1.   Overview of the post

This post offers the opportunity for the successful candidate to utilise their existing research expertise and develop and put into practice people and project management skills. Much of the day-to-day work of the 12-strong Research, Development & Thematics (RDT) team involves conducting surveys in places of detention and analysing the results for use by inspectors. Reporting to one of our Senior Research Officers, the post holder will also help to maintain HMIP’s databases, conduct fieldwork and provide analysis for thematic and other reports, and act as an ambassador for the Inspectorate while on inspections. The job involves regular travel and time away from home carrying out surveys in places of detention - on average one or two nights per fortnight.

2.   About HMIP

HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) is an independent organisation, and an arms-length body of the Ministry of Justice, employing around 70 people in total. HMIP has a remit to inspect all prisons in England and Wales as well as other forms of detention, including immigration detention and court custody facilities. Inspections of police detention are carried out jointly with HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service and inspections of Secure Training Centres with Ofsted. The Chief Inspector of Prisons reports directly to the relevant Secretary of State on the treatment of and conditions for those detained in these types of custody. HMIP is a member of UK’s national preventive mechanism under the UN’s Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture.

The RDT team is an integral part of HMIP, providing crucial research evidence for inspections, including conducting surveys and interviews with men, women, and children held in detention. The RDT team also works on thematic projects and compiles management information and other analyses for the Chief Inspector.

HMIP Values

The established values of the Inspectorate are:

• Independence, impartiality and integrity are the foundations of our work.
• The experience of the detainee is at the heart of our inspections.
• Respect for human rights underpins our Expectations.
• We embrace diversity and are committed to pursuing equality of outcomes for all.
• We believe in the capacity of both individuals and organisations to change and improve, and that we have a part to play in initiating and encouraging change.

HMIP Equality and Diversity Statement

We are committed to creating and maintaining a working environment that is positive about and supportive of all equality and diversity issues. We believe that difference and diversity within our workforce strengthens the work we do and the influence we have.

We are committed to becoming an employer of choice by creating an inclusive and supportive working environment where people are treated with dignity and respect and where discrimination and/or exclusion are not tolerated. Our goal is to ensure these commitments, reinforced by our values, are embedded in our day-to-day working practices.

Our long-term vision is to:

• Have a workforce with the necessary expertise and sufficient diversity to reflect the community in which it operates;
• Develop a more flexible and supportive working environment which always seeks to include difference;
• Continue to build a confident and competent workforce who feel valued and heard;
• Deliver learning and development opportunities to our staff so they are equipped to understand, inspect and make valid and relevant recommendations relating to equality and diversity.

We expect commitment and involvement from all our staff and partners in working towards the achievement of our vision and to that end we have developed an equality and diversity action plan.

3.   Research Officer role

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Organising and attending visits to custodial establishments on a regular basis to conduct detainee surveys.
• Processing and analysing survey data.
• Checking survey findings for publication in inspection reports.
• Contributing research expertise to thematic reviews and other HMIP publications. This could involve conducting literature reviews, developing research methodology, carrying out fieldwork, data analysis and contributing to the drafting of published reports.
• Acting as research lead for a specific policy area. This includes keeping up to date with relevant research and policy developments and providing ad hoc support to inspection and policy colleagues.
• Managing and supporting research assistants and research trainees.
• Updating and maintaining HMIP databases and providing analysis for management meetings and annual reports.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Technical Skills, Behaviours, and Strengths. Further information on Success Profiles can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles

Essential criteria (technical skills, behaviours and strengths required):

Technical skills

• A first or upper second class Honours degree in a relevant social science subject, with a substantial social research methods component. Exceptionally we will consider a 2:2 degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification that contains a substantial social research methods component.
• Government Social Research (GSR) competency: detailed knowledge and experience necessary for the job of Government Social Researcher; expressing the core technical capability, knowledge and awareness. Including research design, applying and using quantitative and qualitative research methods, applying analysis skills (including a wide range of statistical techniques) and using and promoting social research.
• Government Social Research (GSR) test: candidates will need to have passed the Government Social Research (GSR) test prior to being considered for interview. If you are already a member of GSR, or have already passed this test, please provide details. If you have not already passed this test there will be the opportunity to take the test as part of the recruitment process.

Further information on the GSR Competency Framework can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-government-social-research-competencyframework

Behaviours

• Delivering at Pace: good organisational skills
• Communicating and influencing: ability to communicate effectively with people from a range of different backgrounds
• Developing self and others: focus on continuous learning and development for self and others

We will assess your written application against these behaviours and skills.

