13709 - Head of Member Development and Practice
What are you looking for?
- Opportunities to make things different; influence organisational policy and direction and lead a team
- Access to strong networks; internally and externally, to influence partners and stakeholders to achieve goals
- A supportive environment to stimulate and stretch personal development
- Opportunities to be creative, seek innovative solutions and demonstrate agility and judgement
- Inclusivity; welcoming opinion, valuing difference and transforming ways of working
- No two days the same; a fast paced and dynamic working environment, supported by like-minded colleagues
- Contributing to a real impact within the criminal justice system and for the protection of the public
What are we looking for?
- Excellent communication, negotiation, presentation and interpersonal skills with evidence of successful collaboration and sound judgement
- Evidence of successful people management, including leadership of teams, motivating and supporting others in a dynamic environment
- Ability to manage competing demands and priorities
- Ability to plan and implement change
- Creative approach to problem resolution and evidence of an innovative approach
- Experience of successful strategic management at a senior level and excellent business planning skills
- Ability to monitor external factors to identify and implement strategies to optimise delivery and maximise resources
- Track record of developing credibility and constructive working relationships with senior colleagues and stakeholders, influencing effectively
It is not essential to have a criminal justice background. Experience in any sector of the following areas is desirable:
- Designing and implementing quality assurance processes using a variety of methods
- Designing and implementing professional development and training courses using a variety of methods
- Delivering sustainable improvements through digital change projects
- Developing and improving member services in a membership organisation
The role
Full details of the role are in the Job Description and includes responsibility for:
- Devising a programme for member training and development
- Delivery of the directorate plan
- Leadership of the MDP team
- Collaboration with stakeholders
- Representing the directorate in strategic, policy and operational decisions.
Job Purpose
Head the Parole Board members’ programme, for the protection of the public, ensuring the delivery of consistent, high quality casework decisions by some 250 public appointee members.
Through the member programme, equip members with the skills and resources to make fair and robust decisions on the release of prisoners.
Ensure case outcomes are of a standard that properly protects the public, and meets the reasonable expectations of the Parole Board, ministers, the public and other stakeholders.
Scope of Responsibilities
Head the programme for training and development of some 250 members from first recruitment and induction and throughout their long term tenure, to develop the range of skills and experience to ensure adequate supply of accredited roles.
Put in place effective plans, governance and resources to enable the directorate plan to be delivered efficiently, and for the directorate to contribute effectively to the realisation of the organisation strategy.
Provide day to day leadership of the member practice advice and member development team, working closely with them and providing specialist expertise to ensure the availability of consistent, effective and valid member practice advice.
Collaborate with senior stakeholder colleagues to add value across the parole system, working in partnership to contribute to achieving ministerial priorities.
Work closely with the Director of Member Development & Practice and collaborate with other managers and partners to ensure member practice is represented and integrated into strategic, policy and operational decisions.
Main Duties
1. Technical expertise:
Provide expert practice advice to answer direct queries from the 250 members and to direct and guide others in giving practice advice.
Quality assure the provision of published guidance in accessible medium, including electronic means, on member practice in casework and non-casework member activity.
Provide specialist expertise and context to internal and external stakeholders to ensure all member activity complies with legislation, statutory instruments and organisation policy and procedures.
Develop the professional knowledge and experience of staff and members and promote the sharing of specialist knowledge and expertise to promote good practice.
2. Strategic direction:
Devise and develop appropriate, robust and functional strategies to deliver on the directorate and corporate business plans.
Analyse complex organisational, stakeholder and service problems and requirements and convert into high level change initiatives.
Head the learning & development strategy for core training, induction of new members, development of members throughout their tenure and the member performance and quality assurance frameworks.
This work is overseen by the Standards Committee, reporting to the Management Committee.
3. Leadership
Lead the member practice and development teams, providing a department structure to enable adequate resource and appropriate development opportunities across the teams.
4. Risk management:
Identify, monitor and mitigate member practice risks.
Report via the Audit Committee, to the Management Committee any areas of member activity that increase corporate risks and advise on controls that could be implemented to reduce exposure to the outcomes of such risks.
Identify the themes and learning arising from performance and quality assurance outcomes and disseminate this to members and appropriate other parties in an accessible and effective format.
Develop appropriate member instruction, guidance and procedure to manage member activity risks.
5. Policy planning:
Head policy development, implementation and decision-making, particularly in relation to Parole Board members’ practice.
Deliver appropriate member engagement to inform policy decisions.
Manage external requests for information on member practice and influence stakeholders appropriately.
6. Conflict resolution:
Investigate complex complaints, critical incidences or conflict situations between members and between members and other parties.
Analyse the evidence and make balanced, fair and reasoned decisions.
Apply defusing and decisive management to respond effectively to all parties involved.
7. Finance and governance:
Accountable for delivering within an agreed budget allocated from within the overall directorate budget and in accordance with financial regulations.
Develop effective processes and procedures to enable performance delivery through appropriate controls which support the governance structure and accurate reporting.
8. Other responsibilities:
Other tasks appropriate to the role as assigned from time to time by the director of member development & Practice and/or Chief Executive.
To undertake these responsibilities in line with current legislation, local and national policies, and the key documents listed below.
Key Contacts Internal
Chairman, Chief Executive, Directors, Members, Listings team
Litigation team, Senior managers across all directorates
Key Contacts External
A range of partners and stakeholders including Public Protection Casework Section, Ministry of Justice Sponsor Unit, HM Prisons & Probation Service, Prisons, National Probation Service, Training Providers and facilitators
Key Documents - Organisation
1. Terms and Conditions of Employment
2. Parole Board Strategy
3. HR Policies and Procedures
4. Corporate Business Plan
5. Directorate Business Plan
6. Equality and Diversity Policy and Action Plan
7. Health and Safety Plan and legislation
8. Data Protection Act
9. Freedom of Information Act
10. Information Assurance policies
11. Code of conduct
Key Documents – Department and Team
1. Members’ Handbooks
2. Members’ Practice Guidance
3. Member Development Policies, including Code of Conduct and Complaints Policy
Please note that you may be asked to undertake a written assessment and/or oral presentation at interview.
Applications close: 23rd October
Shortlisting: By 30th October
Interviews: 8th and 15th November
The Parole Board offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Generous allowances for paid holiday starting at 23 days per year, and rising as your service increases. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 2.5 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 Parole Board is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Support
A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
Access to flexible benefits such as salary sacrifice arrangements for childcare vouchers.
Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
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.
23/10/2017, 23:55 hours.
Closing Date: 23rd October 2017 at 23:55 hours
If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk Please quote the job reference.
For an informal discussion about the role or further information please contact MDPTeam@paroleboard.gsi.gov.uk
To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.
For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).
If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:
- You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
- You were studying abroad
- You were living overseas with parents
In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.
Candidate Information
You may be required to provide statements describing your skills and experience relevant to each of the selection criteria. We recommend that you structure any examples as Situation, Task, Action and Result. For more information about the recruitment process and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
In the event of a large number of applications, we reserve the right to undertake the following processes:
- An automated online test where a benchmark must be passed to progress;
- A sift on the lead selection criteria. If this happens, the lead criteria will be the first one listed in the advert.
During the selection process, you may be asked to undertake an additional assessment (such as written test). If this is applicable you will be notified of this when you are invited to interview.
We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.
Application form stage assessments
Interview stage assessments
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
· 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
This Vacancy is closed to applications.