Important

You can’t apply for this appointment

The application deadline has passed or the appointment has been closed for applications.

Appointment details

Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors – Lay Members - PAT 170007

Summary

• Organisation: Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors
• Sponsor department: Ministry of Justice
• Location: London
• Sectors: Defence
• Skills: Human Resources, Regulation
• Number of vacancies: 4
• Time commitment: Adhoc
• Remuneration: £275 per day
• Length of term: 10 years
• Application deadline: 11:59am on 5 November 2024

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   7 October 2024

2. Application deadline

   11:59am on 5 November 2024

3. Sifting date

   27 November 2024

4. Interviews expected to end on

   23 January 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for considering applying for this important role.

You may already have some idea about the important work of the Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors (ACCO). 

The ACCO is an independent body which advises the Government on matters referred to it.  It is required to make recommendations on claims for conscientious objection from Armed Forces personnel (including members of the Reserve forces), where an application to retire or resign a commission or for discharge on the grounds of conscience has not been accepted by service authorities.

The ACCO plays a vital role in maintaining discipline in, and the operational effectiveness of, the Armed Forces by providing an independent body which considers such cases and determines if such claims are genuine. Meetings are infrequent and usually last for one day. There have only been two meetings since 1996. 

The Armed Forces recognise the right of serving personnel to be discharged if they develop a conscientious objection. Active service in the Armed Forces - an increasing deployable portion of which is sourced from the Reserves - can have a significant effect on the outlook and attitudes of those who undertake it. Exposure to warfare and its potential post-traumatic reaction can radically alter a person’s values and beliefs and re-determine previously held stances. 

Appointments to the Committee are made by the Lord Chancellor independent of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). These appointments reflect the judicial nature of the Committee, and the need for independence from the MOD. 

If you believe you have the experience and qualities we are seeking, I do hope you will consider applying for this important position.

If you have further questions about these roles, you are welcome to contact Tracy Sexton, Email: CLS-ACCO@mod.gov.uk

If you have questions about the appointment process, you can contact the Public Appointments Team at: PublicAppointmentsTeam@Justice.gov.uk, or call Kathy Malvo on 07849 854567.

If you believe you have the experience and qualities we are seeking, I hope you consider applying for this important role.

His Honour Judge Nicholas Sanders Deputy Chair, Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors

October2024

Appointment description

The role of the Lay Member is to assist in the conduct of ACCO hearings by providing a lay view during the hearing and in subsequent decision making. The main activities of the Lay Members include:

·       Preparing for hearings by reading and assimilating papers in a case before it commences;

·       Participating at hearings, asking questions where necessary to clarify evidence;

·       Assisting in ensuring that full and accurate minutes of the hearing have been recorded;

·       Assisting in ensuring that the Committee makes recommendations commensurate with the evidence presented to it;

·       Maintaining the authority and dignity of the Committee.

Board composition

We advise the Secretary of State for Defence on all conscientious objection claims. These claims are made by those in the Armed Forces whose application for permission to retire, resign or be discharged have been refused by the Service authorities.

We are responsible for advising on claims to conscientious objection by those who have been refused permission to:

• retire;
• resign their commissions, or;
• be discharged.

The Committee deals with cases of those who object to further service and have been turned down; not those who are objecting to conscription or call-up on mobilisation for war.

Many of the conscientious objections are made on religious grounds.

There are six committee members. There is a chair and a deputy chair (who must be Circuit or Upper Tribunal Judges) and four Lay Members. Each time the Committee meets the chair or deputy chair and at least two Lay Members must be present.

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 ability to understand and assimilate facts and arguments and to determine, from a potentially large amount of evidence, which are important and relevant;
• The ability to elicit from parties appearing before the Committee the relevant facts;
• The ability to exercise sound judgment and to reach firm conclusions independently of others;
• The ability to communicate effectively across a wide spectrum of Committee users with the ability to command their respect.

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in on the public appointment website https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/create-account  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) - (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 supporting statement - (maximum two sides of A4) providing evidence against the role criteria and your suitability for the post, including evidence of leadership qualities and a vision for the organisation. Please consider the role and criteria carefully in preparing your statements. 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.

equality information - 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.

information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues - If you have any interests that might be relevant to the work of the Commission 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 AAP. Please 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 AAP 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.

requests for referees - Please provide names and contact details of two people who may be asked to act as referees for you to PublicAppointmentsTeam@justice.gov.uk (quote PAT170007 in any correspondence). At least one referee must have knowledge of your work relating to your most recent professional and/ or voluntary activity. They will be expected to have authoritative and personal knowledge of your achievements in a professional or public service capacity.

If you have any questions about any aspects of this post, you are welcome to contact Tracy Sexton, Email: CLS-ACCO@mod.gov.uk

Overview of the application process

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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

• David West, Deputy Director, MoJ Public Bodies Centre of Expertise (Panel Chair)
• Deputy Chair, His Honour Judge Nicholas Sanders
• Jacqui Francis - Independent panel member (IPM) 

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

Anyone in the categories listed below will not be considered for appointment as a Lay Member of the ACCO (also see political activity and

essential criteria):

• Employed in the Civil Service of the state with strong connection with Defence;
• Current member of the Regular or Reserve forces, or;
• Affiliated to pacifist or anti-pacifist organisations.

Person specification and eligibility criteria

For this post, a person cannot be appointed as a Lay Member if he or she is employed in the Civil Service of the state with strong connection with Defence, is a current member of the Regular or Reserve forces, a civilian employee of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) or has an immediate family member in the forces or employed by the MoD. There must be no employment restrictions or limit on your permitted stay in the 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 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 for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  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

Lay Members will be remunerated at a daily rate of £275 if they attend a hearing of the Committee. Remuneration is taxable under Schedule E of the Income and Corporation Taxes. Act 1988 (as amended) and subject to Class I National Insurance contributions. Reasonable standard travel expenses will be payable. 

Pension and redundancy

This post is not pensionable

How to complain

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

Please contact the Head of the Public Appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at PublicAppointmentsTeam@justice.gov.uk.  Your complaint will be acknowledged and you should receive a reply within 15 working days of the complaint being received.

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

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk.Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

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

In accordance with the Public Appointments Order in Council 2019(4)(5), we will process your application in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Ministry of Justice’s Information Charter, which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/personal-information-charter.

Your data will be held securely and access will be restricted to those dealing with your application or involved in the recruitment process. Your data may also be shared with the Commissioner for Public Appointments and other relevant government departments, including the Cabinet Office, as part of a complaint investigation or review of the recruitment process. Cabinet Office will handle data in accordance with their Privacy Notice https://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/privacy-notice. Your data may also be disclosed as required by law or in connection with legal proceedings.

Your data will be stored for up to two years and processed for the purpose of the recruitment process, diversity monitoring unless you specifically request us not to.

Should you wish your data to be removed from our records, please contact publicappointmentsteam@justice.gov.uk

Contact details

If you have further questions about these roles, you are welcome to contact Tracy Sexton, Email: CLS-ACCO@mod.gov.uk