Criminal Appeal Caseworker

Based within the Central Building in the main Royal Courts of Justice estate, the Court of Appeal Criminal Division (CACD) is a busy court that deals with criminal appeals against decisions made in the Crown Court. The Criminal Appeal Office (CAO) provides legal and administrative support to the CACD. The main appeal types are conviction and/or sentence. The CAO structure is split into two groups: Conviction and Sentence. Admin staff in Conviction casework provide support for the complex casework lawyers in progressing applications. In Sentence casework, cases are processed generally by admin staff, with checks made by lawyers on the lawfulness of the sentence. Please note: This job title covers a number of similar specialist casework roles in the sentence and conviction groups. The job holder may be required to line manage a team of Administrative Officers (AO) staff. The key purpose of the role is to

• To prepare sentence or conviction and special jurisdiction appeal cases for the consideration of CACD judges in accordance with office targets, taking account of offenders' earliest date of release and any other factors of urgency such as age, vulnerability and ill health.
• To provide pro-active case management and administrative support in relation to applications for permission to appeal to ensure that cases are managed both effectively and expeditiously.
• To assist in the delivery of performance against targets., To prepare sentence or conviction and special jurisdiction appeal cases for the consideration of CACD judges in accordance with office targets and procedures. This will include but is not limited to the following:
In Sentence Group
• Checking for effective grounds of appeal, returning ineffective grounds and checking an accurate case record has been created on the office case management system.
• Personally determining the priority of each case (approximately 1,000 per year per caseworker) based upon factors including the age, health, earliest release date of the applicant and identifying whether to send the case to the Registrar of Criminal Appeals to consider a referral directly to the full Court of Appeal.
• Identifying, from the grounds of appeal, what documents and transcript will be required by the Single Judge when making a decision on leave to appeal; obtaining these documents from CJS partners, including confidential material.
• Checking Crown Court indictment, record sheet and transcripts for possible unlawful sentences and referring to CAO lawyers for legal advice.
• Preparing case papers for consideration by the Single Judge in accordance with the Criminal Appeal Act and Crim. Procedure Rules.
In Conviction Group
• Personally acting as casework support to HEO and lawyer case officers for own allocated caseload (approximately 200 complex cases per year per caseworker); implementing case directions given by senior judiciary or case officers and obtaining documents from CJS partners for the Single Judge and full Court of Appeal.
In both Sentence and Conviction Groups
• Management of a team of AO administrative staff, ensuring they meet office targets and accurately send / respond to letters, forms and documents sent to / received from applicants/appellants, legal representatives and CJS partners (please note that not all casework EO roles include staff management).
• Responsibility for dealing with correspondence and enquiries.
• Using the case management system, monitoring the progress of own caseload, liaising with CJS partners and resolving problems as required, adhering to strict targets for sending cases to the Single Judge and average waiting times, preparing cases for listing, including the production of digital court bundles.
Corporate operational responsibilities
• Contribute to the delivery of operational, performance and service standard targets.
• Provide statistical data for the management team and judiciary.
• Contribute to meeting the objectives set out in the business plan, with particular focus on the team's area of work.
• Monitor and proactively report on HMCTS operational controls.
• Ensure the risk management system and standards are applied by all staff in line with HMCTS/MOJ policy. Alert others, as appropriate, to risks which are not capable of local resolution.
• Deal with customers and complaints and address root causes of complaints.
Team leadership
• Assign responsibilities for action and monitoring progress against plans.
• Ensure that performance management and reward & recognition systems are utilised effectively throughout area of responsibility, ensuring consistent standards through benchmarking, and encouraging and rewarding good ideas and creativity.
• Identify staff potential and develop in line with business and individual needs.
• Be responsible for health and safety issues for the team and their immediate working environment.
• Take a lead in employee engagement activities to maintain good working relationships with staff and to improve service delivery and staff morale / motivation.
• Ensure staff are aware of HMCTS strategic objectices/and or updated in relation to corporate messages.
• Role model HMCTS values, and apply policies and procedures (including diversity, attendance and discipline).
• All EO staff are expected to perform other management roles in addition to their own role.
Processing and managing casework
• Work with staff to ensuring that casework is appropriately managed, providing advice where process deviations have occurred.
Calculations and analysis
• Identify and implement solutions to local problems, referring more complex problems to a Delivery Manager.
Communicating with the public, the judiciary, other court and tribunal users and representatives of other agencies and organisations
• Maintain effective working relationships with the judiciary, supporting agencies, voluntary and user groups. Working with agencies to improve the level of service offered to users.
• Provide feedback to staff, judiciary and other stakeholders on performance against targets.
• Think beyond own area of responsibility, considering wider policy and organisational implications of issues.
• Attend and contribute at meetings of relevant User Groups.
Representation
• Represent the function you have been assigned to at an operational level
Specialisms
• Recent knowledge and experience of working in the Criminal Justice System, particularly in the Crown Court or Criminal Appeal Office is desirable but not essential.
Accountability
• Reporting to a HEO Delivery Manager.
Other duties
• The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post.
Further details Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. HMCTS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs and are agreed prior to appointment. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ's Flexible Working policy. Additional Information Working Arrangements & Further Information The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity. Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) - See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location's respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended). Some of MoJ's terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made. MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer. All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet. Flexible working hours The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ's Flexible Working policy., As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team. For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos. Diversity & Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. Redeployment Interview Scheme Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'. MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion., A sift based on the lead behaviour, Making Effective Decisions, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered. Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit 250 Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Delivering at PaceInterview stage assessments Interview Dates Interviews are expected to commence towards the end of May 2026. Behaviours Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace Strengths Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here. Level of security checks required DBS Basic Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)


• Team working
• Experience engaging with stakeholders / excellent customer service
• Good written and communication skills
  
  The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years' service. There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis. Pension The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best. Training The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities. Networks The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. Eligibility Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition. Vacancies advertised "cross-government" are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules. Support
• A range of 'Family Friendly' policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.