30485 - PPO Social Research Analyst
Overview
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) is an Arms Length Body (ALB) of the Ministry of Justice. We have two key functions:
- to investigate complaints made by prisoners, young people in detention, offenders under probation supervision and immigration detainees; and
- to investigate deaths of prisoners, young people in detention, approved premises’ residents and immigration detainees.
The PPO analytical team ‘Learning Lessons’ was set up to undertake collective analysis of PPO investigation evidence. The team has been vital in moving the PPO beyond focusing on learning from individual cases to being able to identify themes and patterns in our evidence base. This analytical work has enabled the PPO to contribute to the conversation on a wide range of issues affecting the services in our remit. Our bulletins and thematic reports – our most ‘visible’ analytical output – are available to view on our website.
The team is made up of 3 Analysts (2 Social Researchers and 1 Data Analyst) and a Research Assistant. All 4 posts currently report directly to the Head of Learning Lessons and Strategic Support, although this will change when a new Head of Learning Lessons is recruited.
This post offers an exciting opportunity to contribute towards the Ombudsman’s learning lessons agenda and represents a great entry point to the civil service for someone with existing research experience from the public, private or voluntary sectors. It would suit someone with experience of survey research and of working with quantitative-focused statistical packages to undertake data analysis, though applicants with broader experience (e.g. qualitative fieldwork, evaluation)/ mixed methods researchers are welcome. Strong time management is important given the variety of work the post holder would need to do in our small but busy team.
Previous experience of the Criminal Justice System is preferable but not essential (see below for more details of requirements on skills and experience).
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is based at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, E14 4PU (10SC). We pride ourselves in embracing Smarter Working and offer up to 2 days a week working from home or a commuter hub. You will therefore be expected to attend 10SC for 3 days of the week if working full time. We run a flexible working scheme and encourage all staff to enjoy a healthy work / life balance.
Job Description – Band C analyst
The post holder will be responsible for the following:
Thematic reports
- Help identify and scope research topics as part of our regular planning cycle
- Analyse PPO investigation evidence (case files) and research databases to produce learning and recommendations for services in remit
- Write research reports and bulletins (lead author), include appropriate data visualisations
- Help disseminate findings to staff and stakeholders (e.g. at seminars or conferences
Stakeholder feedback
- Manage PPO stakeholder feedback surveys (various recipients) (includes monitoring response rates and data entry)
- Contribute to discussions on survey methodology (sampling and weighting) and research tool design
- Set up & analyse SPSS datasets of responses
- Write reports of findings & comparison with previous years
- Disseminate findings to internal stakeholders
General analytical support
- Produce management information for monthly performance management meetings (includes collating, checking and cleaning data, preparing tables)
- Provide analytical support for annual reporting cycle
- Provide briefings & data for managers for liaison with stakeholders/ external presentations
- Respond to Freedom of Information and other external data/ information requests
- Contribute to other work streams in the office as required
- Other tasks requiring analytical skill set as required
Table 1: summary of post holder requirements
Experience
Essential
- Desk based analysis of qualitative and quantitative data.
- Survey research.
Desirable
- Qualitative fieldwork delivery.
- Project management of research or analytical projects.
- Project or programme evaluation.
- Criminal justice sector research or analysis.
- Criminal justice sector – operational role/s.
Technical & other skills
Essential
- Experience of working with statistical packages
- Excel (intermediate skills minimum).
- Report writing.
Desirable
- Excellent SPSS skills (or similar software where skills are transferrable).
- Strong time management.
Other
Essential
- Undergraduate social sciences degree with research methods component (2:1. minimum award), OR a numerate degree (minimum 2:1) such as maths or economics which included statistics training PLUS relevant research/analytical work experience
- Awareness of relevant industry standards e.g. data protection and research ethics.
Desirable
- Member of a relevant professional body – e.g. Government Social Research Service (GSR), the Government Statistical Service (GSS) or the Government Operational Research Service (GORS). Alternatively, for external applicants – Social Research Association, UK Evaluation Society. or similar
Civil service behaviours
As part of the recruitment process, you will be required to provide evidence of the following behaviours for sifting. The same behaviours will be tested at interview as well as some strengths that are required for the role. If you are invited to interview, you will also be asked to prepare a presentation on how you have the experience required for the role. Further details on Success Profiles recruitment can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
Making Effective Decisions
Understand own level of responsibility and empower others to make decisions where appropriate. Analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from internal and external sources to support decisions. Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making. Display confidence when making difficult decisions, even if they prove to be unpopular. Consult with others to ensure the potential impacts on end users have been considered. Present strong recommendations in a timely manner outlining the consideration of other options, costs, benefits and risks.
Working Together
Encourage joined up team work within own team and across other groups. Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders. Collaborate with these to share information, resources and support. Invest time to develop a common focus and genuine positive team spirit where colleagues feel valued and respect one another. Put in place support for the wellbeing of individuals within the team, including consideration of your own needs. Make it clear to all team members that bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable. Actively seek and consider input of people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Managing a quality service
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.
Delivering at pace
Show a positive approach to keeping the whole team’s efforts focused on the top priorities. Promote a culture of following the appropriate procedures to ensure results are achieved on time whilst still enabling innovation. Ensure the most appropriate resources are available for colleagues to use to do their job effectively. Regularly monitor your own and team’s work against milestones ensuring individual needs are considered when setting tasks. Act promptly to reassess workloads and priorities when there are conflicting demands to maintain performance. Allow individuals the space and authority to meet objectives, providing additional support where necessary, whilst keeping overall responsibility.
Qualifications
Shown on JD.
In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift on Making Effective Decisions and the statement of suitability may be conducted. There are 2 stages to the interview process. Firstly a Social Research entry test and candidates passing the test will be invited to a face-to-face interview at a later stage.
Working Arrangements & Further Information
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
Generous allowances for paid holiday starting at 25 days per year, and rising as your service increases. 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.
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 any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming 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.
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.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.
There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
25/11/2019, 23:55 hours.
If you have any queries about the role, or wish to discuss, please contact Dan Crockford, Head of Strategic Support, at daniel.crockford@ppo.gov.uk.
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
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.
Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.
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.