Candidate Information Pack

Public Guardian and Chief Executive Officer

Office of Public Guardian

Closing Date: 23:59 on Monday 18^th May 2026

Contents

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Introduction and Welcome

Welcome to His Majesty’s of Justice

“Thank you for your interest in the Public Guardian and Chief Executive Officer position at the OPG

The OPG is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice, with a unique and important role. As Public Guardian, you will be personally responsible for ensuring the functions of the OPG are discharged effectively - supporting people in England and Wales to plan for the future, make decisions where capacity is in question and safeguard the assets of those who cannot act for themselves.

It is an exciting time to be leading OPG as we seek to modernise and transform how the organisation delivers. This is an ambitious programme which seeks to ensure accessibility of services to all citizens, enable supported decision making, improve security and safeguards, respond to significant demographic change and maximise the use of technology.

As Chief Executive and Public Guardian, you will lead this work, setting direction, maintaining public trust and ensuring high-quality services for some of the most vulnerable people in society. You will act as Accounting Officer, with responsibility for the stewardship of public funds and overall organisational performance. You will provide the inspirational leadership necessary to ensure OPG fulfils its vision to be recognised for excellence, innovation and care, with its users at the heart of everything it does.

The role sits within the Service Transformation Group (STG), and you will play an active role in its senior leadership shaping priorities, supporting delivery and bringing OPG’s perspective to wider transformation.

I look forward to receiving your application.

Megan Lee Devlin

Director General, Service Transformation Group

About the Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice is a major government department at the heart of the justice system. We deliver some of the most fundamental public services including courts, tribunals, prisons, legal services, youth justice, probation services, and attendance centres.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) works to protect and advance the principles of justice. Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society.

The justice system plays a crucial role in our success as a nation - keeping people safe, emphasising fairness, guaranteeing individual rights and giving businesses confidence to flourish.

The delivery of our three strategic outcomes are central to doing this:

Protect the public from serious offenders and improve the safety and security of our prisons. We will deliver better sentencing, more prison places, safer prisons and strong action on extremism.

Reduce reoffending. We will play a vital role in reducing crime through breaking the cycle of reoffending by focusing on proven interventions: a home, a job and access to treatment for substance-misuse.

Deliver swift access to justice. We will increase the throughput of volumes of cases by maximising capacity and make the courts and tribunals system stronger and smarter and work to support victims, tackling sexual and domestic violence and making sure the vulnerable are supported in the justice system.

For more information on who we are and what we do, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

About the Office of the Public Guardian

Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) helps people in England and Wales to stay in control of decisions about their health and finance and make important decisions for others who cannot decide for themselves.

OPG was established in October 2007. We support and enable people to plan ahead for both their health and finances to be looked after should they lose capacity. We also safeguard the interests of people who may lack the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves.

OPG is a full cost recovery organisation with running costs being covered from fees charged to users. This model will need to be maintained. OPG’s total operating expenditure in 2024/2025 was c.£121m

OPG supports decision making by promoting the principles of the Mental Capacity Act. Our vision is to be recognised

for excellence, innovation, and care, with our users at the heart of everything we do.

Our principal responsibilities are:

Registering lasting and enduring powers of attorney (LPAs and EPAs)

Supervising deputies appointed by the Court of Protection (CoP)

Supervising guardians appointed by the High Court

Maintaining the public registers of deputies, guardians, LPAs and EPAs, and responding to requests to search the registers

Investigating representations (including complaints) about the way in which attorneys, deputies and guardians are exercising their powers

About the role

Job Title

Public Guardian and Chief Executive, Office of the Public Guardian

Location

National. However, you will be required to spend a minimum of 60% of your time in the Birmingham office.

Relocation costs will not be reimbursed.

Some travel to MoJ locations may be required.

Salary

The salary for this role is set within the MoJ SCS PB2 range: £100,000-£162,500.

Existing Civil Servants will be appointed in line with the Civil Service pay rules in place on the date of their appointment.

Contract Type

Permanent.

The Role

You will lead an organisation of around 2,000 staff, with a budget of c.£121m (2024-25), delivering critical statutory services at scale across England and Wales.

