CPS HR

Strategic
Resourcing Team

Assistant Private Secretary

CPS Private Office & CPS HQ Operations
Grade: B2 (HEO)
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Introduction

Intro: Working at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)

About the Crown Prosecution Service
Our Vision and Values
Why join the Crown Prosecution Service
Employee benefits

Role Purpose and Responsibilities: About the Role

About the role and responsibilities

Assessment: Next Steps

The recruitment and selection process

Contact: Find out more and who to contact

Commissioners principles
Terms and conditions
Contact information

For more information on the work the CPS do, please

visit - https://www.cps.gov.uk/
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Our Vision & Values

Our vision is to be a leading voice in transforming the criminal justice system, using our legal expertise and
digital capability to make the public safer and build the confidence of our diverse communities.

Our Values:

We will be honest and open

We will be independent and fair
We will explain our decisions, set clear standards
We will prosecute independently, without bias and
about the service the public can expect from us
will seek to deliver justice in every case.
and be honest if we make a mistake.

We will behave professionally and strive for

We will treat everyone with respect
excellence
We will respect each other, our colleagues and the
We will work as one team, always seeking new and
public we serve, recognising that there are people
better ways to deliver the best possible service for
behind every case.
the public. We will be efficient and responsible
with tax-payers' money.

For more information, please visit: CPS 2025 Strategy

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Why Join the Crown Prosecution Service

Committed to professional growth, the CPS offers all their staff with clear progression pathways and a diverse
range of learning and development opportunities, to progress your career in a supportive environment, whilst also
gaining access to various promotion opportunities.

At the CPS we pride ourselves on providing a variety of benefits that ensure our employees’ requirements are at
the core. This includes wellbeing support, flexible working, civil service pension scheme, access to employee
savings including high street retailer offers and discounts and 25 days leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service.

Working for the Crown Prosecution Service you will also gain access to a range of learning and development
activities, including through Civil Service Learning and an individual learning account in addition to any central and
local development opportunities and requirements.

For more information on the work the CPS do, please visit - https://www.cps.gov.uk/
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Employee Benefits
Civil Service Pension
• Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package. We will provide you with a competitive contributory pension scheme that
you can enter as soon as you join, and where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension. Also, your
contributions will come out of your salary before any tax is taken. In extreme cases such as illness or death before retirement, your
pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family. Visit www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk for more details.

Generous Annual Leave, Bank Holidays, Parental Leave and Volunteering

• 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service. Plus eight public bank holidays and a CPS privilege day. We offer
maternity, paternity and shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay. We recognise the importance of a good work-life balance and
offer flexible working and a family friendly approach to work, with up to three days paid volunteering leave each year.

Flexible Working Arrangements

• This role is available for full-time however requests for part-time or flexible working arrangements may be considered–subject to
business need. We work in a hybrid way which means we can split our work between home, office and court. What this looks like will
depend on what works for you and your job role.

Learning and Development

• Access to a diverse range of learning and development activities, opportunities to progress your career in a supportive environment
• Clear career pathways and an individual learning account to spend on personal development in addition to any central and local learning
opportunities and requirements.

Wellbeing Support
• We have trained Mental Health First Aiders across the organisation, a free to access wellbeing app on your personal devices and an
employee assistance programme providing 24hour professional advice and information to support you and your family.
• Flexible working including part-time or term-time working allowing you to vary your working day as long as you work your total.
• Occupational sick pay

Employee Savings, Season Ticket and Bicycle Loan

• You’ll have access to employee savings including high street retail and leisure discounts/offers through out CPS Rewards scheme
and childcare benefits and vouchers. You can access season tickets and cycle to work loans allowing you to spread costs.
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Head of Human Resources: Mark Summerfield

Job Title Role Purpose – Private Office
Assistant Private Secretary What are we offering?
Private Office sits at the heart of the organisation and works closely with all other CPS corporate
Department and operational functions locally, nationally, and internationally to support the delivery of CPS
objectives. Private Office also works closely with counterparts in other Government Departments,
CPS Private Office principally with the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) in its superintendence role, and with
operational criminal justice partners domestically and overseas.
Pay Range
Within Private Office there are four functions, led by the Principle Private Secretary (PPS), relating
B2/HEO to Private Secretary support, corporate governance, business support and complaints and
correspondence. These roles sit within the Private Secretary support function.

