Secure Examination Support Caseworker

These exciting opportunities sit within our Secure Examination Support (SES) Team, which is part of Secure Patents Service Division at the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

The team is responsible for supporting our customers on their Intellectual Property (IP) journey by reviewing, assessing and processing Patents applications and supporting evidence.

We are seeking motivated individuals who take ownership of problems, can process work to a high quality and are able to build relationships across the Patents division and wider IPO.

You will need to be able to manage and prioritise workloads to ensure that team targets, department priorities and customer service standards are all met.

Initial training will take place in our Newport office. Successful candidates must be available to attend the office on multiple consecutive days over a five-week period.

Working Style

This role will be carried out in-line with IPO Hybrid working arrangements where staff are currently expected to spend at least 20% of their time working onsite from one of our offices. This role is based in our Newport Office.

The requirement for attendance at an office location can vary by role so we would encourage candidates to discuss working arrangements with the recruiting manager to agree a reasonable balance between working from home and the office.

Main duties consist of but are not limited to:

• Processing a broad range of case work by reference to desk instructions, the Patent Act & Rules, and manuals.
• Analysing evidence to make informed decisions on casework, in line with legal requirements.
• Escalating complex casework and queries in a timely manner, gathering relevant evidence and drawing on the right expertise.
• Communicating with a diverse range of customers verbally and in writing, explaining complex decisions, including reasons for decisions and answering queries.
• Supporting colleagues with queries, ensuring knowledge transfer to aid their development.
• Gathering evidence and formulating draft responses to complaints.
• Maintaining a continuous improvement (CI) mindset by keeping up to date with CI practice and playing an active role in generating and supporting ideas.
• Participating in wider team, directorate and corporate initiatives.
• Developing and expanding knowledge via meaningful learning and adopting a personal growth mindset.

Essential Criteria

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Dealing with challenging conversations
• Organisational skills
• Decision making

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,952, Intellectual Property Office contributes £8,677 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

When working at the IPO you can expect:

• A flexible working scheme with excellent development opportunities
• 25 days annual leave moving to 30 days in annual increments (1 day per year) over 5 years of reckonable service. You will also get 8 days public leave and 1 day privilege leave
• Family friendly policies that support modern working families and individuals with caring responsibilities
• A variety of support functions; Staff Counselling Service, Peer to Peer Support Group
• Eligibility for special and office-wide bonus payments
• The opportunity to form part of our many inclusive network groups, find out more by looking at Intellectual Property Office (IPO) (diversityjobsgroup.com)
• A range of wellbeing initiatives; Onsite Gym (Newport office), Eye Care Scheme, Volunteering Programme, Cycling facilities
• Free car parking is available on site at our Newport office
• On-site shop, restaurant and coffee shop at our Newport office