26370 - Research Assistant
Overview of the post
This post offers a unique opportunity to develop practical social research skills as part of a close-knit team working in a fast-paced environment. 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 Research Officers, the post holder will also help to maintain HMIP’s databases, 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.
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.
- Research Assistant 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
- Updating and maintaining HMIP databases and providing analysis for management meetings and annual reports
Essential criteria (technical skills, behaviours and strengths required):
Technical skills
- A first or upper-second class Honours degree or post-graduate qualification in a relevant social science (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Criminology or similar) with a substantial social research methods component.
Behaviours
- Delivering at Pace: good organisational skills
- Working together: ability to build strong working relationships
- Communicating and influencing: ability to communicate effectively with people from a range of different backgrounds
Strengths
- Careful and methodical
- Good eye for detail
- Works well as part of a team
- Recovers and learns from setbacks
Desirable criteria:
- Experience of using IBM SPSS or other statistical analysis package
- 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
- 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 four ‘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 an online task (for which no special preparation is required). Following this, an interview shortlist will be compiled, based on evidence from both the online form and task.
Interviews will focus on the criteria for the post as set out above.
Qualifications
A first or upper-second class Honours degree or post-graduate qualification in a relevant social science (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Criminology or similar) with a substantial social research methods component.
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.
07/06/2019, 23:55 hours.
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.