We want to make sure that candidates with disabilities and those with long-term health conditions can participate fully and fairly in all JAC recruitment campaigns and at all stages of our selection processes. To ensure this, we consider all reasonable adjustment requests from disabled candidates and those with long term health conditions. Our approach to reasonable adjustments also extends to individuals who may be experiencing short term injury of temporary illness.
What is a reasonable adjustment?
Reasonable adjustments are changes to physical surroundings or working practices that remove a disadvantage or barrier that a person with a disability or long-term health condition may otherwise encounter.
Adjustments are tailored to the needs of individual applicants and the JAC is committed to making appropriate reasonable adjustments to ensure that candidates with disabilities (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) can participate fairly in all aspects of our recruitment processes.
Examples of reasonable adjustments to JAC processes may include (but are not limited to):
- additional time to complete online tests and selection day activity (including preparation time and interviews)
- accepting applications in a different format than the standard online submission
- providing shortlisting and selection day materials in a larger font size or in Braille
- providing shortlisting and selection day materials on coloured paper or in different colour contrasts
- provision of a car parking space for in-person selection days
- arranging a visit to the venue ahead of selection day to enable a candidate to familiarise themselves with the interview room and layout, or for example, to test acoustics and check their hearing loop works
- ensuring that all relevant areas of the selection exercise venue are accessible for wheelchair users
- access for assistance dogs to accompany their owners on selection days
- arrangements for a sign language interpreter or allowing a candidate to bring their own interpreter or palantypist to their selection day
- discussing arrangements (such as seating layout, speed of discussions and lighting) ahead of time
- providing special, adapted equipment, or allowing candidates to bring their own specialist equipment on selection day
- enabling candidates to participate in the selection exercise at a specified time
This is not an exhaustive list, and we encourage applicants to highlight their individual needs when submitting their application so that these can be considered.
How to ask for a reasonable adjustment
When completing your application form, you will be asked if you require a reasonable adjustment for any aspect of the JAC selection process (sift or selection day). You will be provided with a free-text box to outline your requirements. Please ensure that you use this space to provide as much detail as possible. The exercise team for the specific exercise you have applied for will consider the information provided on your application form and may contact you to discuss your requirements in more detail.
If you require any support or adjustment to complete the online application form, please contact the exercise team for the specific exercise you wish to apply for. Their contact details will be found on the exercise information page.
We encourage all candidates to highlight their reasonable adjustment needs on their application form so that we can support applicants at the earliest opportunity. However, you can also contact the exercise team directly to raise a reasonable adjustment request or discuss your needs. We will also ask all candidates whether they require any reasonable adjustments at each stage of the recruitment process.
Please note, while our teams will always do their best to support requests for reasonable adjustments, it may not be possible to implement all reasonable adjustment requests, especially those requested at short notice. Please ensure that wherever possible you highlight your individual needs at the earliest opportunity.
If you experience any issues relating to your disability or long-term health condition on the day of our shortlisting tests or your selection day, please alert the exercise team at the earliest opportunity.
Our reasonable adjustment processes
The selection exercise team managing the role you have applied for will consider all requests for reasonable adjustments on an individual basis. They will review the information you have provided on your application (or raised directly with them) and may contact you, or someone acting on your behalf, to discuss your needs in more detail.
Where helpful, our teams will also provide more information about the requirements of the relevant recruitment stage (e.g., timings, location, room layout, reading or writing requirements etc.) to assist discussions about what support or adjustment you may need.
While we understand that discussing your personal circumstances can be daunting, we do encourage applicants to be as open with our teams are possible to ensure that they can assist you in the most appropriate way and arrange reasonable adjustment(s) that will best support your specific requirements.
When considering a reasonable adjustment request, our teams will consider:
- Your individual circumstances
- The effectiveness of the proposed adjustment in overcoming any disadvantage or barrier you may encounter
- The practicality of implementing the proposed adjustment
- The cost of making the proposed adjustment
- Whether the proposed adjustment presents any disruption to the recruitment process
- Whether the proposed adjustment presents any risks to any other individuals.
The exercise team may also seek further advice and guidance from the JAC’s nominated Reasonable Adjustment Officer when considering your reasonable adjustment request(s).
Once the above factors have been considered, the exercise team will contact you directly to outline the proposed reasonable adjustment. You will be asked to review the proposal and confirm your agreement. If you have any questions or concerns about the proposed adjustment, please contact the exercise team to discuss this further.
If you are content with the proposal, your adjustment will be confirmed in writing to you.
As a result of our statutory duty to appoint on merit, the JAC does not offer a guaranteed interview scheme and enhancement of grading due to a reasonable adjustment cannot be considered.
Personal information
We understand that discussions about reasonable adjustments may include exchanging personal or confidential information. This information will be handled sensitively and will have no effect on your application or on determining your suitability for a judicial post.
Complaints process
We hope that our approach to reasonable adjustment meets your needs however if your request for a reasonable adjustment cannot be accommodated or there is a disagreement about the reasonable adjustments, you can raise your concerns or make a complaint.
If you are unhappy with how your reasonable adjustment has been handled, please contact the selection exercise team for the exercise you have applied for in the first instance. If it is not possible to resolve the issue immediately, follow the steps in the JAC’s complaints handling policy.
Reasonable adjustments on appointment
HM Courts & Tribunal Service will provide information about reasonable adjustments to successful candidates once they are in post. The JAC is not responsible for this aspect of the recruitment process.