My role as a senior personal assistant

What brought you to the CPS?

The CPS is an organisation I wanted to work for so I could contribute to the delivery of justice. This role offered me the opportunity to do this by assisting senior management in maintaining business continuity.

There was also the opportunity to complete a Level 3 apprenticeship. This has equipped me with the essential skills to advance my career in administration and compliance.

My typical day

The main aspect of this role is providing support to the senior management team. On a typical day this involves preparing for meetings by creating agendas, liaising with legal and operational delivery managers to bring together reports and taking minutes for meetings to provide an accurate record of what was discussed and actions to be taken.

I also manage the diary for the senior management team to help them maximise efficiency during their working hours. In-boxes need to be organised and actioned through order of priority which usually involves communicating with other CPS officials and government departments.

The senior personal assistant (SPA) team are also responsible for organising events across the area to maintain employee engagement and to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day. I take responsibility for certain aspects of projects to contribute to the success of these events.

My inspiration

The SPA team is very supportive, always encouraging and friendly. They were really welcoming when I started this role and always available to help and answer any questions I had throughout my induction.

Advice for anyone applying for a role

This is an exciting role where you will work with a wide range of different colleagues and government departments. You will be liaising with senior leaders in the CPS including the Director of Public Prosecutions as well as stakeholders such as judges and MPs so having key organisation and problem solving skills is invaluable.

This position allows you to view how problems are solved and decisions made at a senior level.

Overall, this is a fantastic opportunity to face new challenges and develop your skillset.