You will act as an internal and external advocate for the role of the Public Guardian, the work of OPG, and the principles of the Mental Capacity Act.

The role requires extensive external engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders, including maintaining a strong and constructive relationship with the Welsh Government and working across differing legal and delivery arrangements in England and Wales.

Key Responsibilities

Leading the organisation’s plans to modernise and transform its services

Maintaining the integrity and setting standards for the register of instruments and court orders

Efficiently processing the registration of LPAs, ensuring that they are legally correct, free from ambiguity and are operable

Maintaining and setting the standards for the regime of supervision

Maintaining a responsive and effective regime of handling safeguarding concerns

Ensuring a robust and client focused process of investigations into concerns about the actions of attorneys, deputies, and guardians; and

Ensuring that appropriate court action is taken, litigation strategy is set in general and for specific cases, appropriately responding to requests from the court.

The role sits within the Service Transformation Group (STG), and you will play an active role in its senior leadership -shaping priorities, supporting delivery, and representing OPG in wider transformation.

The Public Guardian is also the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer for OPG.

Person Specification

It is important through your CV and Statement of Suitability that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the selection criteria detailed.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

Essential criteria:

• Proven experience of leading at scale, with the ability to inspire, build capability and deliver through high-performing teams across a large, complex organisation.

• A strong track record of leading digital-enabled business transformation, delivering measurable improvements in public experience and service outcomes in a large organisation.

• Experience of delivering excellent customer-focused services, particularly for vulnerable users, alongside delivering efficiency and strong value for money.

• Outstanding communication and leadership presence, with the ability to inspire, engage and command confidence with senior stakeholders, including at Board and Board-adjacent level.

• Strong influencing and relationship-building skills, with experience of operating effectively across complex systems, organisational and geographical boundaries, setting direction and driving delivery through others.

• The ability to operate successfully in a political environment, balancing statutory responsibilities with wider departmental priorities and scrutiny.

Desirable criteria:

Existing knowledge of the Justice System would be desirable.

Civil Service Behaviours:

You will also be assessed against the following 5 behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing

• Seeing the Big Picture

• Changing and Improving

• Leadership

• Managing a Quality Service

Further information about the Civil Service Behaviours can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles/success-profiles-civil-service-behaviours#director-and-director-general

Civil Service Leadership Statement:

All leaders within the Civil Service are expected to demonstrate the qualities within the Civil Service Leadership Statement during their Staff Engagement Exercise.

The Recruitment Process

Application

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process accessed via the advertisement listed for this role.

This should be completed no later than Monday 18^th May 2026 and will involve uploading the two documents outlined below:

Document details:

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

2. A Statement of Suitability (no more than 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.

3. As part of the application process, you will be required to complete your diversity information. All monitoring data will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be provided to the selection panel. We capture this information to monitor our internal vacancy filling processes with a view to ensuring that we continue to build a talented workforce with diverse perspectives and backgrounds.

4. In addition to diversity information, you will be asked whether you wish to apply for the role as part of the Disability Confident Scheme. For more information about the scheme, please see the FAQs section.

Please submit and complete all of the documents listed so that the panel will have all the required information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. Please note failure to submit a CV and Statement of Suitability will result in your application not being considered for this role.

Should you encounter any issues with your application please get in touch with SCS Recruitment via:

scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk.

Selection Process

Lea Paterson, a Civil Service Commissioner, will chair the process. The Civil Service Commission has two primary functions.

• Providing assurance that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. For the most senior posts in the Civil Service, the Commission discharges its responsibilities directly by overseeing the recruitment process and by a Commissioner chairing the selection panel. 

• Hearing and determining appeals made by civil servants under the Civil Service Code which sets out the Civil Service values - Impartiality, Objectivity, Integrity and Honesty - and forms part of the relationship between civil servants and their employer. 

More detailed information can be found on the Civil Service Commission website.  

The other panel members will be confirmed to shortlisted candidates prior to interview. The panel will satisfy the Civil Service panel requirements on diversity.