Reports To Working for the CPS is hugely rewarding, professionally stretching and gives great scope for
individuals to make a real impact. Whilst we work flexibly within a hybrid working model, and
Head of Private Office support a strong team culture working collaboratively and supporting colleagues’ development
there is a requirement with these roles to attend the office regularly.

Date Completed Private Office offers unrivalled exposure to and experience of a wide range of policy and
operational areas within the Department, the Criminal Justice System, and across Government key
to anyone looking to enhance their personal development and further their career aspirations.
December 2023
What does the role entail?
Career Family The postholder will, as part of a team, be responsible for providing high quality and sustained
support to the senior leaders of the organisation, including the Director of Public Prosecutions
Operational Delivery (DPP). This will include providing assistance in relation to their visits, speaking commitments,
correspondence and workload management.

The postholder will work closely with the other private secretaries in the team and
other key contacts, including other government departments and agencies as required
and communicate the principal’s views effectively.

Full job description available upon request.

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Job Title Responsibilities – Private Office

Assistant Private Secretary What are my key responsibilities?
• To provide an effective channel of communication for the DPP/the Principal within the
Department department and with external stakeholders in making arrangements for meetings and
commissioning the required materials.
CPS Private Office
• To communicate clearly, whilst recognising the confidential and sensitive nature of the
Pay Range work of the Private Office and the need to be discreet when dealing with sensitive/high
profile issues.
B2/HEO
• To ensure that the DPP/the Principal’s time is coordinated and managed effectively,
Reports To highlighting any pressure points with the Head of Private Office and Diary Secretary.

Head of Private Office • Develop strong and trusted relationships with CPS teams across the organisation and
external stakeholders, working strategically to ensure that principals have all of the
advice and information required to make well informed, robust decisions.
Date Completed
• Ensure timely briefing and policy advice is provided to the DPP/the Principal, using
December 2023 agreed templates with clear objectives and interventions/lines to take provided in
advance.
Career Family
• Manage incoming and outgoing correspondence, ensuring that appropriate and timely
Operational Delivery action is taken to resolve issues, respond to enquiries and requests.

• To lead on Area visits for the DPP/the Principal, liaising with and advising Areas on an
itinerary, overseeing travel and accommodation arrangements and ensuring the
DPP/the Principal are appropriately briefed.

• Contribute to the core Private Office administration, ensuring good record

management and suggesting new ways of working as appropriate.
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Head of Human Role

Resources: Mark
Purpose Summerfield
– Operations
Job Title
What are we offering?
Assistant Private Secretary
Operations Directorate plays a critical role in the delivery of the CPS’s core business. It generates
and informs operational development, business assurance, performance management , legal and
Department operational training delivery, and support to CPS Areas in the day-to-day delivery of CPS work in
the Magistrates’ Courts, Crown Courts and Higher Courts. To achieve this it has a wide and
CPS HQ Operations sophisticated network of stakeholder engagement, both internally within the CPS and externally
with key criminal justice system delivery agencies, ultimately contributing to the achievement of
Pay Range the goals set in ‘CPS 2025’, the overarching vision and objectives for the CPS.

The Directorate has a wide remit, and is responsible for a comprehensive range of work, aimed
B2/HEO directly at supporting the frontline. There is a clear link between the Directorate’s function and
the ability of the CPS to meet its aims and objectives. Critical to the delivery of this work is
Reports To effective internal working relationships with the Areas, Casework Divisions and other Directorates,
and successful external partnerships with criminal justice service agencies.
Private Secretary
Operations Directorate is a fast-paced, engaging, interesting and rewarding place to work; staff
have the opportunity to gain a comprehensive view of the CPS and its priorities. Roles within
Date Completed Operations Directorate are high profile, and there is significant interest in our work across multiple
platforms and other departments.

