23653 - Quality and Effective Practice Associate

£30,475 - £37,649 (Dependant on base location)
1
12 Months
National
Croydon , Rugby , Wolverhampton
HM PRISON FEATHERSTONE WOLVERHAMPTON, WV10 7PU, NEWBOLD REVEL RUGBY, CV23 0TH, SOUTHERN HOUSE CROYDON, CR0 1XG
HEO
Band 6
Permanent
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working, Other
Audit

It is essential that you have experience in delivering and treatment manageing accredited interventions.

As the team is geographicaly dispersed you will be required to frequently travel to the listed sites for meetings.

Overview of the job

The role of the Quality and Effective Practice Associate requires advanced theoretical, practical and procedural knowledge and skills in the delivery of accredited programmes. The Quality and Effective Practice Associate undertakes aspects of the Quality Assurance process for all Accredited Interventions delivered nationally and where Quality Assurance processes are part of commercial provision outside of the UK.

The role is based at HMMPS Headquarters and the job holder will be expected to be based at one of the following locations: London, Wolverhampton or Newbold Revel. Depending on the experience and work location of the post holder, there is opportunity to line manage an Effective Practice Assistant.

Summary

Accredited interventions are carried out in varying contexts, including HMPPS prison and probation sites, and commercial settings. Delivery must comply with CSAAP and HMPPS governance standards and targets. The role of the Quality and Effective Practice Associate is to assess delivery practice across our range of programmes and settings. The post holder will provide detailed reports of individual site practice, including strengths and areas to develop in order to best maintain and develop programme integrity.

Reporting to the Quality and Effective Practice Specialist the post holder has responsibility for:

  • Quality Assurance of accredited interventions in custody, community and commercial settings.
  • Provision of bespoke support and guidance to delivery sites.  
  • Contribution to the project work of the Quality and Effective Practice team.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

Contribute to the ongoing development of the Interventions Integrity Framework to ensure it meets the needs of HMPPS.

Contribute to the Quality Assurance process of all accredited interventions delivered in custody, community and commercial settings. This includes evaluating a range of evidence in order to understand site level practice.

Produce timely, high quality and evidence based reports on your findings for a site. These will include strengths and developments required to maintain programme integrity, in line with relevant theoretical frameworks and knowledge of best practice.

Provide guidance to sites about how to maintain and improve programme integrity, in line with current knowledge of best practice. 

Where required, take part in site visits to validate, feedback or offer support.

As directed by Head of Quality and Evidence Based Outcomes, carry out Quality Assurance reviews outside of your area of responsibility to ensure that schedules are maintained at all times. 

Feedback the findings to the Quality and Effective Practice Specialists to contribute to overall site evaluation.

Ensure feedback from the Quality Assurance process is collated and accurately formatted for presentation to CSAAP when required and within the allocated timescales.

Gate-keep the Quality Assurance reports produced by others. This include:

Offering and providing peer coaching and mentoring support.

Provide information to the Head of Quality Assurance regarding appeals arising from Quality Assurance reviews within required timescales. Support communication of the Quality Assurance review results, appeals, responses and recommendations with sites. Carry this out in a supportive, positive manner, jointly agreeing any improvement plans. 

Is a subject matter expert for Quality Assurance reviews of accredited interventions and therefore advises others on principles and applications. This includes liaison with Policy Units and Clinical teams on joint matters regarding Quality Assurance and support.  

Maintain a high level of understanding of all accredited programmes ensuring that programme specific and general theoretical knowledge is kept up to date at all times.

As directed by the Head of Quality Assurance, undertake appropriate stakeholder engagement work in the preparation and delivery of Quality Assurance reviews. This will include working collaboratively across the Prison and Probation Service with Chief Executives, Governors, Programmes staff and Providers as an ambassador for accredited interventions. Also includes working closely with national agencies promoting better working practices.  

Contribute information to responses to parliamentary and ministerial questions/ briefings as required.  

Responsible for helping to collate and review data to feed into monthly performance monitoring procedures as required.

Contribute to the development and delivery of any training courses, briefings and communication activities associated with the Quality Assurance of accredited interventions. This includes presenting updates and changes to key stakeholders, including Chief Executives, Governors, Programmes staff and Providers. Participates in sharing good practice and any lessons learned events.

Responsible for designing and co-ordinating the delivery of Professional Practice

Forums (PPFs) to respond to the issues identified nationally within Quality Assurance. To evaluate PPFs and feedback results via the quality of delivery group to aid their continual development.

Input to information/data gathering arrangements and systems in place to effectively capture Quality Assurance data. Undertake analysis work required to identify trends, non-compliance and escalating risks. Use trends identified from Quality Assurance reviews to inform policy review, future work and the sharing of good practice. This includes compiling reports/correspondence, for the Head of Quality Assurance as required.  

Where allocated, and within designated timescales, carry out any specific tasks identified by the Head of Quality Assurance, including leading on special projects.

Responsible for providing leadership for Evidence and Effective Practice Assistants in line with the Leadership Qualities Framework. This includes providing line management, coaching, mentoring and personal support.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Competencies  

For the purpose of selection the following competencies will be measured:

  • Making effective decisions
  • Working at pace
  • Acting with integrity 
  • Partnering and collaborating

Essential Skills, Qualifications, Accreditation & Registration  

Advanced theoretical, practical and procedural knowledge/experience of HMPPS accredited interventions. This must be evidenced by experience in the delivery of Interventions in HMPPS.

Advanced knowledge/experience of the Interventions Integrity Framework. This may be evidenced by experience in the delivery of Interventions in HMPPS.

Must be able to communicate effectively with key stakeholders at all levels using verbal and written methods.  

IT and report writing skills are required at a level appropriate to the post, i.e. can prepare Quality Assurance reports that are clear, professionally written and motivational.

Hours of Work and Allowances

37 hours per week.


Base Location

Other reasonable base locations may be considered, however the agreement will be based on business need.

Working Arrangements & Further Information

Some of MoJ’s, including HMPPS, 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.

Standard working hours for this post are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Benefits

Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment

Pension

-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work Life Balance

-HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

-HMPPS offers a childcare vouchers scheme. The scheme enables staff to take part of their salary in the form of Childcare Vouchers. This is known as a Salary Sacrifice. The vouchers can then be used to help meet the costs of any form of registered or approved childcare for children aged 0-16. The vouchers are exempt from tax and National Insurance contributions

Training

-HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provide a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

Eligibility

-All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

-All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS

-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which HMPPS considers to be racist

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.


To be confirmed

24/01/2019, 23:55 hours.

Closing Date: 24th January 2019 at 23:55

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk. Please quote the job reference.

Enhanced Baseline Standard

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.



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
Acts with Integrity

Effectiveness in this area means consistently acting in a principled, open and conscientiousness manner, and challenging unacceptable behaviour. Those who work in establishments must achieve a balance between excessive distance and familiarity with prisoners whilst dealing with prisoners in a way that is firm and fair. At a senior level it is about promoting a culture in which personal integrity thrives at all levels of the organisation.

Making Effective Decisions
Delivering at Pace
Collaborating and Partnering

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

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.