Introduction
This document applies to salaried judicial office holders in the courts and tribunals of England and Wales1 and judges to whom Lord Chancellor terms & conditions apply. It sets out the Ministry of Justice’s policy for salaried part-time working. The purpose of this policy is to provide a framework for:
- salaried judicial office holders to apply to change their working pattern or arrangements;
- a clear statement that SPTW is available, where this is the case, in the literature for recruitment exercises; and
- senior judicial office holders to consider applications and appeals against decisions fairly and consistently, following consultation with the relevant senior administrative officer.
In 2001, following recommendations from a working group which included members of the Judiciary, the Ministry of Justice (at the time called The Lord Chancellor’s Department) introduced a SPTW scheme for new salaried appointments. In April 2005, the opportunity for SPTW was extended to include all existing salaried judicial office holders below High Court level. In April 2014, the policy was extended to include the High Court and Court of Appeal.
Certain senior judicial offices or roles are excluded from this policy, where the statutory provisions do not allow more than one person to hold the office. These include the offices of the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, and the Heads of Division in England and Wales, including the Senior President of Tribunals, the President of the Queen’s Bench Division, the President of the Family Division, the Chancellor of the High Court and the Master of the Rolls. The Senior Presiding Judge, Deputy Senior Presiding Judge and Judge Advocate General are also excluded from this policy.
The policy will be kept under review and updated, as and when necessary.
