23928 - Senior Engagement and Complaints Resolution Manager

Job description

Introduction

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). We receive over 40,000 applications every year for compensation, from people who have lost loved ones or have been injured as a result of violent crime. We know financial compensation can never fully redress what they have suffered. Nevertheless, what we do is an important part of providing justice for victims and we take pride that the compensation we pay helps people move forward with their lives.

We employ around 350 people and are based in Glasgow city centre. We are a small, engaged, productive workforce with a real sense of corporate community. We want to keep improving our services and the way we work to best serve the public, meet new challenges, deliver value for money and ensure CICA is a great place to work.

The role is based 10 Clyde Place, Glasgow, G5 8AQ and we currently operate a hybrid working business model, where a typical employee works 50% of their week from the office.

The Role

The role will support CICA’s ambition to provide an accessible and trauma-informed service that treats victims with compassion, sensitivity and fairness. It will drive improvements to applicant experience, ensuring our contact strategy is efficient, effective and trauma-informed.

The post holder will manage the Applicant Contact Team and Complaints Resolution Team, with direct line management responsibility for seven Higher Executive Officers (HEO’s). They will lead the delivery of high-quality, victim-centred services, ensuring resources are managed effectively and services respond to the needs of applicants.

The postholder will coach and develop their teams, embed best practice and use insights from applicant feedback, complaints and service trends to inform improvement activity and interventions. They will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure activity aligns with wider objectives and legislative frameworks including the Public Service Ombudsman and Scottish Public Service Ombudsman guidelines.

Duties and responsibilities

Applicant Engagement & Insight

- Develop and deliver engagement approaches that strengthen CICA’s understanding of applicant needs, expectations, and experiences.
- Maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders including internal and external stakeholders; such as Ombudsman, Victim Support organisations and other MOJ departments
- Chair or support internal engagement forums to ensure staff understand the applicant perspective and contribute to service improvement.
- Promote awareness of applicant insights across operational and corporate teams to embed a culture of improvement.
- Manage complaint escalations which require senior oversight, including working with the Chief Executive office to manage enquiries submitted directly to the Chief Executive.

Leadership & Collaboration

- Provide visible leadership within the Applicant Engagement Contact Team and Complaint Resolutions team, setting clear expectations and supporting staff development
- Work collaboratively with operational leaders to implement improvements identified through complaints analysis and applicant feedback
- Ensure consistent application of guidance, templates, and processes across all engagement and complaints activity
- Represent CICA at relevant cross government networks, forums, and stakeholder engagement groups

General Responsibilities

- Contribute to - and lead on where appropriate - the development and continuous improvement of internal guidance, templates, and resources to support consistent, efficient and compliant service delivery
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and nature of the role, as required by the business
- Prepare regular and ad hoc reports and updates for senior leaders and governance forums, providing insight into key performance metrics and trends.

Essential Criteria

- Experience of leading and managing a customer focussed or operational service, with responsibility for delivering high-quality outcomes
- Experience of leading and developing teams
- Experience of managing competing priorities and resources in a busy operational environment, responding effectively to changing demands
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to explain complex information in a clear and concise way to a variety of audiences
- Experience of using performance information, customer feedback or other evidence to identify and deliver service improvements.

Desirable Criteria

- Experience of complaints handling or overseeing complaint resolution
- Knowledge of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
- Knowledge or experience of trauma-informed approaches in a customer service environment

How to apply

The selection process for this vacancy will utilise Civil Service Success Profiles and will assess your Experience, Behaviours and Strengths.

Stage 1

Applicants should provide a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a Statement of Suitability of no more than 750 words, which demonstrates evidence of the essential criteria for this role and desirable criteria where also met.

Stage 2

If you are selected for stage 2, you will be invited to interview, which will include an exercise to assess your skills in relation to this role. You will be provided with further information in connection with the exercise at the point of invitation. At the interview we will assess you against these behaviours:

- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace

The interview panel will explore your competence in respect of the essential and desirable criteria. You will be asked behaviour-based questions to help the panel understand your capability and strength-based questions to explore your motivations relevant to the job role.

Important Information Regarding Interviews

Interviews are expected to take place in late November or early December 2026.

All interviews will be conducted at 10 Clyde Place, Buchanan Wharf, Glasgow, G5 8AQ.

Disability Confident

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Reasonable Adjustments

Please tell us if you have a disability when you apply, and we can offer reasonable adjustments to help with the selection process.

If you require any assistance at any time, please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am-6pm) or e-mail [email protected].

Apply and Further Information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

A reserve list will be created and will be valid for 12 months if further vacancies arise for this or similar role. Candidates may be appointed from the reserve list in order of merit.

We offer flexible working 7am – 7pm, Monday to Friday. This role is offered on a full-time (37 hours per week) basis.

For queries about the role, please email the Corporate Support Team at [email protected]

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 role: 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.

Flexible working hours

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.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

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.

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 www.GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/tax-free-childcare) or Childcare Choices (https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/) . You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ .
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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 Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) );
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ( [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) );
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/) )

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.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos .

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.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

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:

- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- 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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families (https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fsettled-status-eu-citizens-families&data=05%7C01%7Cchristopher.jeffery%40soprasteria.com%7C8a2293860362402c15da08dbf4cff146%7C8b87af7d86474dc78df45f69a2011bb5%7C0%7C0%7C638372946312587803%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=s%2BxUsev%2BGeeK%2FLgTUjpjfTJu%2FjpKQZ%2BQPJXNduvik3Q%3D&reserved=0)
- 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
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]

Please quote the job reference 23928

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]

Please quote the job reference 23928

Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles/success-profiles-strengths).

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

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.