Tribunal Assistant

Position: Tribunal AssistantLocation: North West
Employment Type: Agency
Salary: 52.64 - 92.12 per day + Mileage / Overtime

Job Description:
We are seeking a dedicated and organised Tribunal Assistant to join our team. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of tribunal hearings for HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS).

The Tribunal Assistant acts as an essential first point of contact for all the tribunal users involved in hearings. There will be regular contact with the judiciary, assisting the administrative staff with the smooth flow of tribunal work. You will meet members of the public and their legal representatives; prepare hearing rooms, and complete documentation, as well as ensure the tribunal runs smoothly and efficiently.

The First-tier Tribunal hears appeals from citizens against decisions made by government departments or agencies. Tribunals often sit as a panel, incorporating a legally qualified Tribunal Judge as well as panel members with specific expertise. They hear evidence from witnesses but decide the case themselves. The Judge and panel members are guided and constrained by the statutory powers of their tribunal to resolve the issue which has been raised. If the case meets the requirements of the statute, the tribunal can make one of a range of orders set out in the law.

The first-tier Tribunal is made up of seven chambers which deal with disputes in a number of diverse areas of the law. As a Tribunal Assistant, you will be involved in supporting hearings held in the Chambers detailed below:

* War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber - responsible for handling appeals by current or former service personnel against decisions by Veterans UK in relation to pensions, compensation and other matters.

* Social Entitlement Chamber (Social Security and Child Support) - responsible for handling appeals about an individual's entitlement to a range of disability, work-related and other benefits, and also hears appeals about liability to make child support payments.

* Tax Chamber - responsible for handling appeals against some decisions made by HMRC relating to a range of taxes, duties and statutory payments. It also handles some appeals relating to goods seized by HMRC or Border Force, and decisions made by the National Crime Agency.

* Health, Education and Social Care Chamber:
o Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) - responsible for handling appeals against local authority decisions regarding special educational needs, and against schools for discriminating based on a child or young person's disability.
o Mental Health - responsible for handling applications for the discharge of patients detained in psychiatric hospitals, changing community treatment orders and the conditions placed on a 'conditional discharge' from hospital.

Tribunal hearings are usually held in public at one of the many courts and tribunal buildings across the country. However, Mental Health Tribunal hearings are normally held in private and take place in the hospital where the patient is or used to be detained or a convenient community unit at one of over 1,100 hospital or community venues throughout England.

Key Responsibilities

• Liaison: Coordinate with the tribunal administration to gather necessary information and locate the tribunal room.
• Attendance Management: Identify attendees, complete attendance sheets, and inform the panel of any issues prior to the hearing.
• Room Setup: Prepare the tribunal room as required, ensuring all necessary arrangements are in place.
• Panel Assistance: Greet and escort the Judge and panel member(s) to the tribunal room, offering refreshments and ensuring their comfort.
• Document Handling: Obtain copies of bundles/reports from the tribunal administration as needed, ensuring that the panel has the necessary papers.
• Participant Coordination: Ensure all participants are present and ready for the tribunal, guiding them in and out of the room as required.
• Issue Resolution: Address any delays or issues, liaising with the tribunal administration for contact information.
• Technical Setup: Arrange and test telephone or video conferencing equipment for remote attendees and operate recording equipment as required.
• Support During Hearings: Provide any necessary assistance to the panel to ensure the tribunal runs smoothly.
• Post-Hearing Duties: Complete relevant forms for the tribunal administration as appropriate and restore the hearing room to its original state.
• Confidentiality: Maintain strict confidentiality of all proceedings and information discussed during the tribunal.

Requirements:
You will need to be extremely flexible towards the number of hours worked, as no set number can be guaranteed per week, and we are looking for people who would be happy working part-time hours but available full-time if required.
You will also need to be available at short notice for work and for changes of locations.
You will be required to attend tribunals at various locations within the area, so flexibility is essential, as is your own transport. Mileage will be paid.

Additional Requirements:
* Excellent organisational and communication skills.
* Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.
* Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
* Previous experience in a similar role is preferred but not required.
* Enhanced DBS checks.

How to Apply:
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

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