I joined the CPS in April 1988, on promotion from an admin role in a Jobcentre. I had always wanted to be a Civil Servant, and was keen to progress. The role I moved to was that of Law Clerk in a Crown Court section (i.e. a Paralegal Officer role), where I leaned to prepare and manage serious criminal cases, working with CPS lawyers and Criminal Justice partners, briefing barristers and ensuring that our cases were handled efficiently and effectively. One essential and very rewarding part of this role was to support victims and witnesses and their families through the court process, helping to make their experience as manageable as possible, so that they were able to cope during what could often be a challenging time. After many years, I moved on, but I still fondly recall my time in the Paralegal role.

My current role is that of Business Compliance Manager for the service, meaning that I’m responsible for leading delivery of compliance activities that are focused on casework processes, chiefly with my team, but also via the Change and Assurance Manager network.

My team also manage the analysis and data presentation systems for monitoring compliance with business and legal decision making. We use our previous front-line experience to identify good practice, and to spot where we might need to improve. We get out and about a lot, and ensure that we remain in touch with Area staff and try to understand the challenges they face, sometimes working alongside them to support business improvement activities. We’re rarely in one place all week, so it’s meant that we’ve become familiar with living out of suitcases, sometimes having early starts and long journeys, but we love visiting Area offices and meeting staff all over the country.

Most recently, I have been asked to cover the Head of Change role for a short period, which is another new challenge - it's hard work but a great opportunity!

After 11 years in a Paralegal role, I had worked on all types of cases, including many of the most serious. When I was ready for a new challenge, I applied for a sideways move into Personnel, where I headed up the team providing support for all HR functions across three CPS Areas.

This experience resulted in promotion to an Area Management role in support of the local Chief Crown Prosecutor and Area Business Manager, where I led the Area Operations team.  This exposed me to more strategic work including external communications and engagement activities, facilities management, and multi-agency projects representing the Area. With this experience, I secured a promotion to Senior Executive Officer as a Business Manager for the Crown Court Unit - so I had moved sideways and upwards, with the result that I progressed several grades within a few years. I then had the chance to take a lead in numerous multi-agency projects for my unit and the wider Area, gaining experience in many new Criminal Justice initiatives. My last Area post was as Head of the Group Operations Centre, where I led the team providing Corporate Services (Finance, Performance, Estates, Communications, Equality/Diversity, Change, and HR) for South Yorkshire and Humberside CPS Areas. I also personally led the Assurance Programme, established local community panels, and also spent several months as Acting Area Business Manager for CPS North Yorkshire, covering the period when they had a major office relocation on the go.

These varied roles provided useful skills and experiences which culminated in my successful application to Headquarters for a G7 role in business improvement, which I took up in December 2008. I’ve since been in various teams in HQ, and my work continues within Operations Directorate today, where I have the chance to work with HQ and Area colleagues, some of whom I’ve worked with on and off for 30 years.

I have enjoyed every role I have held in CPS. I’ve had the benefit of doing different and varied things, both as part of my job and alongside it, such as being part of the Women in the Workplace Working Group. I’ve worked alongside many committed and able colleagues, all of whom strive to deliver their best, sometimes in challenging circumstances. Knowing that my team colleagues will be there when I start work, and knowing that they will be working with me to achieve our goals is really motivating. Being a Civil Servant, for me, is about putting something back for the benefit of the wider community, and it goes without saying that everyone I have met in CPS, whether administrators or the most senior, knows that the needs of Victims and Witnesses are at the forefront of what we do. Everyone works hard to make a difference, and they really care; I simply can’t imagine working anywhere else!