The CCRC Board comprises of 10 members, 4 of which (including the Chair) are Commissioners. The Chief Executive, Casework Operations Director, and Finance & Corporate Services Director are also Board members as are the 3 Independent Non-Executive Directors.
More information on the Board’s members can be found on the CCRC website along with other useful information, including the most recent annual report and business plans:
Commissioner recruitment
Commissioners are appointed by His Majesty the King, and the Public Appointments Team undertake the majority of the recruitment process for us. We will advertise for these roles on our website, however interested candidates must apply via the Public Appointments website.
To search for roles and to apply, please click the button below.
The role of a Commissioner
Commissioners decide whether to refer a case for an appeal, applying the statutory 'real possibility' test. This may be as part of a committee of three Commissioners, or more regularly as an individual. Commissioners also form the Body Corporate which meets twice a year.
Commissioners time requirements will be for a minimum of 52 days per year, with some regularity of pattern of work. Appointments run for a five-year term with the possibility of reappointment for a further term at the discretion of Ministers and with the agreement of His Majesty.
Within our team of Commissioners, one third must be legally qualified, and two thirds must need to have knowledge or experience of any aspect of the criminal justice system. This means that up to one third may not have any legal qualifications or experience in the criminal justice sector, so we can appoint from a very broad base of skill and experience.
Independent Non-Executive Director recruitment
We undertake the recruitment process for our Independent Non-Executive Directors, with support from the Public Appointments Team. This process may take longer than a typical recruitment
exercise, as Ministerial approval is required at several stages.
To apply for an Independent Non-Executive Director vacancy, please search our current vacancies for information.
The role of an Independent Non-Executive Director
The Independent Non-Executive Director has the same legal responsibilities to the CCRC as Executive Directors. Essentially, the Independent Non-Executive Director role is to make a contribution to the Board by providing objective and constructive criticism, challenge and support, as appropriate.
The Body Corporate delegates authority to the Board, which is then (in conjunction with the Body Corporate) responsible for determining and overseeing the overall strategic direction of the Commission, ensuring effective governance and success.
Independent Non-Executive Directors time requirements will be for 15 to 20 days per year. Appointments run for a three-year term with the possibility of reappointment for a further term subject to CCRC requirements.
The Seven Principles of Public Life
All candidates for public appointments are expected to demonstrate a commitment to, and an understanding of, the value and importance of the principles of public service. This therefore includes Commissioners and Independent Non-Executive Directors.
The seven principles of public life are:
Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
Integrity
Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
Objectivity
Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
Openness
Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
Honesty
Holders of public office should be truthful.
Leadership
Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.
How to apply:
Firstly please check our vacancies page where we will advertise for any Commissioner or Independent Non-Executive Director vacancies.
Those who are interested in applying for a Commissioner vacancy can do so via the Public Appointments webpage (please click the Public Appointment Jobs button towards the top of the page).
If you would like to apply for an Independent Non-Executive Director vacancy, please submit your information to the HR team at the CCRC.
For both roles, candidates will typically be asked to supply the following 4 items:
- a copy of your CV
- a 2-page supporting statement outlining how you meet the requirements for the role
- diversity monitoring information
- information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues
Please be assured that diversity information is requested for monitoring purposes only, and plays no part in the selection process. It will be kept confidential and will not be seen by the panel.
Disability Confident Employer
We are a Disability Confident Employer and as such, we guarantee to interview a proportionate amount of people with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who have asked that their application is considered under the scheme.
We want to ensure that everyone can apply and take part fully in all stages of our recruitment process. If you require any adjustments to be made to enable you to fully participate in this process, please let us know.
If you would like to apply under this scheme, or to advise us of any adjustments you require, please indicate this when applying. Alternatively, please contact the HR team via hr@ccrc.gov.uk to advise us of this.
FAQs
If you have any questions, and can't find an answer below, please reach out to our HR team at hr@ccrc.gov.uk
We will process your application in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Ministry of Justice’s Information Charter, which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/personal-information-charter
How we will handle your application:
- Your data will be held securely, and access will be restricted to those dealing with your application or involved in the recruitment process.
- You will be contacted by e-mail or phone.
- If appointed, your data will be stored for the duration of your tenure.
- If, in the view of the panel, you are appointable, your name will be forwarded to the Permanent Secretary/the King for approval
- The Commissioner for Public Appointments may also request access as part of a complaint investigation or review of the recruitment process.
- Your data will be stored for up to two years and processed for the purpose of the recruitment process, diversity monitoring and, if successful, your personal record.
If you feel that you have any complaint about any aspect of the way your application has been handled, please contact the relevant team:
Commissioner recruitment:
Public Appointments Team at PublicAppointmentsTeam@justice.gov.uk
INED recruitment:
CCRC HR team at hr@ccrc.gov.uk or 0121 233 1473
Complaints must be received within 12 calendar months of the issue or after the recruitment competition has closed, whichever is the later.
Your complaint will be acknowledged and answered as quickly and clearly as possible; at the most within 20 working days of receipt. If this deadline cannot be met, we will inform you of why this is the case and when you can expect a reply.
As part of the recruitment process, we will undertake due diligence checks to ensure that each candidate is broadly eligible to apply for the role, in line with the requirements stated within the Candidate Information Pack. These checks also allow candidates to answer any questions relating to possible conflicts of interest at the interview stage.
If appointed, candidates will be required to undergo standard pre-employment checks (BPSS clearance), as well as National Security Vetting. For most roles, we require Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) clearance, however there may be a need for a small number of Commissioners to hold the higher level of Security Check (SC) clearance to support them in undertaking their role.
You can find out more about National Security Vetting here: National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK
Public Appointment recruitment exercises can take longer than a typical recruitment process. Commissioner and Independent Non-Executive Director recruitment usually takes around 6 months from advertising to the successful person starting in role.
We aim to complete each exercise as quickly as possible, however there may be unexpected delays. We will endeavour to keep all candidates as informed as possible throughout the process.