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 successful candidate will be expected to attend meetings around the region.

Overview of the job

The post holder will be responsible for operational delivery by the NPS within the region. The job holder will report to the Regional Director and have line management responsibility for a number of Heads of Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) and the Public Protection function in each region. In larger regions, there will be more than one postholder and responsibility for PDUs will be divided between postholders.

Summary

The post holder will provide operational direction for the NPS within the region, overseeing and joining up services across several PDUs to ensure an integrated system that delivers on the purpose of probation: to protect the public and reduce reoffending. A key objective will be to ensure that high performance is consistent across PDUs. They will be responsible for strategic direction of the interface with courts and sentencers, as well as key public protection functions such as victims, safeguarding & MAPPA. Working with the RD, they will contribute to the development of strategic objectives across the probation region and operationalise these within the delivery arm of the business.

The post holder will ensure that any action plans developed by the Performance and Quality function are implemented in the operational line in a timely manner, embedding a culture of continuous improvement and actively addressing underperformance. They will implement national operational policies and procedures, using an overview of the whole region to identify and address areas of underperformance, ambiguity or inconsistency. The job holder will provide assurance to the RD that the necessary processes are in place and being adhered to in relation to both operational and corporate responsibilities. They will demonstrate inspirational, confident and empowering leadership, supporting the RD in driving an inclusive and positive culture for the region. They will collaborate with external partners at a regional or sub-regional level and represent the RD as appropriate.

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 work proactively to deliver the recommendations of the Lammy Report and implement the strategic framework for working with female offenders.

The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.

They may be required to participate in out of hours senior management on call rota.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

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

• Line manage a number of ‘Heads of Function’ who are responsible for
  operational delivery in the PDUs and Public Protection.
• Hold senior leaders to account for the performance of their PDUs and Public Protection teams, ensuring that consistent and high standards are maintained and taking effective action to address deficits.
• Develop and implement regional strategies in line with the national strategic framework.
• Work with senior leaders to ensure a holistic approach to delivery against the strategic direction set by the Regional Director.
• Provide advice and make ultimate decisions on the management of offenders where senior management authorisation or involvement is necessary.
• Provide assurance to the Regional Director that systems are in place to manage, monitor and escalate critical cases. Ensure that senior managers, Ministers and Press Office are provided with prompt and accurate information on high profile and sensitive cases that will have a bearing on the reputation of the organisation.
• Lead strategic work on delivering services to the Courts, working with sentencers and other CJS partners to improve sentencer confidence.
• Manage devolved budgets in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation and ensure that the region implements effective financial controls.
• Provide assurance to the Regional Director that PDUs are compliant with all relevant regulations and that all corporate responsibilities are being met.
• Work with Criminal Justice partners and stakeholders at a regional or sub-regional level to ensure effective delivery. Represent the Regional Director with external agencies in line with delegated functional and decision-making responsibilities.
• Encourage whole-system alignment within the PDUs by liaising with the Head of Community Integration to ensure contracted and voluntary sector providers of probation services are available to deliver the best outcomes for offenders.
• Liaise with those responsible for centrally managed services such as Approved Premises to ensure timely allocation to accommodation.
• Work collegiately with NPS and HMPPS leaders at a national level to inform strategic planning, maintaining a current awareness of wider developments with an impact on the organisation.
• Model effective management behaviour as a visible and approachable leader, demonstrating a commitment to equality and inclusion. Reinforce prosocial behaviour and attitudes and challenge anti-social behaviour and attitudes.
• Manage resources effectively, balancing competing demands in the prioritisation and allocation of resources across PDUs.
• Deliver Human Resources related policies and practices including chairing grievance appeals, conduct and discipline and capability hearings.

Technical

• Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma/ Honours Degree in Community Justice integrated with Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice
• BA (Hons)/Graduate Diploma in Community Justice (incorporating a level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice (Vocational Qualification))
• Diploma in Probation Studies
• Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option)
• CQSW (with Probation Option)

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £80,175, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £21,246 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, Experience and Technical skills.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.