Shortlist

You will receive an acknowledgment of your application through the online process.

The panel will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

Shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible following the shortlist meeting. 

Unfortunately, due to the anticipated number of applicants for this role, we are unable to provide feedback to those not successful at shortlist stage. Candidates who are shortlisted and attend an interview will be offered verbal feedback from a member of the interview panel.

The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

Assessment

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a Staff Engagement Exercise. This assessment will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, it is designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. Further information on Staff Engagement Exercises will be provided to shortlisted candidates. 

Internal Stakeholder Conversations

You may also have the opportunity to speak to Megan Lee Devlin, Director General, Service Transformation prior to the final interview to learn more about the role and the organisation. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment process.

Interview

You will be asked to attend a panel interview at 102 Petty France, London, to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

Please note, you may be asked to complete a presentation on a topic chosen by the panel at interview stage.

Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates. 

Offer

Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible after the final interview.

Guidance for writing your application 

 As part of the application process, you need to submit a Statement and CV. Both your Statement and CV should demonstrate how you meet the essential experience outlined in the Person Specification section.  

Ensure you read through the role information thoroughly and identify the essential criteria for each area. You should ensure you provide evidence for each of the essential experience which are required for the role in your Statement and CV. You may not be progressed to the next stage of the assessment process if you do not provide this evidence. 

When structuring your Statements try to: 

• Group evidence of the same experience together by using subheadings and paragraphs. This will help to ensure you are writing about the experience that is directly relevant for the role you are applying for. 

• You should ensure that you detail recent and relevant examples of the essential experience required for the role and describe the outcome that came from this.  

 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. 

 For more information on how to write your Statement and CV please visit the Civil Service Careers Website.  

Expected Timeline

We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for assessments or interviews. You are therefore asked to note the below timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process, in order to meet the dates given. Please note that these dates may be subject to change.

The anticipated timetable is as follows:

Advert Closing Date

23:59 on Monday 18^th May 2026

Outcome of CV and Statement of Suitability

Week commencing 25^th May 2026

Staff Engagement Exercise

Week commencing 01^st June 2026

Panel Interview and Presentation

Week commencing 15^th June 2026

Benefits of Working for the Ministry of Justice

Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career with the Ministry of Justice and wider Civil Service. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead, and you’ll benefit from regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Ministry of Justice employee, you’ll be entitled to a large range of benefits.

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing

Our departmental values - purpose, humanity, openness and together - are at the heart of our commitment to create a culture where all our people are able to thrive and flourish in the workplace. We want to attract and retain the best talent from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We want everyone to be the best of themselves, to feel supported and have a strong sense of belonging in the workplace. Our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce is reflected in all of our people policies and strategies, and we offer our employees access to:

Diverse talent programs;

Mentoring schemes;

Family friendly policies including generous parental and special leave options;

Flexible working options - including a varied working patterns and flexibility to choose how and where you work;

Workplace adjustment support;

Wellbeing support, including access to our Employee Assistance Provider;

Special leave for active-duty reservists.

Volunteering days.

Ministry of Justice have diversity champions, senior civil servants appointed by our Permanent Secretary, who work to drive forward and embed equality, diversity and inclusion as a core part of both our business delivery and in how we support our people.

The Ministry of Justice’s champions each advocate for a specific strand including Race, Disability, Carers, Gender, LGBTQI, Faith and Belief, Age and Social Mobility.

They work closely with our diversity staff network groups and help to shape and build our sense of community across the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice staff network groups provide care and support for their members, offer our policy makers challenge and critical friendship, champion opportunities, help change our culture and celebrate everything that makes our people who we are.

The department also has an employee health and wellbeing strategy which details the wide range of support available to staff. The strategy focuses on four key wellbeing areas; mental wellbeing, lifestyle including physical wellbeing, financial wellbeing and workplace environment - culture and physical workspaces.

Pension

Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package.

A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. Visit www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk for more details.

Generous Annual Leave and Bank Holiday Allowance

25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service. This is in addition to 8 public holidays.

