22896 - Evidence and Service Improvement Projects Lead
Role Purpose
The Service Improvement Support Directorate instigates and enables service improvement. We do this by taking a whole system perspective, focusing on the individual person in the system, creating bespoke tools and helping others to use them. We maintain the ambition for excellence, working in partnership with Local Authorities & PCCs and others involved in service improvement, to support the development of effective practice within the criminal justice system. We focus on the areas of delivery where we can have the biggest impact, providing targeted support to front line delivery, policy and programmes, to improve services.
The Evidence and Service Improvement Team will provide targeted support by:
Creating knowledge – Disseminating data and evidence of what works in a format people can relate to and understand, putting knowledge in the hands of those who can make best use of it;
Applying evidence - undertaking service improvement projects to facilitate the application of evidence into practice developing and supporting the use of tools which enable data and evidence informed decision making within the department and by service providers;
Facilitating system integration – working within local areas to enable integrated approaches to delivery, ensuring all system partners support and contribute to service improvement priorities;
Promoting quality standards - setting evidence based quality principles which improve services, drawing on independent expert advice to inform these standards (e.g.: the CSAAP);
Aspiring to excellence – encouraging innovation and the use of evidence in service improvement, providing the right platforms to showcase good practice and excellence in criminal justice delivery.
Key features of the Evidence and Service Improvement Function are:
- Taking a whole system view of delivery, and an approach whereby improvements to the experience of an individual in the system is paramount;
- Being data and evidenced driven at all times, ensuring our delivery clearly and tangibly translates this evidence into service improvement;
- Driven by an ambition for excellence within the criminal justice system, and a commitment to work with those who provide a platform to demonstrate effective practice.
The work will involve leading Service Improvement projects as well as Business as Usual (BAU) activity. It requires close work with other teams within the Directorate and across MoJ and significant stakeholder management at a senior level. This post is specifically aimed at supporting the safety agenda, focussing on projects relation to violence reduction across the criminal justice system and the effective management of gangs.
Responsibilities
A self-motivated and proactive Band A who can build and develop the work of the Evidence and Service Improvement team. Key aspects include:
- Lead service improvement projects through distinct stages, managing resources, meeting agreed milestones, applying data and evidence and assessing viability and impact.
- Managing senior level engagement and effective communication with our existing and potential customers, and actively supporting the delivery of the team’s marketing and communications strategy.
- Providing a level of challenge and peer review to other projects led by the Evidence and Service Improvement team.
- Working closely with wider stakeholders to maximise contributions to shared priorities including leading relationships with key senior stakeholders and supporting the work of the Service Improvement Forum.
- Managing BAU activity within the team, including associated line management.
- Contributing to directorate led governance as requested.
- Supporting the development of a positive and dynamic team culture and the application of MoJ values to everyday work.
- Representing the Evidence and Service Improvement Team, the Directorate and the Group at key meetings with stakeholders, partners and outside organisations.
Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours
- Knowledge of the criminal justice system and experience and confidence in working at a senior level with key stakeholders in the system.
- Knowledge and experience of issues related to safety, violence and gangs within the criminal justice system.
- A track record in delivering service improvement.
- The ability to translate the evidence base and apply analytical skills to support continuous improvement.
- The ability to initiate and lead projects from inception, managing project resources to meet agreed milestones, working creatively with a high degree of ambiguity and delivering high quality work to tight timescales.
- Excellent customer and wider stakeholder management skills.
- Providing assertive and robust peer review and challenge across the portfolio of service improvement projects.
- Horizon scanning (across the identified triggers for our services), assessing where the team can make an impact.
- An experienced and assertive leader able to support the Deputy Director in driving the strategic direction and a positive and dynamic team culture.
- A manager, with experience of managing staff working within a dynamic environment, ensuring performance management is carried out in accordance with departmental guidelines.
- Proactive and self-starting, leading ways of working that maximise the impact of individual skills as well as growing our team into Service Improvement professionals.
Civil Service Competences and/or Professional Skills:
Civil Service Competencies
Setting Direction
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
Engaging People
- Leading and Communicating
- Collaborating and Partnering
- Building Capability for All
Delivering Results
- Delivering Value for Money
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 salary sacrifice arrangements for childcare vouchers, and voluntary benefits such as retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- 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.
14/12/2018, 23:55 hours.
Closing Date: 14th December 2018 at 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@sscl.gse.gov.uk Please quote the job reference.
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.