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Appointment details

Non-Executive Director

Summary

• Organisation: The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
• Sponsor department: Ministry of Justice
• Location: London
• Sectors: Judicial, Prisons & Policing
• Skills: Legal, Judicial, Regulation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: Adhoc
• Remuneration: £8000 per annum
• Length of term: Appointment is initially for a 3-year period starting in September 2023 with the possibility for extension for up to a further 3 years.
• Application deadline: 11:59pm on 5 July 2023

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   15 June 2023

2. Application deadline

   11:59pm on 5 July 2023

3. Sifting date

   10 July 2023

4. Interviews expected to end on

   4 August 2023

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The Supreme Court (UKSC) is the United Kingdom’s highest and final court of appeal. It hears appeals on arguable points of law of general public importance, concentrating on cases of the greatest significance. The UKSC is the final court of appeal for all United Kingdom civil cases, and criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland and (in certain cases) Scotland. The Court plays an important role in the development of UK law. The impact of UKSC decisions extends far beyond the parties involved in any given case, helping to shape our society. Its judgments directly affect everyday lives. 

The Court administration is a small non-ministerial department with around 55 members of staff.  The Chief Executive Officer is the Accounting Officer.  The UKSC has an ambitious vision to be a world leading Court.  This is an exciting stage to join the Court as a Non-Executive Director supporting it to achieve its vision.  

In 2022 the Court started a wide-ranging administrative Change Programme which will be delivered over three years.  The Programme focuses on our people, culture and processes, putting user needs at the heart of everything we do.  Technology and online services will be the enabler for building an excellent customer journey, delivering online services that our users rightly expect and need. The Programme is also about transparency and outreach so that the Court can serve the public by ensuring that our work is visible and accessible and trusted.  

Appointment description

As a Non-Executive Director, you will provide expert advice based on your extensive knowledge and experience and bring a valuable external perspective to the UKSC.  You will bring oversight, support, and constructive challenge to the work of the organisation. You may also be involved in working groups or offer support and advice to individual staff members, in addition to ad hoc pieces of work across the organisation. 

Input  

To provide scrutiny and constructive challenge on a range of performance and operational issues including:  

·       Delivery of the Court’s business plan 

·       Operational Policy development   

·       Regularity and Propriety 

·       Audit Risk and Assurance

·       Governance

·       Change Programme and improvements to existing processes    

·       Specialist risk topics (e.g., change, security, fraud, whistleblowing, health & safety, reputation)

In addition:  

·       to provide appropriate support and advice to the Accounting Officer

·       to chair the Remuneration Committee

·       to attend the UKSC Board, Change Board, Strategic Advisory Board, and Audit Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC).

·       to ensure compliance with the Civil Service Code and rules relating to the use of public funds

·       to participate in senior recruitment if necessary

·       to contribute to significant projects and business objectives by offering sound advice, challenge and support 

Person specification

Essential criteria

·       Ability to provide clear, effective strategic leadership

·       Exceptional communication skills, high level of personal impact and the ability to provide constructive and independent challenge and support to the UKSC Board

·       Independence of judgment, the capacity to bring a fresh, external view to decision-making, and an outstanding track record of board level career achievement

·       Ability to engage constructively and build effective working relationships 

·       Ability to analyse complex information, reach practical decisions and to think strategically

·       Experience of working closely with Human Resources functions at a strategic level

·       Sound knowledge and experience of good governance at senior levels in an organisation in either private or public sector, and/or an understanding of working with government and/or the National Audit Office

·       Knowledge of delivery of a digital service and people management and planning would be desirable.

·       Knowledge of the justice sector would be beneficial

·       Ability to apply commercial insight in a public sector context

·       An understanding of Civil Service Pay and the context and constraints for government departments (desirable)

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply for this role:

Please submit your applications to governance@supremecourt.uk. Please quote the role title in your email subject heading. All applications will be acknowledged. All applications must include the following:

• A CV with your education, professional qualifications, and full employment history.
• An accompanying supporting statement (maximum 2 A4 pages) setting out your suitability for the role and how you meet the criteria – please ensure your full name is on the letter.
• The names of two referees

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.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Panel membership

Iain Lanaghan – Lead Non-Executive Director

Vicky Fox – Chief Executive Officer

Chris Maile – Human Resources

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact  governance@supremecourt.uk

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. 

As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘minimum criteria,’ we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

Holders of public office are expected to adhere to and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life. These are:

1. Selflessness - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
2. Integrity - Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
3. Objectivity - Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
4. Accountability - Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
5. Openness - Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
6. Honesty - Holders of public office should be truthful.
7. Leadership - Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or serve in any one post for more than ten years

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.  

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact the public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at publicappointmentsteam@justice.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

Deparment's privacy Notice www.supremecourt.uk

Contact details

For further enquires governance@supremecourt.uk

Attachments

• UKSC Non-Executive Director - Job Description