This will be complemented by one further day paid privilege entitlement to mark the King’s Birthday.

Childcare Benefits

The government has introduced the Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme. Working parents can open an online childcare account and for every £8 they pay in, the government adds £2, up to a maximum of £2000 a year for each child or £4000 for a disabled child. Parents then use the funds to pay for registered childcare. More information about the Tax Free Childcare Scheme can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices.

Onsite facilities

Opportunity to use onsite facilities including fitness centres and staff canteens (where applicable).

Season Ticket and Bicycle Loan

Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket or a new bicycle.

Sick Pay

Occupational sick pay.

Disability Support

What reasonable adjustments can be made if I have a disability?

We are committed to supporting all candidates to take part in the recruitment process. This includes supporting individuals who have a disability by making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.

If you feel you require any kind of support and/or would like to discuss this with someone, please indicate 'yes' to requesting reasonable adjustments in your application form and ensure that you respond to the Reasonable Adjustments Scheme team by email.

How we can support you

There are many types of reasonable adjustments that can be made during assessment processes.

Examples of some types of adjustments include:

Extra time to complete assessments;

Providing a break within an assessment;

Providing interview questions in a written format at the interview as well as orally;

An interview at a certain time of day;

This is not an exhaustive list but rather some examples of how we can support you during the SCS Recruitment Process.

Whilst we aim to confirm all adjustments requested, there may be occasions where this isn't possible. If an adjustment cannot be provided, the reasons for this will be explained to you.

Help with your application

It is important you contact us as early as possible by email if you would like to request reasonable adjustments so that the recruitment process runs smoothly for you.

If you do decide during the process that you do require adjustments and you have not completed all your assessments, please contact the SCS recruitment team in advance of your next assessment.

If you have any questions in advance of making your application regarding reasonable adjustments please contact the SCS recruitment team at scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk

Do you offer a Disability Confident Scheme for Disabled Persons?

As a Disability Confident employer, the MoJ offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. This could be in terms of the advertised essential skills and/or application form sift criteria. Within the application form, you will be asked if you would like to be considered for an interview under this scheme, so please make us aware of this when prompted.

FAQs

Can I apply if I am not currently a civil servant? 

Yes 

Is this role suitable for part-time working? 

This role is available for full-time, part-time or flexible working arrangements (including job share partnerships). If you wish to discuss your needs in more detail, please get in touch with the named point of contact in this pack. 

Will the role involve travel? 

Some travel may be required for this role. 

Where will the role be based? 

The base location of this post is National. However, you will be required to spend a minimum of 60% of your time in the Birmingham office. .   

Relocation costs will not be reimbursed. 

Can I claim back any expenses incurred during the recruitment process? 

No. Unfortunately we will not be able to reimburse you, except in exceptional circumstances and only when agreed in advance. 

What are the nationality requirements for this role? 

This job is broadly open to the following groups: 

UK nationals 

Nationals of the Republic of Ireland 

Nationals of Commonwealth countries 

Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) 

Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service 

Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service 

Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals 

For further information on whether you are eligible to apply, please visit Gov.UK   

Reserved for UK Nationals 

Certain posts, notably those concerned with security and intelligence, might be reserved for British citizens, this is not a reserved post. 

Is security clearance required? 

Yes. If successful you must hold, or be willing to obtain, security clearance to SC/DV level. More information about the vetting process can be found here. 

What reasonable adjustments can be made if I have a disability? 

We welcome and encourage applications from all candidates and are committed to supporting all candidates to take part in the recruitment process. This includes supporting individuals who have a disability by making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. We are also able to provide support to candidates who require adjustments to the assessment process due to more temporary difficulties (e.g. linked to a recent injury).  

We will ask you within your application form if you would like to request reasonable adjustments. If you feel you require any kind of support and/or would like to discuss this with someone, please indicate ‘yes’ to requesting reasonable adjustments.  

We understand that the support requested will be unique to every candidate and we will work with you to help you to identify your individual requirements.   

We make reasonable adjustments so that all candidates are given a fair opportunity to undertake the recruitment process. Therefore, disclosing information regarding your disability or access requirements will have no impact on the outcome of your application, regardless of your request or the role you have applied to.   

