Senior Caseworker - Legal Aid Agency

General Information Working Pattern Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working Vacancy Approach Cross Government Location Liverpool, Manchester Region Greater Manchester, North West Closing Date 20-Jul-2026 Post Type Permanent EO Number of jobs available 1 Reserve List 12 Months Job ID 19747 Descriptions & requirements Job Title & Grade: EO Senior Caseworker Contract Type: Permanent Salary range (depending on location): National – £29,303 to £31,061 Please note that unless you are currently employed by the Civil Service and are earning more than the minimum above, if successful you will be offered the minimum for the grade depending on your location. Location: Manchester and Liverpool (Occasional Travel may be required to other LAA sites) If you are applying for a part time role, please note that to meet business demands we need cover for a minimum of 22 hours and to cover 3 days of the week, one of these days must be a Wednesday. To meet legal requirements, if you are between the ages 16‑18 and you are a successful candidate, you will be required to complete an apprenticeship after your initial on the job training. The Legal Aid Agency We are an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). We are responsible for operationally administering the legal aid fund to provide criminal and civil legal aid advice to people in England and Wales. Our people are at the heart of achieving excellence. Employing around 1,200 colleagues across England and Wales, we feel proud to have some of the best People Survey results in the Civil Service. Case Management The Case Management team is central to the Agency, it is responsible for handling legal aid applications, processing case payments and dealing with correspondence and enquiries received in both Civil and Criminal Legal aid matters. Our dedicated staff ensure that 600,000 new clients access justice each year, while ensuring that legal aid lawyers are paid fairly. We listen and engage with all staff in case management, ensuring we always value the ‘caseworker voice’ and that this is represented when delivering change. We support all staff in our work, recognising success and promoting a positive and healthy work‑life balance. We have a culture where new ideas are encouraged and appreciated. Criminal Cases Unit This role is based in the Criminal Cases Unit (CCU). The CCU assesses and processes claims for costs from solicitors and advocates at the end of criminal court cases. The claims processed by CCU are as follows: Claims from the Legal Aid fund for Special Preparation; Unused Preparation; Proceeds of Crime; Very High Costs Cases and some claims which escape the graduated fee scheme. Claims from Central Funds Court Appointee; Defendants Costs; Direct Access and Private Prosecution The CCU receive over 30,000 claims per year, some of these can be high in value and profile. Job Summary Primarily this role involves the assessment of claims from solicitors and advocates in accordance with the relevant regulations, dealing with request for redetermination and written reasons. Providing support to the Senior Management Team in achieving targets (KPI) by assessing all claims in accordance with the team’s targets. To participate in projects undertaken by the team as and when required. Key Responsibilities: Acquiring a comprehensive and up to date understanding of current guidance and regulations, using this to assess claims in accordance with the relevant regulations, including processing requests for redeterminations and written reasons. Assessment of Special preparation, Court appointee, Defence Cost Order (DCO) claims, and Proceeds of Crime (POCA) claims, including Fastrack assessments and any other type of assessment identified by management as grade appropriate. Providing an efficient service and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Dealing with any matters which have been escalated and resolving these. Support the management of the team and individual performance. Helping team members to achieve their objectives, contributing to the development of others addressing any issues which arise. Work to ensure targets are met. Providing reports escalating issues as they emerge and helping to find effective solutions. Act as a quality controller and engage in consistency processes to ensure improvements are made. Taking an active role in promoting consistency and providing guidance and feedback to the team. Making suggestions for improvement in specified work areas, ensuring the Team are aware and understand any changes. Work with other teams and taking the leading role in meetings, encouraging the sharing of views, ideas and solutions. Contribute to the review and development of processes working with other teams and taking part in project groups to achieve this. Where appropriate design and deliver internal and external training. Support team engagement and promote Health and Safety and equality & diversity. Encouraging ideas and contributions from all members of your team and across the case management teams. Essential Knowledge, Experience and skills Experience in any of the following workstreams including Special preparation, Court appointee, Defence Cost Order (DCO), and Proceeds of Crime (POCA) claims, including Fastrack assessments. Proven established analytical and numerical skills Ability to make decisions by reference to guidelines and regulations. Effective communication skills both written and verbal Ability to build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders Desirable Knowledge, Experience and skills Previous experience of undertaking quality control and providing feedback Knowledge of key priorities for organisation and how these relate to and impact on specific business unit and across Case Management as a whole Worked with stakeholders to successfully resolve complex issues Person Specification Enjoys working in a fast‑changing environment. Enjoys working independently and as part of a team Assessment approach Application Process To apply please provide a statement of suitability showing how you meet the essential criteria in no more than 750 words. Your statement should demonstrate your ability to do all the essential criteria listed, using examples can help strengthen your application. Please note we do not require a CV. Please note that we only require a Statement of Suitability for your application. The wording on this advert may suggest