Tribunal Caseworker (Plus Reserves)

Job summary

Tribunal Caseworker

This exciting opportunity in the Tribunal Services team which sits within the Challenge IP strand of the Services Directorate. The Challenge Services team manages and administers contentious proceedings in the field of Trade Marks, Patents and Designs. It also operates the Company Names Tribunal. The post holder will proactively organise and manage their own work, to achieve both personal, departmental and quality targets. The post holder will provide support and assistance to inter parties hearing officers and or adjudicators, and advice and guidance to internal/external customers on legal and procedural issues, involving dispute resolution processes performed by the Challenge caseworkers.

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.

Job description

Main duties consist of but are not limited to:

• Inspection of statements/counterstatements to ascertain whether the correct grounds have been pleaded and notify the parties of any perceived deficiencies or irregularities.
• Ensure that all evidence admitted into the proceedings complies with the relevant legislation and published guidance material.
• Proactively case manage proceedings and ensure that all procedural and administrative decisions are made in accordance with the published statutory requirements, user guidance and within published timescales
• Set and monitor the evidential timetable and determine on a preliminary basis any request made during the evidential stages, i.e. extension of time and stay requests.
• Respond to all litigants in writing or on the telephone, in an impartial, professional and customer friendly manner.
• Provide support on ongoing transformation projects and being adaptable to change.

Person specification

Essential criteria: ·

• Proven ability to make unbiased, evidence-based decisions.
• Strong understanding of operation delivery processes.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Exceptional organisational skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple pieces of work simultaneously.
• Good level of digital literacy.

How to Apply

Click the 'Apply now' button and complete the application form by providing the following:

500-word Personal Statement

• Use this to explain why you're suitable for the role.
• Structure your statement around the essential criteria in the Person Specification.
• Make sure to provide clear examples to show how you meet each requirement.

Behaviours

Provide one 250-word example for the following Behaviour;

Making effective decisions (lead behaviour)

• Explain how decisions have been reached in a clear and concise way, both verbally and in writing
• Analyse and research further information to support decisions

For further information on the sift and interview stages of this recruitment campaign, please head to our 'Things you need to know' section below.

Please visit our Civil Service Careers page - IPO – Recruitment Support , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)

If you require job-specific information, please contact Dannii Bethell.

E-mail: Dannii.bethell@ipo.gov.uk

Telephone: 01633814820

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

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.

• 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
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• 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

For more information about what’s on offer at the Intellectual Property Office please review our IPO benefit pack attached to the bottom of this advert.

Please note that benefits may be subject to change.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

The assessment process will comprise of the following:

Stage 1 – Pre sift testing The following pre sift test will need to be completed and passed before your application will be seen by the panel:

• Caseworker Test

Applicants to note:

All listed behaviours will be assessed during the Civil Service Judgement Test.

There are no time limits for the completion of tests.

Please ensure you complete the test with enough time to fully complete and submit your application before the closing date.

Full instructions will be given at the start of the test.

The deadline for completing the tests is the same as the application deadline: 11/06/2026 at 23:55

Please ensure you leave yourself enough time to fill out the application after completing the tests.

Stage 2 – Sift

An initial sift of applications will be carried out to create a shortlist. This will be based on the evidence provided for the following Success Profile elements:

Experience

Your 500 word Personal statement will demonstrate your Experience against the listed essential criteria

Behaviour

Provide one 250-word example for the following Behaviour

Making Effective Decisions (lead behaviour)

• Explain how decisions have been reached in a clear and concise way, both verbally and in writing
• Analyse and research further information to support decisions

Please note, in the event of a high number of applications, Making Effective Decisions the lead criteria may be used to carry out an initial sift of applications. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to a full sift.

Stage 3 – Interviews

If invited to interview Behaviours and Strength based questioning will be used.

Specific information regarding the Success Profile elements that will be assessed at interview will be contained within the interview invitation.

Please note candidates that proceed to the interview stage will be required to complete an written assessment. Details will be provided in the invite to interview information.

Interviews for this role will be carried out in person at our Newport Office.

This recruitment campaign will keep a reserve list for 12 months. If you meet the requirements for this role but aren't offered after passing the interview, you'll be placed on the reserve list. If a suitable position opens up during this time, we will reach out to individuals in merit order.

The successful candidate would be expected to remain in the role for a minimum of 12 months before applying for another role.

Applicants to note: CVs sent direct to the IPO will not be accepted.

Please note candidates that proceed to the interview stage will be required to complete a written assessment. Details will be provided in the invite to interview information.

This post is being advertised to Internal, across Government and external candidates at the same time.

Incomplete and/or late submissions will not be accepted or considered. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

We do not routinely reimburse travel expenses for candidates, however if participating in the selection process would cause you undue financial hardship or if it restricts your ability to participate, please contact the recruitment team for more information.

In line with Government guidance, successfully appointed candidates will need to provide documents for our Right to Work checks. Information on this will be sent within the invite to interview text.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, then please let the recruitment team know via; recruitment@ipo.gov.uk

Please be aware that only one application per candidate is permitted for each recruitment campaign. Multiple applications, including those made using different accounts, may result in your application being withdrawn or rejected at any stage of the process.

For more information on the IPO’s terms and conditions, please review the attached IPO Modernised Terms and Conditions document attached at the bottom of this advert.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : IPO Recruitment team
• Email : recruitment@ipo.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ipo.gov.uk

Further information

Commissioners Statement:
The Civil Service recruits by merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

Complaints Procedure:
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, please contact;
Penny Phillpotts
Intellectual Property Office,
Concept House,
Cardiff Road,
Newport,
NP10 8QQ.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

Attachments

IPO Modernised Terms and Conditions Opens in new window (doc, 149kB)What's on offer at the IPO Opens in new window (pdf, 2034kB)