The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) begins the third phase of a national recruitment campaign this week, having overhauled its on-line application process.
Part of the service’s efforts to become an employer of choice, the careers site (www.cps-careers.org.uk) offers easier access to the different stages of the application form and free text questions, allowing the applicant more information to support their application. Those without access to the Web are able to complete the form over the telephone.
 | CPS: 88% praise site’s accessThe CPS is seeking senior Crown prosecutors and Crown prosecutors at salaries ranging from £25,648 to £51,082. Applicants are able to nominate three regions in which they would like to work.
The site was launched in January to coincide with the first phase of the recruitment campaign, prompted by the shift of key charging decisions from the police to the CPS. It initially featured a competency-based application form, with question sets used to test the applicant’s eligibility.
Some 1,119 people registered an interest in the vacancies; 277 completed an application and 124 of those were successful.
However, the form was considered overly complicated, and when the second phase of the campaign began in March, it was shifted to a CV-based application.
Some 645 people registered an interest; 232 completed the form and 38 have so far been appointed, though interviews are still ongoing.
Feedback has shown that 88% of candidates described the site’s accessibility as good or very good, while 80% said the same for the quality of information. Nine out of ten telephone applicants rated the assistance given as good or very good.
Crown prosectuor Max Madurai, based in east London, was among those who applied in March. ‘I welcome the on-line recruitment idea,’ he said. ‘There is no complication – it is very straightforward and easy to move from one part [of the application] to another. Problems such as application forms being delayed in the post will no longer be the case.’
Portia Ragnauth, the chief Crown prosecutor at Durham CPS, said significant changes to the way the CPS operates since she joined the service in 1986 have helped in its drive to become an employer of choice.
She said advocacy training and the charging initiatives have created more career opportunities for lawyers, while there have been improvements to the flexible working and family friendly policies.
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The CPS has a ‘Keeping in touch’ scheme for women on maternity leave, while Ms Ragnauth lives in London, despite working a three-hour train journey away. ‘I have never actually worked part-time, as I felt able to manage my family life with the flexible working system,’ she said.
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