I joined the CPS in 1988 straight from school. I worked for CPS West Yorkshire (as it was then) as an Admin Assistant on the magistrates’ team. Two years later I was promoted to Admin Officer in the same team and two years after that, I passed the Executive Officer promotion board. Luckily, I was successful in securing a Law Clerk (now known as paralegal officer) role in the Leeds Crown Court team. I absolutely loved this role and I often look back on those years as some of the best in my career.

After seven years as a Law Clerk in Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield Crown Court teams, I transferred to the West Yorkshire Area Secretariat to work as PA to the Chief Crown Prosecutor (CCP). That was certainly challenging and very different to my previous role! I had decided that I wanted promotion and to do so, I needed to broaden my experience. After 12 months, I took another lateral move to work as a Personnel Manager (now known as HR).

In 2001 I secured promotion to Crown Court Manager in Leeds co-managing a team of 20 paralegal officers. This was a very demanding role with the introduction of the Graduated Fees Scheme and Very High Cost Cases Scheme to implement and manage.

In 2003 I secured promotion to Head of Group Operations Centre for CPS West Yorkshire and remained in this role until 2008 when I took up a role with the PCS union managing their complex personal cases.

In 2013 I took a lateral move to CPS London as a Senior HR Manager, managing a team of HR Advisors.

In September 2016 I took another lateral move to HR Business Partner for the North East and Yorkshire & Humberside. We provide HR support on some of the more strategic issues such as managed moves, organisational change and workforce planning. This role has been another highlight for me in my career as I really enjoy engaging with our customers across the Areas and it’s been lovely to work with some of my former colleagues.

I am now approaching 30 years’ service with the CPS. I think that many of us have been tempted to view development only in terms of promotion opportunities. I have taken many lateral moves to enhance my skills and knowledge and better equip me for any promotion opportunities that may arise. I have been given many opportunities to develop and undertake formal qualifications such as Associate CIPD and a Diploma in Management Coaching and Development.

In 2012 I qualified as a mediator, having completed the Certificate in Workplace Mediation (CIWM). I particularly enjoy this work because I strongly believe in informal resolution as the best outcome for most workplace situations. I also manage the CPS Internal Mediation Service which involves allocating mediators to cases and working with ACAS to develop and deliver bi-annual mediator development events.

I think the fact that I have stayed here for 30 years speaks for itself! The people that I have worked with over those 30 years have been fantastic. I have made some very good friends while at the CPS.

I don’t think anyone joins a government department for the fat salary or benefits that profit making organisations attract their staff with. I think we are here because we care about the work that we do and the fact that it matters to society.