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.
An exciting opportunity has come up to join the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), as an Assistant Ombudsman (G7).
The PPO is a key Arms-Length Body (ALB) of the Ministry of Justice which investigates:
- complaints made by prisoners, young people in detention offenders under probation supervision and individuals detained under immigration powers
- deaths of prisoners, young people in detention, residents in approved premises and detained individuals due to any cause
- deaths of recently released prisoners that occur within 14 days of release from prison (except homicide)
The Ombudsman receives around 5000 new complaints a year, of which around half are assessed as eligible for investigation. The number of deaths in custody requiring investigation is generally between 300 and 350 per year.
We are looking for an Assistant Ombudsman (G7) to join us to lead a team of investigators and to be responsible for ensuring the quality and timeliness of the investigation process and outputs.
As well as acting as a specialist case manager for deaths or complaints, the Assistant Ombudsman will work with the Deputy Ombudsmen, and the wider team, to build relationships across the prison estate, identify ways to increase awareness and the impact of the PPO, and to ensure those who need to use our service, know how to do so.
At this time, we wish to recruit two Assistant Ombudsmen (G7) to lead teams within the Complaints function. We will also operate a reserve list for this recruitment, with candidates who demonstrate they are appointable being placed on a merit list should similar opportunities arise in either the Complaints or Fatal Incidents in the coming months.
The post-holder will need to be confident communicating with a range of stakeholders including senior HMPPS staff, third sector organisations, other ALBs, coroners and bereaved families.
They will need to have the skills to oversee investigations, including interviews with prisoners and staff, analyse evidence and write and edit well-argued reports in plain English with meaningful, clear and concise recommendations.
In order to undertake this unique role effectively, the Assistant Ombudsman will need to be able to visit all establishments in the PPO’s remit. This will entail some travel around England and Wales and occasional overnight stays when supporting investigators.
This is a busy but very interesting post, which will suit someone who likes variety, is able to deal with the unexpected and who can make finely balanced decisions. The work can sometimes involve dealing with distressing information and the post-holder will need to be confident they have the required emotional resilience to cope with this and be able to support their teams to do so.
Job Description – maximum of 2000 characters (including spaces and punctuation)
The post holder will be responsible for the following:
- Contribute fully to the leadership of the PPO as a member of the organisation’s Senior Leadership Team
- Develop strategic relationships across the prison and probation estate to establish, maintain and grow understanding and awareness of the PPO and the importance of its work
- Lead a team of investigators, setting the direction of the team by creating individual objectives that meet the PPO’s business plan targets
- Support and advise team members, ensuring they are equipped to achieve their targets and intervening appropriately when they are not
- Provide line management support and direction to a team of staff (including fee-paid staff where applicable). Ensure team members achieve personal development, by identifying opportunities and coaching and mentoring as appropriate
- Act as lead investigator on cases that are considered particularly complex/ high risk
- Ensure all investigations are thorough and timely and that findings are supported by the evidence
- Ensure all investigation reports are factual, clear and accurate and follow the defined style/ template with soundly judged recommendations for improvement
- Where appropriate, sign off investigation products that meet the quality and timeliness targets on behalf of the Ombudsman
- Contribute to the delivery of the objectives of the office, as identified in the business plan, including the continuous assessment and improvement of investigative working practices
- Work on projects as directed
- Lead on specific policy areas as directed
- Any other appropriate tasks as required
Essential requirements
Recruitment across the Civil Service changed from July 2019 with the introduction of Success Profiles. Further guidance can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
Your application should include an example where you have demonstrated the skills required for each of the following behaviours. As part of your application, please demonstrate what relevant experience you have for the role in the free text box at the end.
If you are invited for interview, we will ask questions about how you have met the same behaviours and shown particular strengths. You will be asked during the interview to give a presentation, this will be used to assess the Seeing the Bigger Picture behaviour. Candidates will be sent further information on this if invited to interview.
The PPO is a Disability Confident Committed Employer, and we ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. Please complete the relevant application information on reasonable adjustments and disabilities if relevant.
You will be required to provide evidence of the following behaviours:
Promote diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting difference, and external experience. Welcome and respond to views and challenges from others, despite any conflicting pressures to ignore or give in to them. Stand by, promote, or defend own and team’s actions and decisions where needed. Seek out shared interests beyond own area of responsibility, understanding the extent of the impact actions have on the organisation. Inspire and motivate teams to be fully engaged in their work and dedicated to their role.
Clarify your own understanding and stakeholder needs and expectations, before making decisions. Ensure decision making happens at the right level, not allowing unnecessary bureaucracy to hinder delivery. Encourage both innovative suggestions and challenge from others, to inform decision making. Analyse and accurately interpret data from various sources to support decisions. Find the best option by identifying positives, negatives, risks, and implications. Present reasonable conclusions from a wide range of complex and sometimes incomplete evidence. Make decisions confidently even when details are unclear or if they prove to be unpopular.
Develop and maintain an understanding of economic, social, political, environmental, and technological developments to ensure activity is relevant. Ensure plans and activities in your area of work reflect wider strategic priorities and communicate effectively with senior leaders to influence future strategies. Adopt a government-wide perspective to ensure alignment of activity and policy. Bring together views, perspectives, and diverse needs of stakeholders to gain a broader understanding of the issues surrounding policies and activities.
Develop, implement, maintain, and review systems and services to ensure delivery of professional excellence. Work with stakeholders to set priorities, objectives, and timescales. Successfully deliver high quality outcomes that meet the customers’ needs and gives value for money. Identify risks and resolve issues efficiently. Involve a diverse range of colleagues, stakeholders, and delivery partners in developing suggestions for improvements. Establish ways to find and respond to feedback from customers about the services provided.
If we receive a large number of applications for these roles we will conduct an initial sift using the Leadership behaviour.
The MoJ Grade 7 salary range starts at £55,720.
The PPO is based at the HM Government hub at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf. All PPO staff are currently working a hybrid working pattern and interviews may be held virtually. PPO staff are currently expected to spend a minimum of 40% of their working time at the London office or visiting establishments. The rest of the time may be spent working at home or at commuter hubs. It is possible that the requirements for office attendance may change in the future. During your induction period you may be required to attend the office more frequently to enable you to participate in core training and induction activities.
This post is a permanent appointment.
Flexi time is available in the PPO. There is also the opportunity to request flexible working patterns such as reduced hours or job share.
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
£55,720 - £64,135
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on ‘modernised’ terms in their current post or onto ‘unmodernised’ MoJ terms if they are on ‘unmodernised’ terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail [email protected]);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([email protected]);
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.
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.