that an Experience question is also required, however this is not necessary. Interview / assessment Process If you are successful through the application stage, you will be invited to an interview / assessment centre in person or via Microsoft Teams where you will be assessed against the following: Strengths relevant to the role The following Behaviours: Working together Your Experience of implementing, promoting, or understanding diversity and inclusion policy – Diversity is the presence of difference, this can include one or more of the protected characteristics (Gender, Age, Race, Disability etc.) or it can be about working patterns, whether we like to jump into a task or reflect on it before acting. Inclusion is how we welcome, value, and celebrate diversity, giving everyone a voice, tapping into ideas, and enabling everyone to be themselves at work and achieve their potential. For this grade/ role we would expect the candidate to demonstrate understanding of the terms Diversity and Inclusion and be able to explain why they are important to them and to where they work. Examples of action they have taken (e.g., increasing understanding) or improve inclusion for others will increase the strength of their answer. There will also be a practical exercise, which will be assessed against the behaviour delivering at pace. You may be asked to share your screen during the exercise, details of which will be shared at the interview stage. Shortlisting is planned for week commencing: Monday 20 July 2026 Interviews are planned for week commencing: Monday 10 August 2026 Our LAA commitment to Diversity and Inclusion As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long‑term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day‑to‑day activities which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months. If you are responding to a role within the Legal Aid Agency and would like to be considered under the guaranteed interview, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the sift or later selection processes. The LAA’s goal is to build an organisation that is open and inclusive and truly values and celebrates the diversity of its workforce. One that reflects and understands the needs of the diverse society we serve. This is regardless of social background, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, beliefs, disabilities or long‑term illness or caring responsibilities. Reasonable Adjustments We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long‑term condition (for example dyslexia, anxiety, autism, a mobility condition or hearing loss) and need us to make any reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process, please let us know by adding the information to the applications system or emailing View email address on click.appcast.io after you have applied so that we can discuss options with you. Complaints procedure If you have any complaints about this recruitment activity, please share your concerns by emailing View email address on click.appcast.io initially. We aim to respond to any complaint within 10 working days. Additional Information Working Arrangements & Further Information The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non‑contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity. Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. For nationally advertised roles All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map . All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity. For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended). Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on "modernised" terms in their current post or onto "unmodernised" MoJ terms if they are on "unmodernised" terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made. MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer. All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet. The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy. The MoJ offers a range of benefits: Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service. There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part‑time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro‑rata basis. Pension The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best. Training The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities. Networks The opportunity to join employee‑run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition. Vacancies advertised “cross‑government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non‑departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit through a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules. Support A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share. Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services. For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on or Childcare Choices .You can determine your eligibility at Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave. Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order To the Civil Service Commission (details available here) As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team. For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long‑term condition, please watch our animated videos. Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are ‘at risk of redundancy’. MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion. Civil Service Nationality Rules This job is broadly open to the following groups: Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles. job‑description - EO Senior Caseworker - CCU June26.docx(Job Description Attachment) We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability Experience Questions Application Form Question Word Limit 250 Evidence of Experience Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability Interview stage assessments Interview Dates Interviews are expected for week commencing Monday 10th August 2026 Behaviours Making Effective Decisions Working Together Delivering at Pace Experience Your Experience for this role will be assessed at interview. To learn more about Experience and how they are assessed please click here. We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods Experience Questions Strengths Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here. Level of security checks required Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS) Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. #J-18808-Ljbffr Ministry of Justice