
Role Title	Bailiff

Job family group		Job family/ies	Grade	EO	Status

Role Purpose	As a Bailiff, you will play a crucial role in the Justice System, working on the front line and interacting with individuals during some of the most challenging points of their lives. Bailiffs play a crucial role in the enforcement process. They are responsible for enforcing civil debt and possession orders issued by the courts. This means Bailiffs visit homes and businesses to recover money owed, assess and seize personal goods if necessary, or facilitate the repossession of properties when a judge has so ordered. You will advise the public and stakeholders of relevant legislation and the appropriate options available, signposting individuals to relevant departments or agencies. You will encounter daily situations where you must be able to act swiftly to assess circumstances, adapt accordingly and be a confident leader in emotionally charged situations.

Key Accountabilities
Complete risk assessments for each visit to identify the possible risk whilst conducting duties so appropriate pre-visit decisions and mitigation strategies can be made to improve safety. Conduct Dynamic Risk Assessments when out in the field based on emerging intelligence. Executing warrants of control, agreeing payment plans and/or assessing and potentially removing goods to satisfy outstanding judgments. In cases of possession, overseeing the safe departure of occupants from a property, ensuring they are treated with dignity and respect, and securing the premises to prevent unauthorised re-entry. Maintain detailed understanding of legislation such as the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, which outlines their powers in taking control of goods and enforcing possession orders. Additionally, Bailiffs must adhere to strict regulations, including the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013, which govern the procedures for seizing assets. Bailiffs frequently encounter vulnerable individuals, including those facing financial hardship, mental health challenges, or other personal difficulties and will therefore be required to collaborate with external support services and stakeholders, such as police, social services, and local authorities, when necessary to ensure the safety of self and others. Use of PPE, for example safety vests / body worn cameras and the handling of data that is captured in line with DPA. Process cash payments in order to satisfy a debt, accurately recording the transaction. Serve and execute committal orders/warrants where individuals have not complied with court orders. The Personal Service of court documents to defendants. Convey prisoners to Court following the arrest under a committal warrant. Attend in court when required at the request of a Judge. General administrative duties. Deal with queries in person, by post and over the telephone.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Exhibit adaptable leadership and communication skills, being able to effectively engage with a diverse audience of court users and stakeholders. When enforcing civil debt and possession judgements, Bailiffs will often encounter challenging circumstances and conflict and will need to possess excellent interpersonal skills, capable of calmly de-escalating difficult or volatile situations in high-pressure environments. Detailed understanding of established procedures and work practices to organise the delivery of effective and efficient day-to-day services. Deliver expert and legally correct information to internal and external audiences in a professional and credible manner representing HMCTS. Show empathy for court users, maintaining a non-judgmental approach while focusing on fulfilling the role with full respect for the customers encountered. Confidently engage with challenging and vulnerable individuals, collaborating with external support services and stakeholders, such as police, social services, and local authorities, when necessary to ensure the safety of self and others. Possess strong influencing and negotiation skills to achieve common ground with claimants and customers with often strong opposing views and circumstances. Proficient in risk assessment, identification of H&S/safeguarding risks, and correct use of PPE. Capable of working in a demanding and complex environment with shifting priorities. Dedicated to delivering professional service to customers, driven by a genuine passion for supporting and assisting individuals. Able to work autonomously with excellent organisational and planning skills. Able to travel independently around designated enforcement area.

Problem Solving and Decision Making
Responsible for conducting advanced risk assessments (to identify any potential problems or risks to health/safety) and meticulously planning their daily visits. Bailiffs need to be able to interpret a range of data sources to identify potential risk indicators. When undertaking community enforcement activity, bailiffs need to be able to carry out dynamic health & safety risk assessment i.e. "live" or "real-time" risk assessment, where they continually assess and adjust their risk management based on what's happening right now. It's not a one-time check, but a continuous decision-making process of observing, identifying, and addressing hazards and risks as they emerge. Employ sound judgment and balanced decision-making to execute court orders, prioritising the safety of themselves, customers, and the public. This frequently involves determining relative priorities so as to maintain standards of service delivery, but meet conflicting work demands. Swiftly assess circumstances to identify and implement solutions in unique and emotionally charged situations. Engage with individuals possessing diverse and complex needs, including vulnerable or challenging cases. Bailiffs must make effective, immediate decisions on appropriate actions, assessing risks to self and others and involving safeguarding, social services, or police to ensure customer protection where required. Confidently and clearly convey information, explaining the legislative process, the purpose of their presence, and available options to resolve matters. Bailiffs treat each case individually, demonstrating adaptability and flexibility in their decision-making process. Negotiate payment plans and/or assessing goods to satisfy outstanding judgments. When undertaking community-based enforcement activity, bailiffs are required to make some judgement about resolving a problem rather than simply choosing an appropriate response or course of action from a limited range of known options. In this context, bailiffs are able to decide how best to apply relevant operational procedures albeit within the limits of prescribed procedural frameworks.

Management of Resources
There is no line management or budgetary responsibility. Responsible for own time and account for money collected in accordance with Cash Handling Policy.

Autonomy
When undertaking community-based enforcement activity, bailiffs are required to make decisions about resolving problems rather than simply choosing an appropriate response or course of action from a limited range of known options. In this context, bailiffs are required to be able to take independent action and exercise both judgement and initiative in interpreting instructions and in choosing the appropriate course of action within those parameters. Bailiffs are required to plan their day and manage their allocated workload to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. They also need to be able to cope with ‘real time’ disruption/delay without support and replan activity accordingly. Work without close supervision for a significant portion of the day, making ‘real time’ decisions autonomously and independently albeit with access to management support. In particular, when assessing risk and deciding on the appropriate response, they are free to make their own decisions based on the facts available to them at the time. Medium & High-risk assessments will be discussed with line manager to mitigate risk.

Key Relationships and Contacts
Bailiffs will have front-line contact with court users, visiting homes and businesses. As such they are very visible representatives of HMCTS in interactions with the public and external organisations Strong working relationships are required with police, social services, local authorities etc. when carrying out high risk orders who they will work closely with, particularly on high-risk visits. Collaborate effectively and flexibly within a team, contributing to collective objectives and expectations. They are required to maintain relationships with colleagues internally to support effective team and individual performance. They are required to adhere to the Civil Service code of conduct.