September 2023 What does the role entail?

The postholder will, as part of a team, be responsible for providing high quality and sustained
Career Family support to the Directors of Legal Services (DLS), specifically in relation to their visits, speaking
commitments, correspondence and assisting in managing their workload
Operational Delivery
The postholder will act as a role model for other administrative staff ensuring that effective
procedures and practices are in place in terms of diary management and administrative support.
They will liaise with CPS officials, other government departments and agencies as required and
communicate the DLS’ views effectively

Full job description available upon request.

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Job Title Responsibilities – Operations

Assistant Private Secretary What are my key responsibilities?
• To provide an effective channel of communication for the DLSs and Director of Operational
Department Change and Delivery within the Department and with internal and external stakeholders in
making arrangements for meetings and briefings required for these and executive summary
CPS HQ Operations where appropriate or a suggested course of action.

Pay Range • To provide support to the DLSs and Director of Operational Change and Delivery, ensuring they
are fully briefed and prepared for all meetings.
B2/HEO • To prepare responses on non-contentious matters and drafts for DLSs consideration, ensuring
these are of a high standard and approved in a timely manner. Develop strong and trusted
Reports To relationships with policy teams and CPS staff across the organisation, working strategically to
ensure that the DLS has all of the advice and information they need in order to make well-
Private Secretary informed, robust decisions.

• Maintain an awareness of local and national issues (e.g. high profile and sensitive cases) and
Date Completed CPS wide priorities to ensure queries are dealt with professionally and allocated appropriately.

• To assist the PS with the management of the DLS and Director of Operational Change and
September 2023 Delivery workload, by dealing with routine submission and briefing notes. In conjunction with
the PS, identify issues that require the attention of the DLS. To ensure that all key decisions
Career Family made by the DLS are recorded and effectively communicated to relevant CPS officials.

Operational Delivery • Line management of a team of Senior Personal Assistants.

• Provide secretariat support for Directorate meetings by arranging meetings which suit the
diaries of attendees, creating agendas and commissioning papers as well as attending the
meetings and creating high quality minutes.

• To provide support to Operations Executive Group as appropriate.

• To lead the organisation of Directorate-wide events.

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Head of Human Resources: Mark Summerfield

Person Specification (BEATS)
The selection process will use the Civil Service Success Profiles
Framework and will assess candidates’ behaviours, strengths and
their potential. Please find below the following areas we will be
testing for this role -

Behaviours Experience Strengths

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Behaviours Experience
When looking at behaviours, we want to get an understanding We are not looking at how much time you have served
of the actions and activities that you have done (or would do) in a particular field, but rather how you performed.
that result in effective performance in a job.

We will be testing the following behaviours on the Desirable

framework for the grade – B2/HEO

• Seeing the Big Picture LEAD BEHAVIOUR (Application, • Working in a Private Office environment or
Assessment & Interview) providing support to senior leaders

• Communicating and Influencing (Application, Assessment & • Strong organisational and administrative skills
Interview)
• Line Management experience
• Managing a Quality Service (Application & Interview)

• Delivering at Pace (Interview)

Please find further information about each of the Please find further information about the experience
behaviours by viewing the Civil Service Success aspect by viewing the Civil Service Success Profile
Profile Behaviours Framework here. Experience Framework here.
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Strengths

When looking at your strengths, we want to find out whether you and the organisation or job role are a good fit.
We will look at what you enjoy doing and what you do well and often.

Strengths will be tested at interview. In addition CPS Values will be tested throughout the selection process:

We will treat everyone with respect: We will be honest and open:

We will respect each other, our colleagues and We will explain our decisions, set clear standards
the public we serve, recognising that there are about the service the public can expect from us
people behind every case. and be honest if we make a mistake.

