Appointment details

Lay Nominated Committee Members for the South East Regional Conduct Advisory Committee

Summary

• Organisation: Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace
• Sponsor department: Ministry of Justice
• Location: South East
• Sectors: Judicial, Prisons & Policing
• Skills: Judicial
• Number of vacancies: 2
• Time commitment: Adhoc
• Length of term: 9 years
• Application deadline: 7pm on 2 May 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   15 April 2025

2. Application deadline

   7pm on 2 May 2025

3. Sifting date

   3 June 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   30 July 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

As an NCM, you will consider disciplinary cases in which a magistrate is subject to a complaint about their conduct.  You will join a committee of other lay and judicial NCMs each responsible for their own complaints' casework.  You will be supported by a legally qualified Secretary who will provide advice and guidance on the law, practice and procedures although, following any investigation, the decisions and findings of fact and recommendations for disciplinary sanctions will be yours.

We are looking for members with the ability to scrutinise large amounts of information and make robust, evidence-based, decisions.  Just as important, we are seeking members with exceptional communication skills who can work collaboratively with people from different backgrounds. 

If you have further questions about this post, you are welcome to contact the South East Regional  Conduct Advisory Committee Secretary in the first instance.

If you believe you have the experience and qualities we are seeking, please consider applying for this important position.

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

We are looking for:

NCMs are part of the statutory process for considering complaints about judicial office holders in England and Wales.  The role of the NCM is to review cases in which a magistrate is subject to a complaint for misconduct. This entails:

• Determining the facts of the case.
• Coming to a view as to whether there has been any misconduct by the office holder.
• Recommending whether disciplinary action should be taken and if so what.

As well as considering the case documents, NCMs are required to work closely with the Secretary who will support and advise (but not participate in) the finding of facts and decision.  The Secretary will have their own limited powers to deal with administrative matters concluding a complaint. A report will be written and where disciplinary sanctions of removal from office or suspension are appropriate, a report for the Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice will be required. NCMs may also hear oral evidence from the magistrate and other witnesses.  This may routinely be done remotely using video conferencing. The Secretary and HMCTS administration team provides procedural guidance and administrative support to the NCMs and committee.

Eligibility

Advisory Committee members will be selected and appointed solely on merit.

Applications are welcome from any person who meets the eligibility criteria for appointment and who believes they have the necessary qualities.

Person Specification

Essential criteria

Candidates will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Analytical skills - able to analyse detailed information and identify the relevant issues.
• Judgement - able to adopt a balanced approach to issues and reach impartial conclusions based on the evidence.
• Communication - able to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, and to articulate opinions persuasively while being receptive to the views of others.
• Independence and collaboration – able to think independently while working effectively with people from different professional backgrounds.
• Organisation - able to work at pace and demonstrate an appropriate level of commitment, ensuring that sufficient time is set aside to prepare for and attend hearings.
• Integrity - able to demonstrate a commitment to high standards of conduct and ethics,
• Some knowledge of the judiciary in England and Wales and the judicial disciplinary system, or a willingness/ability to learn.

Desirable criteria

• Some experience of working in a regulatory/complaints environment.

Desirable criteria

Time Requirements

Term of appointment: expected minimum of 3 years, total up to 9 years.

The annual time commitment required can vary but as a general guide this may involve between ten to twenty days. 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 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 June/July 2025 and will be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams.

Successful applicants will be invited to attend training held remotely via Microsoft Teams.

Successful applicants must attend this training to join the Advisory Committee.

Application and selection process

How to apply

Please download the Candidate Pack documents, once completed please submit the application form with the following documents to SELegalSupportTeam@justice.gov.uk ;

• Completed Application Form
• References – Appendix A contained within application form
• Curriculum Vitae 
• Diversity Information and Conflicts of Interest form – Form 1D
• Register of interests – Form 1G

The Conduct Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace is committed to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of race, age, disability, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, transgender and working patterns and to the principle of public appointments on merit with independent assessments, openness and transparency or process.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Judge

JP Nominated Committee Member

Lay Nominated Committee Member

Secretary to the Advisory Committee

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:

Ø  Any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government

Ø  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. Term of appointment: expected minimum of 3 years, total up to 9 years.

The annual time commitment required can vary but as a general guide this may involve between ten to twenty days. 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 and training events are generally held within normal business hours Monday to Friday.

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

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 South East Advisory Team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at South-East-Advisory@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.

Here is how HMCTS uses personal data about you

Contact details

Please download the Candidate Pack and submit the completed application form and documents as detailed above to SELegalSupportTeam@justice.gov.uk , you can also use this email address for any application queries.

Attachments

• NCM Candidate Pack 2025

• NCM Application Form

• Diversity Information and Conflicts of Interest form – Form 1D

• Register of interests – Form 1G