Strengths

• Makes use of evidence and information to inform decisions
• Good eye for detail
• Works well as part of a team
• Recovers and learns from setbacks

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of using IBM SPSS and Excel.  
• Experience of using MS Office applications, specifically Word, Excel, OneNote and Outlook
• Interest in the criminal justice system
• Commitment to the values of HM Inspectorate of Prisons

4.   Application and selection process

The selection process will focus on assessing the essential criteria for the post, as outlined above. All candidates need to complete the online application form. We do not accept CVs.

The online form requires candidates to provide evidence in relation to the first six ‘essential criteria’ set out above (i.e. the Technical skills and Behaviours) as well as contact details and eligibility for employment by MoJ (further information about eligibility can be found in section 6 of this document, below). 

Candidates successful at the first sift will be invited to complete a Government Social Research (GSR) assessment prior to being considered for interview. Following this, an interview shortlist will be compiled, based on evidence from both the online form and test.

Interviews will focus on the criteria for the post as set out above. 

Timeline

The proposed timeline for the recruitment is as follows:-

Closing date

Tuesday 26 November 2019

GSR testing

Week of 6 January 2020

Interviews

Week of 10 February 2020

Candidates should also note that, if selected for the post, the security clearance process can take approximately 12 weeks, A start date will not be formally agreed before clearance has been confirmed by MoJ.

5.   Salary, Working Arrangements & Further Information

Conditions of Service

The post holder will have a contract of employment issued by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), our sponsoring Government Department and MoJ civil service terms and conditions will apply. 

As you will already have completed your probationary period you will not have to serve a further period of probation.

If you are not currently employed in the same grade as the post for which you are applying, you must meet the qualifying criteria for that grade.

Your personnel file may be requested from your employing department should you be offered an interview, whether or not you give permission for your current employer to be contacted.

Flexible working systems are in operation, subject to the business needs/inspection programme requirements. You will normally be required to work a 37 hour week excluding meal breaks. However, you will be expected to work longer hours during inspection activities, which will require overnight stays and working outside normal hours. These extra hours will be offset by the possibility of working shorter hours or taking time off in lieu at other times, with line manager’s agreement.

You will be expected to work away from home conducting inspection surveys and fieldwork, and can anticipate being on a survey visit on average every two weeks (for one or two days, generally commencing on a Monday). When not on an establishment visit you will be based at our head office. Our head office is currently located in Canary Wharf, London.

Salary

Starting salary £33,929 and is subject to review/change under MoJ policy annually in August.

6.   Eligibility

Nationality

As HMIP is an Arms length Body, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the MoJ will issue your employment contract, and people have to meet certain legal nationality requirements to become employees. Your application will only be considered if you are one of the following:

▪  a British National;

▪  a National of the European Economic Area (EEA);

▪  a National of the European Union (EU);

▪  a Citizen of the Republic of Ireland;

▪  a Commonwealth Citizen and have permission to work in the country; or ▪ a British Protected Person.

During the recruitment process, you will be asked about your nationality, whether you are subject to immigration control, and whether there are any restrictions on your continued residence or employment in the UK.

Security clearance

All posts within the Inspectorate are subject to the successful candidate gaining the relevant level of security clearance. In order for security clearance to be considered certain pre-employment enquiries, for example, relating to identity, immigration, some financial and recent background checks, will need to be undertaken.

Criminal Records disclosure checks

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced level clearance is required for this post.

Employment of Ex-offenders

Offences declared will be considered in relation to their nature and seriousness in terms of the post. Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an individual from gaining employment with the Inspectorate or MoJ.

7.           General Data Protection Regulation & Data Protection Act 2028

The Inspectorate and MoJ collects information for purposes related to your application and potential employment.

The Inspectorate and MoJ complies with its obligations under the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. We may check information provided by you, or information about you provided by a third party, with other information held by us. We will not disclose information about you to anyone outside Ministry of Justice unless the law permits us to.

The information provided by you in your application and the supporting documentation will be used by the panel to consider your suitability for the post. If you are successful, this information will become part of your employment record. If you are unsuccessful, some data will be used for monitoring purposes and will be destroyed after 12 months.

The MoJ is the Data Controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act. If you want to know more about what information we have about you, or the way we use your information, you should contact the Data Protection Officer:

data.compliance@justice.gov.uk