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.

Community Engagement Officer

Grand Avenues is an innovative and exciting partnership between HMPPS in Wales and Action in Caerau and Ely (ACE). Initially funded through the UK Government’s Shared Outcome Fund, the pilot is a community-based proof of concept, which is being delivered over a ten-year period in the Ely and Caerau wards of Cardiff.

Our aim is to reduce harm and reoffending amongst an adult male cohort, whilst working with their families and communities in a way that will provide positive intergenerational outcomes. In doing so, we seek to re-imagine how HMPPS – and the wider public sector – works with local communities.  

Our partner, Action in Caerau and Ely, is a community organisation located in West Cardiff.  Local people from Ely and Caerau are active throughout the organisation as participants, volunteers, beneficiaries, staff and trustees.  ACE manage two community buildings and a community garden, and deliver a range of projects and services that meet local needs, including:

● Community Support including crisis support, financial capability and practical support
● Community Learning, personal development and employability / in-work progression
● Health & Wellbeing work including social prescribing and community health development
● Work with Children, Young People and Families
● Community-led approaches, including participation, community voice and ownership
● Heritage, Arts and Culture projects
● Social enterprise and local economic development

Building on the success of the first three years of the pilot, we are looking to appoint two Community Engagement Officers who will work alongside our dedicated neighbourhood team of probation practioners; Action in Caerau & Ely, other statutory and voluntary sector partners; and grassroots community groups.

The role will involve working directly with offenders, their families and members of the local community.

You will:

• Promote the work of the Probation Service.
• Contribute to reducing reoffending and risk, changing lives for the better and improving the quality of life for those on Probation.
• Develop positive links and maximise the visibility of the Probation Service in the community.
• Engage with local communities to understand the diversity and level of need relating to reducing reoffending.
• Engage and develop relationships with local community providers, potentially supporting them to access Probation and other funding opportunities.
• Build a network of community links/services across a broad range need, particularly needs relating to protected characteristics. 
• Support HMPPS to understand and articulate the needs of the local community and work with us to tailor services for People on Probation. 

What will they do: 

• Actively promote the Probation Service vision of preventing victims by changing lives, of reducing reoffending and delivering rehabilitation.
• Promote good news stories across different media
• Contact and link in with ethnic minority communities, partnerships, and voluntary sector organisations.
• Organise community training and promotional events.
• Promote opportunities for paid and voluntary work in the Probation Service.
• Liaise with employment providers and careers advisory services.
• Work closely with colleagues to develop business cases for innovative partnerships and projects.

Skills Needed

• Enthusiasm and commitment to promoting the work of the Probation Service.
• Relational skills, able to develop positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Criminal Justice System.
• Knowledge and understanding of the effects of disproportionality, diversity, health and well-being.
• Awareness of how to engage with communities.
• Good organisation skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with others.

Overview of the job    

The job holder will undertake the full range of work with offenders before and after sentence. This will include assessment, sentence implementation, offender management and producing reports. The job holder will provide case management support to a full range of offenders utilising service procedures and practice directions that underpin professional judgement.
Summary    To assess and manage the risk (including risk management plans and escalation) posed by offenders to protect victims of crime and the general public by:

•    Liaising, providing information and advice to criminal courts, criminal justice agencies and other partner agencies

•    Supervise and manage risk of those offenders subject to community sentences, during and after custodial sentences.

•    Work with other agencies and groups to prevent crime and meet the needs of victims and offenders.

In line with NPS policies and procedures, the job holder must at all times demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusion and an understanding of their relevance to the work they do.

The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the    sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.
If relevant to the role, some out of hours working may be required (i.e. Courts,
Approved Premises, programmes, evening reporting etc)

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties    

Probation Services Officers may be required to undertake any combination, or all, of the duties and responsibilities set out below.
•    To undertake the full range of offender management tasks with offenders assessed as low or medium risk of harm and to support the Probation Officer grade in high risk cases.
•    When providing case manager support, to contribute to the delivery of the Risk Management plan and report significant changes relating to risk of harm and/or of reoffending or any non-compliance within agreed enforcement procedures
•    To use computer based systems to produce, update and maintain records and other documentation within agreed timescales
•    Ensure effective referrals to services and facilities and communicate with offender management staff, interventions staff, service providers and external agencies to review progress and associated risks.
•    To undertake prison, home or alternate location visits as required in accordance with service procedures and policies.
•    To undertake work in the court setting, including the completion of appropriate reports on cases and prosecution of breaches.
•    To provide cover within teams as required
•    To deliver and co-lead accredited programmes commensurate with grade
•    To conduct mandatory alcohol and drug tests as required, and to follow prescribed medication procedures
•    Carry out safeguarding children duties in accordance with the NPS statutory responsibilities and agency policies
•    Demonstrate pro-social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro-social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes.
•    To work within the aims and values of NPS and NOMS

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.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £24,228, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £6,420 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, Strengths 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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.