Opening date

14 June 2023
Application deadline

4pm on 30 July 2023
Sifting date

31 July 2023
Interviews expected to end on

29 September 2023

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The Wiltshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Recruitment Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace is responsible for the recruitment and selection of magistrates within Wiltshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and for liaison with the Judicial Office.

Volunteers are needed to sit as lay members on the Lord Chancellor’s Recruitment Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace for Wiltshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. As a lay member of the committee you would be involved in interviewing and selecting prospective new magistrates. Key Functions of the Recruitment Advisory Committee

Recruit and recommend, to the Senior Presiding Judge, candidates for appointment to the Magistracy
Encourage applications to the Magistracy and Advisory Committee membership from under-represented groups

Other functions of the Recruitment Advisory Committee

Recruit and recommend, to the Lord Chancellor, candidates for membership of the Advisory Committee
Consider requests for review of decisions relating to recommendations for appointment

(For further information please refer to “Applying to become a member of an advisory committee or sub-committee: notes for guidance” which can be found here https://www.judiciary.uk/publications/advisory-committees-justices-peace/

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website

Person specification

Essential criteria

The qualities sought in members of Advisory Committees include: good interpersonal skills; good judgement of character and ability; the ability to articulate clear, well founded reason on the suitability or otherwise of candidates; awareness of their own personal prejudices and an ability to set them aside; discretion in handling confidential information; the ability to work as a team member; commitment, dedication and enthusiasm; willingness to undergo such training as the Lord Chancellor may, from time to time, prescribe; understanding or willingness to acquire understanding of the local bench; willingness to talk about the magistracy and to participate in recruitment activities;

Members also need to be able to participate in interviewing candidates for the magistracy and therefore experience of interviewing is an advantage, but not essential. Lay members of Advisory Committees bring a valuable external influence to the processes; The Lord Chancellor will not appoint a person to serve on a committee beyond their 75th birthday.

Desirable criteria

Time Requirements Total appointment to a maximum of 9 years. (Previous members of Advisory Committees who have already served a nine-year term are ineligible to apply) The annual time commitment required can vary depending on the level of magistrate recruitment the committee is undertaking each year, but as a general guide this may involve between ten to fifteen days of interviewing, the vast majority of which are held remotely via Microsoft Teams. In any event the Committee usually holds an average of two full meetings a year and members may also be required to attend training sessions from time to time. Meetings, interviews, and training events are generally held within normal business hours Monday to Friday.

Remuneration Non-remunerated. Members who incur a financial loss through attendance at meetings and other official committee business may claim an allowance equal to that loss. Reasonable travel and subsistence expenses will be met. Interviews for these vacancies will take place in August/September and will be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams. Successful applicants will be invited to attend one day of training held remotely via Microsoft Teams. The dates are 8th January or 17th January, please keep both dates free. Successful applicants must attend this training to join the Advisory Committee.

Application and selection process

Show all sections

If apply online is enabled

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
a supporting statement
equality information
information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

If apply online is disabled

In order to apply you will need to provide:

A Curriculum Vitae which provides your contact details, details of your education and qualifications, employment history, directorships, membership of professional bodies and details of any relevant publications or awards;
A supporting statement setting out how you meet the criteria for appointment, as set out in the person specification for the role;
Information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues;
Diversity monitoring information. This allows us to see if there are any unfair barriers to becoming a public appointee and whether there are any changes that we could make to encourage a more diverse field to apply. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be used as part of the selection process and will not be seen by the interview panel;
Disability Confident – please state if you want to be considered for the disability confident scheme;
Reasonable adjustments - requests for reasonable adjustments that you would like to the application process (if applicable);

Please provide the information at points 3-6 above on the relevant form, or as part of your supporting statement.

Completed applications should be submitted to [ADD CONTACT DETAILS]

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.

[Standard text on a regulated public appointment process will appear as follows; this can be deleted/overwritten for adverts for appointments that are not regulated]

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.
An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.
At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.
Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.
The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.
Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.
Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.
Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Additional information for candidates

Show all sections

Important

You can’t apply for this appointment

Lay Members for Wiltshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Recruitment Advisory Committee

Contents

Summary

Share this page

Timeline for this appointment

Opening date

Application deadline

Sifting date

Interviews expected to end on

About the appointment

Introduction

Regulation of appointment

Person specification

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Application and selection process

Additional information for candidates

Attachments

Application Form

Guidance notes

Diversity Monitoring form

Cookies on Apply for a public appointment

Important

You can’t apply for this appointment

Contents

Summary

Share this page

Timeline for this appointment

Opening date

Application deadline

Sifting date

Interviews expected to end on

About the appointment

Introduction

Regulation of appointment

Person specification

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Application and selection process

How to apply , Show

Overview of the application process , Show

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP) , Show

Eligibility criteria , Show

Security clearance , Show

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity , Show

Disability confident , Show

Reasonable adjustments , Show

Principles of public life , Show

Code of conduct for board members , Show

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues , Show

Status of appointment , Show

Appointment and tenure of office , Show

Pension and redundancy , Show

Application feedback , Show

How to complain , Show

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) , Show

Data protection , Show

Contact details , Show

Attachments

Application Form

Guidance notes

Diversity Monitoring form