23324 - Litigation Caseworker

The Methodist Church in Britain; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working within UK

Training and development

Season ticket advance

Pension scheme options

Redeployment interview scheme

Job summary

HM Prison & Probation Service is seeking a legal professional to manage a personal caseload of high-risk litigation within the PSP Litigation Team of the London Family Area Directors Office. The role involves briefing lawyers, assessing evidence, and liaising with external advisors to control costs.

The post offers hybrid working within the UK for existing civil servants or accredited NDPB staff, with DBS checks and compliance requirements.

Qualifications

• Existing civil servant or employee of an accredited NDPB.
• DBS standard check.
• Nationality within the Civil Service nationality rules.

Responsibilities

• Personally manage a caseload of litigation cases, including high-risk matters, and brief senior managers.
• Instruct lawyers and claims handlers for a consistent response.
• Assess claims and advise on evidence, risk, cost and outcomes.
• Represent HMPPS at case conferences with Counsel.
• Maintain accurate case management data for reporting and spend.

Skills

IT skills

Word/Excel/Outlook

Deadline management

Civil Service behaviours

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Permanent post in the PSP Litigation Team of the London Family Area Directors Office, serving HM Prison & Probation Service. The post holder administers claims brought against HMPPS by prisoners, staff and third parties, and instructs lawyers and claims handlers to keep litigation spend down. Non-operational with no line management, the role carries a personal caseload of high-risk matters and offers hybrid working. Open only to existing civil servants and accredited NDPB staff, subject to a DBS standard check.

What the job involves

• Personally manage a caseload of litigation cases, including high-risk and high-profile matters, and brief senior managers
• Consider evidence and legal advice, then instruct lawyers and claims handlers for a consistent, proportionate response
• Assess claims and make recommendations on evidence, business risk, cost and expected outcomes
• Represent HMPPS at case conferences with Counsel
• Liaise with HMPPS-appointed legal advisors and advise them on the prison environment
• Keep the case management system accurate so reports on numbers, outcomes and spend can be generated
• Analyse caseloads, report on trends and outcomes, and flag high-risk cases and information gaps
• Seek approval within delegated authority under the Finance Manual and act as requisitioner or approver
• Advise on policy changes from case outcomes and Judicial Reviews, and contribute to PSP policy and procedures
• Act as point of contact and source of advice for colleagues and external stakeholders, sharing learning
• Contribute to Service Delivery Indicators and verify and sign off documentation as appropriate
• Support PSP and national business plan objectives and provide litigation casework support across the North Delivery Arm as required

What’s required

Skills & knowledge

• Good IT skills, with accurate population of electronic systems
• Working knowledge of Word, Excel and Outlook
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and prioritise workload in line with demand
• Demonstrate the six civil service behaviours: making effective decisions, delivering at pace, working together, changing and improving, managing a quality service, developing self and others

Checks & eligibility

• Existing civil servant or employee of an accredited NDPB
• Security and identity checks before taking up post
• DBS standard check
• Declare whether you are a member of a group or organisation HMPPS considers racist
• Nationality within the Civil Service nationality rules

What’s offered

• Annual leave with a holiday year starting 1 March, pro-rated for non-standard patterns
• 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) for bank, public and privilege holidays, added to annual leave
• Choice of two Civil Service pension schemes
• Hybrid working where business need allows, within the UK only
• Flexible, part-time and job-share working considered under HMPPS policy
• Season ticket advance after two months' service
• Training and development, including promotion programmes and individual induction
• Redeployment interview scheme for eligible candidates