46630 - Head of Communications - Office of the Public Guardian

£52,119 - £72,000
1
12 Months
East Midlands, West Midlands
Birmingham , Nottingham
AXIS BIRMINGHAM, B1 1TG, NOTTINGHAM OPG NOTTINGHAM, NG2 1AR
Grade 6
Grade 6
Permanent
Full Time, Flexible Working
Communications / Marketing

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.

Are you an innovative communications leader, experienced at leading through others, and inspiring and motivating a team to deliver at pace? Are you passionate about the role of communications in continuing the build the reputation of a successful organisation and dedicated to the highest standards of public service? This is a challenging and rewarding role for a creative and motivated senior communications professional.  As Head of OPG Communications you will be joining one of the most creative, proactive, successful (and happy) teams in government. OPG Communications were named CIPR Inside’s Internal Comms Team of the Year 20202 (Internal Communications and Engagement Awards). It’s a great place to work and be. 

Job specification 

You will lead and manage OPG’s multi-disciplinary communication team. 

As a senior leader and member of the Executive team, you will be a trusted adviser to OPG’s leaders, and non-executive directors, working in partnership with them to develop the overarching approach to communications. You will lead the development and delivery of the OPG external and internal communications strategies, and continually look for new ways to improve our offering.   

You will lead the communications team to deliver high-quality communications products which engage our stakeholders, support our corporate objectives, and enhance our reputation; and be able to articulate with energy OPG’s ambition to protect peoples’ best interests now and into the future.  

You’ll play a vital role in overseeing outstanding behaviour change communications, including our award-winning internal-facing inclusion campaign, and our award-winning public-facing campaign, ‘your voice, your decision.’ ‘Your voice, your decision’ aims to help OPG further reach lower socio-economic groups and those from a minority ethnic background using innovative and engaging content through targeted approaches.   Find out more at our campaign site - https://powerofattorney.campaign.gov.uk/  

This role includes oversight and project management of the internal and external communications teams, totalling 12 individuals, who cover a range of comms specialisms. 

You will report directly to the Deputy Director, Corporate Communications (MoJ). 

Person Specification

We are looking for someone with a flair for creative and innovative communications which will engage our staff and help to drive delivery of a world class justice system. You will be experienced at leading through others, inspiring and motivating a team to deliver at pace. We are looking for someone who loves learning and is good at spotting opportunities to keep improving things; who is highly collaborative and proactive, skilled at influencing and working with others constructively, and has the ability to inspire the confidence of colleagues. You’ll have a flexible approach, a can-do attitude and excellent relationship management skills.

As an adviser at Board-level within OPG, you’ll be someone who is able to operate strategically and with autonomy across a complex landscape, using your communications judgement when giving advice on issues affecting the organisation. 

You will be someone who thrives on handling and prioritising multiple projects and enjoys working at pace. 

You’ll be at ease across a wide range of communications disciplines, including campaigns, media digital, internal and events – and be able to evidence using insight to inform your communications, and evaluate its success. You’ll have a strong track record of using your considerable expertise for real impact.  

About our organisation 

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is one of the largest government organisations with more than 65,000 staff in offices, courts and prisons across the country. The department is delivering ambitious plans to make sure prisons are safe, secure and provide genuine rehabilitation, to provide a modern courts and justice system and to support our world-leading legal sector. Within the MoJ, this role is heading up Communications for the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), an executive agency of MoJ. OPG’s role is to support people who may lack the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves, such as about their health and wellbeing or financial affairs. We enable people to plan ahead so that someone they trust can support them, or make certain decisions for them, if they lose capacity in the future. We also supervise people appointed by the court to help manage someone’s affairs where they’ve lost mental capacity. This could be due to age-related conditions such as dementia, mental illness, ill health or an accident.  

Across MoJ we are guided by our shared values - purpose, humanity, openness and togetherness. We believe in our purpose, providing justice for our society; we care about each other and those we work with, we show them humanity; we are open to learning and innovating, both in ourselves and the things we do; and we want to work together, collaborating with colleagues throughout MoJ and far beyond.

We provide a truly flexible culture including working from home, job-sharing and part-time work to support our people in being the best they can be.

In this role you will become part of the Government Communication Service (GCS), the professional body for government communicators - https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/ 

Salary: the salary ranges for the role are £52,119 - £72,000 (national)  

How to apply

To apply you will be asked to provide a CV and a statement of suitability of approximately 1,000 words (2-sides of A4 maximum) setting out why you are the right fit for the role, paying particularly attention to the job and person specifications.

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

1- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);

2- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing (resourcing-services@justice.gov.uk);

3- 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.

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:

The pay structure is being consulted upon and therefore the pay advertised/offered may change depending on the outcome of the consultation.  If you have any concerns, please check what the situation is before accepting any offer. 

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.

Grading Structure Review

The Ministry of Justice is currently undergoing a review of posts which are currently graded at Band A to realign our grading structure with the majority of the wider Civil Service.

Posts advertised at Band A may be graded at either Grade 6 or Grade 7 once the review has taken place.  

Interviews will be scheduled in due course.

24/09/2021, 23:55 hours.

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com Please quote the job reference - 46630.
Security Clearance (SC)

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.

if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance

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

Experience
CV
Statement of Suitability - 1000 word limit

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.

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.