72677 - Business Support Officer

The national salary range is £30,938- £32,424, London salary range is £33,645- £36,738. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
1
12 Months
National
National
NATIONAL
Please note: Some of our MoJ Office locations, such as our Liverpool Justice Collaboration Centre, require higher levels of National Security Vetting. The MoJ is working to open more Justice Collaboration Centres and Justice Satellite Offices over time. Click here to learn more about where our currently open Justice Collaboration Centres and Justice Satellite Offices are, to identify where you may be based and understand National Security Vetting requirements of each location.
HEO
Band 5
Permanent
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working, Other
Administration / Corporate Support, Security

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.

Overview of the job      

The Drug Strategy and Delivery Team is responsible for the delivery of the recently published HMPPS Drug Strategy (“the strategy”) and associated Guidance and Good Practice, ensuring the agency is reducing the level of drug misuse amongst prisoners through a comprehensive range of activity brigaded under each of the three themes of the strategy, which align to the overarching Government Drug Strategy:

  1. Restricting Supply
  2. Reducing Demand
  3. Building Recovery

The post holder will support the leads in the team on all aspect of this, working directly to Band 9 Senior Policy Manger.

This an opportunity for an organized and self-motivated individual to oversee the continuing development of processes and procedures and to monitor the work that the team is doing to reduce the harm caused by drugs in our prisons. The post holder will be required to build effective relationships with colleagues across HMPPS and MoJ to ensure that the team has the right links across the organisations.

The post holder will share the secretariat function of the Bi-Monthly Regional Drugs Leads meeting, which rotates geographical locations in England and Wales. They will also update the team’s risk register and action log. The post holder will coordinate the development of HMPPS Drug and Alcohol Strategy and may be required to support on prison diagnostic visits.

The role is currently based in 102 Petty France (Central London) although may be considered a national role. In any event, there is the possibility for regular (but not full-time) home/remote working, and flexible working arrangements. The role will also require some travel to prisons and other regional locations (approximately once a month), with the occasional overnight stay.

The role is non-operational and is focused on achieving operational improvement in prisons and probation settings. It requires the post holder to have (or to develop) a good understanding of the operational realities of drug misuse in prisons and the operational context in which the Unit’s activities sit. Operational experience of working in prisons would be desirable.

Summary         

The job holder provides support across the team and is responsible for planning and managing the agenda and follow-up actions for the bi-monthly regional drugs leads meeting. They will be responsible for ensuring the team risk register and action logs are up to date, and follow up with risk/action owners to ensure that work is completed in a timely manner. This involves responding to fluctuating workload and maintaining a calm approach in the face of competing interests.

The post holder will support the drug diagnostic prison visits, including writing up the recommendations. They will act as a single point of contact for external stakeholders to send information into the team, and make sure that information is disseminated out appropriately.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties    

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

  • Ensure that other members of the team are informed of priority matters where necessary, are involved in decision making at the appropriate level and have sufficient information and advice to help them operate effectively (including oversight of all papers and correspondence relating to visits and the bi-monthly regional drug leads meetings).
  • Provide a point of contact for advice and requests ensuring that the rest of the team are appraised of any urgent or emerging issues; providing sufficient information to help them operate effectively.
  • Ensure that work is prioritised appropriately and that deadlines are met through efficient ownership of the risk register and team work log.
  • Commissioning work on behalf of others in the team in order to meet specified timescales, and ensuring delivery on time and to the required quality standard.
  • Responding direct to emails etc. where it is possible to do so without reference.
  • Fulfil the secretariat function to the bi-monthly regional drug leads meetings, to include setting appropriate and relevant agendas and accurate minute taking and ensuring that all action points are dealt with in a timely manner.
  • Maintain and develop good relationships and working contacts with other teams in HMPPS and MoJ, and beyond.
  • Maintain a broad but thorough understanding of all strands of the drugs strategy with particular focus on sharing information throughout the team and wider organisation on trends and good practice.
  • Support the Band 10 in preparing for their bilats with the Deputy Director.
  • Represent the Group at various meetings as requested by the Band 9 and the rest of the team.

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.

Behaviours

  • Changing and Improving
  • Developing Self and Others
  • Working Together
  • Seeing the Bigger Picture
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Managing a Quality Service

Experience

  • An understanding of operational practice, particularly the appropriate management of Drug Strategy development within the custodial setting.
  • Good communication (written and verbal).
  • Collaborative and partnership working with senior stakeholders.
  • Organisation and problem solving skills.
  • Project management experience or qualification (Prince 2)

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

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.

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

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

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 provides 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 the 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

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.

To Be Confirmed

03/04/2023, 23:55 hours.

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com. Please quote the job reference - 72677.

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

Behaviours
Changing and Improving - 250 word limit
Working Together - 250 word limit
Seeing the Big Picture - 250 word limit
Communicating and Influencing - 250 word limit
Managing a Quality Service - 250 word limit

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
Behaviours
Changing and Improving
Working Together
Seeing the Big Picture
Communicating and Influencing
Managing a Quality Service

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.