Non Executive Directorships

£12,000 pa

Vacancy Description

The Sentencing Council for England and Wales was set up by Part 4 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 to promote greater transparency and consistency in sentencing, whilst maintaining the independence of the judiciary.

The Sentencing Council is an independent, non-departmental public body of the Ministry of Justice, and currently has 15 members.

The Sentencing Council for England and Wales:

• promotes a clear, fair and consistent approach to sentencing;
• produces analysis and research on sentencing;
• works to improve public confidence in sentencing.

The Council fulfils the following functions contained in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009:

• prepares sentencing guidelines;
• prepares a resource assessment to accompany new guidelines
• publishes the resource implications in respect of the guidelines it drafts and issues;
• monitors the operation and effect of its sentencing guidelines and draws conclusions;
• promotes awareness of sentencing and sentencing practice;
• publishes an annual report that includes the effect of sentencing practice and non-sentencing factors

The primary role of the Council is to issue guidelines on sentencing which the courts must follow unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.

Functions

The Sentencing Council has responsibility for:

• developing sentencing guidelines and monitoring their use;
• assessing the impact of guidelines on sentencing practice. It may also be required to consider the impact of policy and legislative proposals relating to sentencing, when requested by the Government; and
• promoting awareness amongst the public regarding the realities of sentencing and

publishing information regarding sentencing practice in Magistrates courts’ and the Crown court.

Additional Functions

In addition to the functions above, the Council must:

• consider the impact of sentencing decisions on victims;
• monitor the application of the guidelines, and
• when developing guidelines, promote understanding of, and public confidence in, sentencing and the criminal justice system

The role of the Non-Judicial Member with Policing experience

Members are expected to play an active role on the Sentencing Council.  The responsibilities of members are to:

• Deal with complex issues and analysis concerning the approach to sentencing and the guidance to be issued to courts.  This may be guidance for sentencing particular types of offences (for example, motoring, blackmail or animal cruelty offences) or for crosscutting issues (for example, the significance of previous convictions, or guidance on sentencing cases involving domestic abuse
• Members will also need to contribute to discussion about the identification and analysis of relevant research and data.
• Members are expected to make a positive contribution to the efficient and effective delivery of the Council’s statutory functions and the priorities identified in its business plans and to support the Chair.
• Members and will be able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of the issues relevant to the work of the Council, both broadly and relating to their area of expertise, and the capacity to develop that understanding further quickly and effectively.
• Members with professional skills, experience in governance, analysis and research methodologies, or communications with media relations, may be expected to attend and participate in one or more of the sub-groups of the Council which focus on these issues.

Person Specification

• Experience or understanding of the criminal justice sector, specifically as:
  • A serving officer of ideally Assistant Chief Constable/Assistant Commissioner rank (or equivalent) or above
• An understanding of the five core principles of sentencing: punishment, reduction of crime, reparation, rehabilitation and public protection
• The ability to serve in a personal capacity, drawing on your knowledge and experience, and not as a representative of particular professional associations or viewpoints, to be objective and open-minded, and be able and willing to work as part of a team under the general direction of the Chair, as well as supporting the Chair; and
• The ability to retain the confidence of the Sentencing Council Chair, Ministers, Parliament, the judiciary, other professional bodies in the criminal justice system and the public.

Additional Information

If you have further questions about this post, you are welcome to contact Steve Wade, Head of the Office of the Sentencing Council on 020 7071 5779.

If you have questions about the appointment process, you can contact the Public Appointments Team at: PublicAppointmentsTeam@Justice.gov.uk , or call Jenny Goodwin on 07736612626.

How to Apply

To make an application, please send:

• A CV (maximum two sides of A4) detailing your qualifications, employment history and any appointments or offices you hold. Please also provide your preferred contact number and email address.
• A personal statement (maximum two sides of A4) providing evidence against the role criteria and your suitability for the post. Please consider the role and criteria carefully in preparing your statements. Information from AAP indicates that applications which offer specific and tailored examples against the criteria, making clear the candidate’s role in achieving an outcome are often the strongest.  Structuring the statement around the criteria using relevant headings also aids clarity.

Supporting Documents form (attached separately on cabinet office website)

Please also complete and return the Supporting Documents form which seeks the following information:

• Conflicts of interest and Previous Conduct:  If you have any interests that might be relevant to the work of the Sentencing Council, and which could lead to a real or perceived conflict of interest if you were to be appointed, please provide details in your supporting documents.

Given the nature of public appointments, it is important that those appointed as members of public bodies maintain the confidence of Parliament and the public.

If there are any issues in your personal or professional history that could, if you were appointed, be misconstrued, cause embarrassment, or cause public confidence in the appointment to be jeopardised, it is important that you bring them to the attention of the Assessment Panel and provide details of the issue/s in your supporting letter.

In considering whether you wish to declare any issues, you should also reflect on any public statements you have made, including through social media. The Advisory Assessment Panel may explore any issues with you before they make a recommendation on the appointment. Failure to disclose such information could result in an appointment either not being made or being terminated.

Conflicts might arise from a variety of sources such as financial interests or share ownership, membership of, or association with, particular bodies or the activities of relatives or partners.  If you need further advice, please contact Jenny Goodwin at PublicAppointmentsTeam@justice.gov.uk .

• Signifcant Political Activity
• Number of other public appointments held
• Referee details – please give names/contact details of two referees (who will be contacted if you are shortlisted for interview);

Diversity monitoring – Please complete this online form. Information is requested for monitoring purposes only and plays no part in the selection process.  It will be kept confidential and will not be seen by the AAP. The diversity form can be found here.

Please send your CV, personal statement and supporting documents to: PublicAppointmentsTeam@justice.gov.uk quoting reference PAT160067 in the subject line of your email.  We will acknowledge receipt.