Head of The Office of The Independent Public Advocate in The Office of The Independent Public Advocate

**General Information**:

- Salary
- £61,201 - £69,338
- Working Pattern
- Full Time, Part Time/Job Share
- Vacancy Approach
- Cross Government
- Location
- London
- Region
- London
- Closing Date
- 19-May-2025
- Post Type
- Permanent
- Civil Service Grade
- Grade 7
- Number of jobs available
- 1
- Reserve List
- 12 Months
- Job ID
- 5619

**Descriptions & requirements**:

- Job description

**Head of the Office of the Independent Public Advocate**

**G7**

**Office of the Independent Public Advocate**

The new Office of the Independent Public Advocate (IPA) is recruiting permanently for a Grade 7 Head of Secretariat.

**Location**:
We offer a hybrid working model, allowing balance between remote work and time spent at the IPA’s base location (10 South Colonnade). The postholder will also be expected to travel at short notice in the event of a major incident. This will include travel to the location of the incident which could be anyw in England and Wales.

You will be expected to attend 10 South Colonnade 2 days a week. This hybrid working arrangement is not contractual and as a result staff could be asked to attend their base location more frequently.

**Ways of Working**

At the MoJ we believe and promote alternative ways of working, this role is available as:

- Full-time, or the option to job share
- Flexible working patterns
- Flexible working arrangements between base locations, MoJ Hubs and home.

Please note, this job is open to full-time, or job share applicants only and is not a part-time position.

**Salary**

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.

**Security Clearance**

This role requires National Security Vetting given the access to sensitive information afforded by the job role. You can find more information by reviewing the information held in the following links:
In addition, t is a minimum UK residency requirement set by the Cabinet Office which is dependent on the security level required for the role.

**The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)**

MoJ is the largest government department, employing over 90,000 people with a budget of approximately £10 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.

**The Work of the Independent Public Advocate**

The Independent Public Advocate (IPA) is a new independent Statutory Office, established through the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, to support victims of major incidents in England and Wales.

The aftermath of a major incident can be extremely difficult for victims, both the bereaved and injured. During what is already a traumatic and difficult time, victims may have to take part in complex state processes such as inquests and inquiries and interact with multiple parties and public authorities. They may need extra support to navigate this period, to understand their role in the processes, and what support that can access and expect. The IPA will address this by signposting victims to support services and helping them better understand and participate in the processes that follow a major incident. The IPA will also be an important conduit between victims and public authorities.

The IPA will be headed by the Standing Advocate, and additional advocates may be appointed depending on the nature and scale of the incident. The Secretariat team will support the Advocate(s) in their vital work. Working within a small but agile team, you will report to the Standing Advocate and any additional advocates appointed in the aftermath of a disaster. You will also have line management responsibility for a Senior Executive Officer (SEO) communications specialist and a Higher Executive Officer (HEO) support officer.

The IPA has statutory duties and obligations. These will include:

- Advising the Government about the appropriate review mechanism following a major incident and what the scope should be.

A key part of your role as Head of Office will be to assist the Standing Advocate in discharging these duties and leading the Secretariat team to do so.

**IPA Secretariat - Head of Office**

Are you looking for a unique and meaningful role heading up a brand-new team? This is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of a high-profile and sensitive area with significant Parliamentary and public interest, supporting bereaved families and those affected by major incidents.

In this role you’ll provide leadership and direction for the secretariat supporting the Standing Advocate of the IPA. We are looking for someone who is confident in setting up and leading a new team and has strong skills in oral and written briefing, finance, organisational leadership, and stakeholder management.

The IPA is a permanent office, but in the aftermath of a disaster, it may need to scale up quickly. You will help prepare for this, ensuring the right structures are in place to provide timely, mea