We will behave professionally and strive for

We will be independent and fair: excellence:
We will prosecute independently, without bias We will work as one team, always seeking new
and will seek to deliver justice in every case. and better ways to deliver the best possible
service for the public.

Please find further information about each of the strengths by viewing the
Civil Service Success Profile Strengths Framework here.
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The Process
This is the assessment process that that we will be going through for this job and what we will be testing at every
stage.
Application Form
When you apply, you will be asked to provide some specific information, which you will type on screen. As all
application forms are anonymised, we ask that you do not include any personal details.

Behaviours
You will also be asked to complete a statement of no more than 250 words per behaviour setting out how you
consider your personal skills, qualities, experience, match the specified behaviours and requirements as detailed in
the job description. In addition you will need to demonstrate the CPS or Civil Service Values.

CV
You will not be required to upload your CV however, when submitting your application there is a ‘CV section.’ You
will be required to provide information regarding your skills, employment history and qualification details.
Please note that it is the candidate’s responsibility to provide the specified application information in the
requested format to ensure that they are considered for the post. No prompt will be given if applications are
submitted without the requisite information and candidates who do not submit the required documents will not
be considered for the post.

Interview/Assessment
The final stage will be an interview and assessment, which will take place on the same day. Full details of the
assessment will be provided on the day of interview. The interview and assessment will test the behaviours
outlined here
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Head of Human Resources: Mark Summerfield

The Civil Service Commissioners & The Civil Service Code

The Commissioners have two key functions:

The first is to maintain the principle of selection for appointment to the Civil Service on merit on the
basis of fair and open competition. For the most senior posts in the Civil Service, the Commissioners
discharge their responsibilities directly by overseeing the recruitment process and chairing the final
selection panel. For more information please see
http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/

The second is to promote an understanding of the Civil Service Code which sets out the
constitutional framework in which all civil servants work and the values they are expected to uphold,
and to hear and determine appeals made under it. For more information please see
www.civilservice.gov.uk

The CPS adheres fully to the Civil Service Code; and the requirements and best practice suggested by
the Civil Service Commissioners.
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Head of Human Resources: Mark Summerfield

Terms and Conditions

Flexible Working

The CPS 2025 strategy emphasises that success and wellbeing are equally important in allowing our
colleagues to thrive. We will continue to protect everyone’s wellbeing – whether they work in a
court, an office or at home. Flexibility is pivotal to both delivering an agile public service and allowing
our staff to find a work-life balance that works for them. We want a range of options to be available
for everyone.

The CPS has, since its inception, delivered its work from offices and courts and has steadily built an
ability to deploy its workforce flexibility over the years. We are committed to continuing to
modernise the way we work and support a flexible workforce, enabling smarter working; including
opportunities to work remotely or at home where business needs allow.

There are also opportunities to have more formalised Flexible Working agreements, upon request
these will need to be considered based on local businesses need and therefore will need to be
agreed as part of the employment offer.
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Head of Human Resources: Mark Summerfield

Terms and Conditions

Changes to Normal Operating Hours

With effect from 1 April 2019 CPS employee Normal Operating Hours are 7am to 7pm. An
employee’s actual working hours will be agreed with their local management subject to specific
business requirements. All employees may be required to work any time between the hours of 7am
and 7pm Monday to Friday subject to reasonable notice and consideration of personal
circumstances.

Contracted Weekly Working Hours

All full time employees will be contracted to work 37 hours per week, excluding lunch breaks.

Overtime
If overtime is necessary, employees will be invited to volunteer. It is a condition of contract that you are
available to work overtime for one weekend in every four, if there are insufficient volunteers, you will be
required to work overtime if requested to do so by your line manager.

When will I receive feedback?

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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CPS HR
Strategic
Resourcing Team

Can you deliver justice?

If you have any questions about applying for this role please
contact:

Strategic.Resourcing@cps.gov.uk

Please include the vacancy reference number and job title in the
subject line.