About the job

Job summary

This position is based nationally.

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.

His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is seeking a committed, motivated and capable leader to join the small headquarters Public Health and Clinical Liaison Team and contribute to the agency’s partnership activity with the whole health sector.   

Your ambition will be to protect and improve the health of 1/3 million service users and tens of thousands of staff. You will lead on the management and development of operational policy and a on a portfolio of internal and partnership projects and interventions. You will advocate for the needs and rights of the population which HMPPS serves and will contribute to improved criminal justice outcomes including safety, system resilience, rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.  

One permanent post is available with the possibility of a short term second post suitable for loan / secondment.

The role will be within the Health & Care Partnerships function in HMPPS. That function includes a team leading on Health & Social Care Services, the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway Programme (jointly with the NHS) and the Public Health and Clinical Liaison team.  

The role will work in close partnership across a range of governmental, NHS, public health and academic partners and across England and Wales. 

Reporting to the Head of Public Health the role will oversee the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation and reporting of health and wellbeing policies and programmes in custody and in the community aligning with legislation, partnership, policy initiatives and provide support and advice to senior management, internal and external organisations and to ministers as required. 

The postholder will have significant input into strategies that further shape and strengthen the public health and rehabilitation outcomes for those in our care and support HMPPS’ ambition of working together to protect the public and help people to lead law-abiding and positive lives.  During emergencies and major incidents, the postholder may be required to contribute to response functions.

Overview of the job

The job holder provides strategic leadership and is responsible for planning and managing the work of the policy unit.

Summary

The job holder will be a member of Senior Management Team within the Group, focusing on developing and advising on policy and improving organisational performance across a range of issues, as well as leading on briefing for the whole group.

Responsible for agreeing operational policy priorities with Ministers and senior HMPPS officials, ensuring delivery of agreed outputs and business plan targets and develop strategic relationships with internal and external partners and stakeholders at a CEO and Director level.

The job holder will be required to represent HMPPS in meetings with outside organisations and stakeholders and Other Government Departments.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

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

• Ensure that all policies are safe, legal, decent and affordable, remain compliant with relevant legislation and are sensitive to the needs of the operational line.
• Responsible for the delivery of well researched, quality assured and timely policies that support identified business need.
• Draft replies to more complex ministerial submissions, ministers’ cases, PQs, IMB and HMIP recommendations.
• Work closely with strategic policy holders within the MoJ and other Government Departments and their Agencies to deliver Ministerial ambition through operational policies.
• Build strong working relationships with Ministers’ Private Offices, senior officials, external non-departmental public body stakeholders and third sector partners.
• Accountable for writing and implementing policy strategy that is appropriately tailored and conforms HMPPS business plan and wider organizational objectives.
• Developing and implementing a relevant business plan that addresses how HMPPS can meets its responsibilities in advancing; including the staffing and budgetary resource required and delivery costs.
• Setting up projects, with appropriate governance arrangements to support the project, identifying risks and mitigating action and reporting on progress to senior managers and stakeholders.
• Oversee and approve draft business cases and impact assessments arising from policy development / modification. Ensure requirements for any central monitoring arrangements have been discussed with relevant stakeholders and have been set up and are fit for purpose.
• Quality assure and approve all advice to Ministers and senior HMPPS officials related to policies.
• Oversee projects within team, ensuring appropriate governance arrangements to support the project, identifying risks and mitigating action and reporting on progress to senior managers and stakeholders.
• Develop and manage projects relationship with key external stakeholders/policy holders at senior level to ensure value for money.
• Represent HMPPS in responses and defence to legal challenges brought by prisoners / staff or other external factors in relation to the full range of policies. Brief Treasury Solicitors and Counsel on policy and law underpinning decisions, and, where necessary, brief Ministers on the implications of possible outcomes. Where necessary, consider remedial policy action and obtain
buy-in from Ministers and senior officials.
• Interpret relevant performance data and research evidence to develop explanations for disproportionality in outcomes - and other examples of unfairness - for offenders of different protected groups.
• Accountable for the delivery of well researched, quality assured and timely responses.

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 £59,623, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £16,634 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.