About the job

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

The Public Protection Casework Section (PPCS), within HMPPS, is responsible for the management of the parole process and the recall of offenders to custody. Casework Managers in PPCS handle the preparation and management of parole eligible cases referred to the Parole Board, taking decisions and providing relevant documents for requests to recall offenders released on licenced supervision & under Home Detention Curfew supervision and reviewing the ongoing detention of recalled offenders, referring cases to the Parole Board in line with the statutory requirement and considering the use of the Secretary of State executive release power.  The work is demand led and required to be completed in line with relevant statutes.

• Successful candidates will be required to attend the office at 1 Ruskin Square, Croydon, full time for the first 3 weeks to complete their training.
• As well as completing the Behaviours in the application form candidates are also required to submit a 250 word Personal Statement setting out their suitability for the role.

Overview of the job

The Public Protection Casework Section (PPCS) is placed within the Public Protection Group (PPG) within the Directorate of Wales and Public Protection. The posts are based in HQ and currently located in Southern House in Croydon and are not operational.

The main function of PPCS is to ensure the oversight of the Generic Parole Process (GPP) for indeterminate sentenced prisoners and to ensure the timely processing of recalls to custody of licensed determinate and indeterminate sentenced prisoners from the community and processing requests for licence variations. It also reviews cases referred by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO); reviews appeals against adjudications; and assists with Royal Prerogative of Mercy cases.

The job holder will report to a Team Leader and will not have managerial responsibilities for administrative staff.

Summary

The job holder’s responsibilities involve managing a caseload, preparing parole review dossiers, managing recall dossiers and case managing the parole review process. Work involves liaison with prisons, probation, Parole Board, Treasury Solicitors and other stakeholders as well as dealing with prisoners, solicitors and other interested parties. All of the work requires the ability to meet tight deadlines, organise and prioritise casework, offer advice to senior managers and take a range of routine operational decisions. They manage the delivery of casework to targets, monitor performance of and establish good working relationships with other agencies involved in the recall and parole process.

There is a considerable amount of correspondence, often complex, from prisons, probation trusts, prisoners and their solicitors. The work involves indeterminate sentenced prisoners and some of the material handled is of a disturbing and sensitive nature. Case Managers require sound judgment, accuracy and an ability to analyse detailed information quickly. They are expected to work with a reasonable degree of autonomy and acquire a reasonable awareness of wider parole and recall issues/constraints/practices.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

•    Responsible for preparing dossiers as required for disclosure to prison, Parole Board and offender.
•    Responsible for overseeing directions from the Parole Board.
•    Responsible for scrutinising and assisting colleagues with the submission of non-disclosure requests to the Parole Board.
•    Act on release directions from the Parole Board.
•    Responsible for setting appropriate review dates in knock back/no recommendation cases.
•    Responsible for considering and deciding on legitimacy of recall requests from Probation Trusts.
•    Ensure that PPUD/case tracking system is accurately updated; milestones are completed; and documents and minutes are uploaded.
•    Responsible for compiling first draft replies to Ministerial and non- ministerial correspondence including: prisoner correspondence; adjudication reviews; PPO cases; letters before action; and Royal Prerogative of Mercy cases.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Behaviours

•    Making Effective Decisions
•    Communicating and Influencing
•    Working Together
•    Managing a Quality Service
•    Delivering at Pace

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £33,506, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £9,080 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.