Witness Support Officer

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 251654**Salary**:

- £28,050 - £30,771**Job grade**:

- Executive Officer**Contract type**:

- Fixed Term
- Loan
- Secondment**Length of employment**:

- 2 years**Business area**:

- UK Covid-19 Inquiry**Type of role**:

- Administration / Corporate Support
- Operational Delivery
- Other**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 2Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- LondonAbout the job

**Job summary**:
In May 2021, the Prime Minister made a statement in the House of Commons that the Government will establish an independent public inquiry on a statutory basis, with full powers under the Inquiries Act of 2005.

In December 2021 Baroness Heather Hallett DBE was appointed as Chair to the Inquiry and following an initial set up phase we are now looking for exceptional staff to join the Inquiry team.

The Inquiry are seeking a Witness Support Officer.

The Inquiry sits independent of the Government with the Cabinet office acting as the sponsoring department.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an inclusive, innovative team where you will be supported to challenge yourself in often ambiguous circumstances. The team encourages working in a flexible, collaborative manner to learn and support each other as we look to undertake one of the broadest, most publicly anticipated inquiries in UK history.

**Conflicts of Interest**

**Job description**:
The legal team which comprises Counsel and Solicitor to the Inquiry is an integral part of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, providing advice to the Chair and Secretariat to support the effective delivery of the Inquiry.

The Legal Operations Team sits within the Policy, Research, Analysis and Legal Team Directorate (PRAL), and supports the Solicitor and Counsel to the Inquiry, and their teams, to deliver their work and fulfil the Inquiry’s terms of reference.

Working to the SEO Legal Operations Team Manager, the Witness Support Officer will support the Solicitor to the Inquiry and his team in correspondence with witnesses regarding attending hearings. The post holder will also work flexibly across the Legal Operations Team to support the finance team and Counsel Support team as required.

**Person specification**:
The job holders responsibilities include but are not limited to
- Greeting witnesses at hearings, arranging meetings with their legal representatives and Counsel to the Inquiry and providing support on the day of their evidence.
- Organising both national and international travel arrangements and creating information packs detailing bookings made and travel instructions.
- Working with the Legal Finance Support Officer to coordinate witness expenses.
- Coordinating seating arrangements and working with the Hearing Centre Lead to ensure the hearing runs smoothly.
- Work flexibly across the Legal Operations team to provide support and assistance to other teams where necessary, being prepared to work outside of core hours when required.

**Essential Criteria**:

- You will be confident in your approach and able to work with and support those from a wide range of professional backgrounds, in particular those in senior positions.
- You will have excellent prioritisation skills, with the ability to balance immediate day-to-day challenges alongside ongoing deadlines.
- You will be highly organised and have a can-do attitude - You’ll be a natural problem solver who enjoys developing solutions to unique problems that may arise, as well as identifying new opportunities.
- You will be a self-starter and once up and running, can deliver without significant oversight.

**Desirable criteria**:

- Previous experience working on a public inquiry would be advantageous.
- Experience working with barristers or solicitors and their clerks would be an advantage but not essential.

**Behaviours**:
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together

**Benefits**:

- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

Things you need to know

**Selection process details**:

- This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.This vacancy uses Success Profiles, and will assess your experience and skills in relation to the needs of the roles as set out in the job description.

**Application process**

You will need to submit a copy of your CV and 250 word behaviour statements for the following behaviours:

- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and