Accessibility Specialist

Introduction

These are exciting times at MOJ Digital and Technology. We have a clear vision - to develop a digitally-enabled justice system that works more simply for users - and we’re looking for talented people to help us achieve it.

We’re making things better by building adaptable, effective services and making systems that are simple to use for staff and citizens. It can be challenging but it’s also important and rewarding.

As well as doing great work, we’re creating a place that’s great to do work in. We offer tip-top kit, brilliant training opportunities and support from expert colleagues. On top of that, you’ll find flexible working, an inclusive culture and a place where your opinion is valued.

The role

We are recruiting an accessibility specialist to join the MOJ Digital Accessibility team. The purpose of this function is to ensure all services built and procured across the organisation are truly inclusive, delivering accessible and inclusive services for staff and citizens.

The team will:

Enhance capability and knowledge across teams delivering products and services to staff and the public
Embed accessibility considerations into our processes, such as recruitment and procurement
Create a framework for a longer term, sustainable approach to accessibility


Responsibilities


As an accessibility specialist, you will be supporting the Digital Accessibility team in running accessibility training, evaluating the accessibility of services, and working with teams as a consultant to help create accessible services. Specific responsibilities would include:

Conducting informal accessibility reviews with teams, to help them identify accessibility issues, and upskill team members in the process
Working collaboratively with teams to help them understand reported WCAG issues from in their services, and potential solutions to these issues
Helping to run accessibility training sessions, talks and workshops, across the different business areas, to raise awareness about accessibility
Demonstrations of and testing with assistive technology, such as JAWS, Dragon and ZoomText.
Creating content for an accessibility toolkit, to share around the organisation, to help people upskill in accessibility
Supporting and contributing to the accessibility communities of practise within the organisation

Experience

You would ideally be able to demonstrate knowledge and/or experience in:

Conducting informal accessibility reviews in real-time, with teams
Auditing against Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1
Assisting with presenting accessibility training materials and talks
Demonstrating and testing with assistive technologies
An understanding of UK accessibility legislation
Working in user-centred teams, and of user centred design

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles, a flexible framework, to assess candidates against a range of elements using a variety of selection methods, therefore giving you the opportunity to demonstrate the various elements required to be successful in the role.

At the interview we will be assessing your technical/specialist skills and experience, testing your ability through relevant assessments and asking you questions around the behaviours we require to be successful in this role. The behaviours we assess are:

Leadership
Changing and improving
Delivering at pace
Working together
Communicating and influencing
Managing a quality service

Throughout the process we will assess your technical specialist skills and experience on the above requirements. Further information on the specialists skills can be found at the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) framework for the senior level role of the Delivery Manager found on this link.


Your application during Coronavirus (COVID-19)

During these unprecedented times we remain committed to supporting citizens, enabling them to access government information and services they need. We’re closely monitoring the situation and will be following central government advice as it is issued. Therefore, this role may be subject to change at short notice. If your application is successful you may be invited to attend a video interview. You can keep up to date with your application through your emails.

We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring in terms of their culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor.

Find out more here about how we champion diversity and inclusion in our workplace.

Selection process details

Candidates must submit

a current and relevant CV (mandatory)
a 1 page cover letter (mandatory) outlining why you are interested in the role and how you meet the essential skills and experience required.

Throughout the process we will be testing your suitability against the essential and desirable criteria outlined above.

At the CV review/sift stage we will use the skills and experience to determine your suitability for the role. At the interview we ask you questions based on the skills and experience as well as behaviours outlined.

At the Interview we will ask you to present to the panel from a selection of topics. This will be shared with you in advance. We will also ask open-ended questions to which they are seeking answers/evidence of essential, previous skills, experience and behaviours in order to guide their hiring decision. Note: due to the volume of applications we receive we are unable to provide feedback after the CV review (sift) stage.

Salary and working arrangements

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to join at the relevant band minimum. In exceptional circumstances a higher salary or recruitment and retention allowance may be offered.

Note for current Civil Servants: If successful, the salary offered would normally be determined by applying the MoJ salary progression rules. If the appointment is on level transfer your substantive salary (excluding any allowances) will remain unchanged, unless it exceeds the maximum stated within the MoJ pay band, and unless your current salary is below the relevant MoJ grade minimum. If the appointment is on temporary or substantive promotion the salary will be increased by 10% or moved to the minimum of the relevant MoJ grade, whichever is the greater.

If successful, the salary we offer you will be within the advertised range and will depend on the skills and experience you demonstrate at the interview. Therefore in your cover letter it would be helpful to the hiring teams if you can indicate your salary expectations and if possible your notice period.


Benefits:

37 hours/week and flexible working options - working from home or remotely, working part-time, job sharing, or working compressed hours.
Lots of training and development opportunities.
£1000 of learning and development spend per year.
A civil service pension with employer contributions of 26-30% depending on salary.
25 days annual leave, which increases 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30 days (plus bank holidays), and an extra day off for the Queen’s birthday.
Great maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave. And maternity support/paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks, too!
Bike loans and secure bike parking (subject to availability and location).
Season ticket loans, childcare vouchers and eye-care vouchers.
5 days volunteering paid leave.
Free membership to BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.

Things you need to know

Security and Immigration checks

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check. Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules.

If you're applying for a role requiring security clearance please be aware that foreign or dual nationality is not an automatic bar. However certain posts may have restrictions which could affect those who do not have sole British nationality or who have personal connections with certain countries outside the UK.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Eligibility

Candidates in their probationary period are not eligible to apply for vacancies within this department.

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.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the

minimum selection criteria. Contact point for applicants- for further information regarding this role please contact MoJ D&T Recruitment.

Further information

All Civil Servants will adhere to the 'Civil Service code’, which outlines the Civil Service's core values, and the standards of behaviour expected of all civil servants in upholding these values.

Note for current Civil Servants: If successful, the salary offered would normally be determined by applying the MoJ salary progression rules. If the appointment is on level transfer your substantive salary (excluding any allowances) will remain unchanged, unless it exceeds the maximum stated within the MoJ pay band, and unless your current salary is below the relevant MoJ grade minimum. If the appointment is on temporary or substantive promotion the salary will be increased by the appropriate promotion percentage or moved to the minimum of the relevant MoJ grade minimum, whichever is the greater. Civil Servant Applicants should be aware there may be an opportunity for you to be transferred on a permanent basis if this role has been advertised as a fixed term appointment.

Note for non Civil Servants: To apply you must meet the Eligibility requirements outlined on https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas. You can ONLY apply if you are British, or a National of the EU, EEA or Switzerland. You may be able to apply if you're a national of the Commonwealth or Turkey, or a family member of a EU, EEA or Swiss national. Note: We are unable to sponsor/transfer work permits at this time. Therefore if you are working in the UK on your current employer sponsored 'work permit' you will not be eligible to apply as we cannot transfer work permits at this time. Non Civil Servant Applicants should be aware there may be an opportunity for this post to be converted to permanency if it has been advertised as a fixed term appointment.