How we can support you  

There are many types of reasonable adjustments that can be made during assessment processes, and the type or combination you choose to request will depend on your individual requirements.  

Examples of some types of adjustments include:  

Extra time to complete assessments. 

Providing a break within an assessment. 

Providing interview questions in a written format at the interview as well as orally. 

An interview at a certain time. 

Coloured overlays or different fonts for assessment materials.  

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list but rather some examples.  

Whilst we aim to confirm all adjustments requested, there may be occasions where this isn’t possible. For example, if a candidate were to request that they are not assessed on a specific behaviour outlined in the job advert this would not be possible because the behaviour has been identified as important for the job role and all candidates are assessed against this criterion. If an adjustment cannot be provided, the reasons for this will be explained to you during your contact with the reasonable adjustment scheme team. 

Help with your application 

During the application process, we will ask you if you require reasonable adjustments. It is important you tell us as early as possible if you would like to request reasonable adjustments so that the recruitment process runs smoothly for you.  

If you do decide during the process that you do require adjustments and you have not completed all your assessments, please contact the SCS recruitment team in advance of your next assessment.  

If you need any help with your application, please contact the SCS recruitment team at scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk.  

Do you offer a Disability Confident Scheme for Disabled Persons? 

Disabled applicants who meet the minimum selection criteria in the job specification are guaranteed an interview. Selection will be on merit. If you wish to claim a guaranteed interview under the Disability Commitment, you should complete the relevant section of the online application. It is not necessary to state the nature of your disability. 

Do you offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for Veterans? 

Yes. The Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme aims to encourage more veterans to join the Civil Service when they leave the armed forces. 

Veteran applicants who meet the minimum selection criteria in the job specification are guaranteed an interview. Selection will be on merit. If you wish to claim a guaranteed interview under the Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme, you should complete the relevant section of the online application 

What do I do if I want to make a complaint? 

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. 

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 and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk in the first instance. 

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order.  

To Shared Service-Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 08.00 - 18.00) or e-mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com)  

To Ministry of Justice Resourcing (resourcing-services@justice.gov.uk) 

To the Civil Service Commission (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/)  

What should I do if I think that I have a conflict of interest? 

Candidates must note the requirement to declare any interests that might cause questions to be raised about their approach to the business of the Department. 

If you believe that you may have a conflict of interest, please contact SCS Recruitment on scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk before submitting your application. 

Will this role be overseen by the Civil Service Commission? 

Yes. As this role is one of the more senior posts within the Civil Service, a Commissioner will oversee the recruitment process and chair the selection panel. More detailed information can be found on the Civil Service Commission website. 

Data Sharing

We will ensure that we will treat all personal information in accordance with data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018.

Data Sharing

To process your application your personal data will be shared with the Ministry of Justice SCS Recruitment Team, campaign Panel Members and anyone else necessary as part of the recruitment process.

The legal basis for processing your personal data is:

Processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest. Personal data are processed in the public interest because understanding civil servant experiences and feelings about working in the Civil Service can inform decision taken to improve these experiences, and ultimately organisation performance.

Sensitive personal data is personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, and the processing of genetic data, biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person, data concerning health or data concerning a natural person's sex life or sexual orientation.

The legal basis for processing your sensitive personal data is:

Processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest for the exercise of a function of the Crown, a Minister of the Crown, or a government department: it is important to know if groups of staff with specific demographic characteristics have a better or worse experience of working for the Civil Service, so that appropriate action can be taken to level this experience;

Processing is of a specific category of personal data and it is necessary for the purposes of identifying or keeping under review the existence or absence of equality of opportunity or treatment between groups of people with a view to enabling such equality to be promoted or maintained.

Please note if you are successful in your application your sensitive personal data will be used as part of the on-boarding process to build your employee record.

For further information please see the GDPR Privacy Notice

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent where it is found. To learn more, please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy

Contact us

Should candidates like to discuss the role in more detail before submitting an application, please contact SCS Recruitment on scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk.