24176 - Band Cb/HEO/RO – Office of the Victims’ Commissioner

The successful applicant will be posted into the Analytical Services Directorate in the Ministry of Justice who are based in 10 South Colonnade. However the advertised vacancy is for the successful applicant to be placed on loan (from ASD in MoJ) to the office of the Victims' Commissioner (an ALB of MoJ), which is based in Clive House, for a period of two years after which you will return to ASD in MoJ to an equivalent graded post.

1. Overview 

This is an opportunity for a Band Cb Analyst, Research Officer in the Office of the Victims’ Commissioner who will be on loan for a period of two years from the Analytical Services Directorate within the Ministry of Justice. Candidates must meet the relevant government service professional requirements for Government Social Research. The post is open to Band Cb Research Officers on level transfer. 

Interviews are likely to take place Early March 2019 

For the period of the loan the location will be Clive House however ASD staff are based at 10 South Colonnade which will be the base location for the applicant. 

2. Background 

We are seeking to recruit a high quality, skilled and motivated individual to join the Office of the Victims Commissioner (OVC). The OVC is an independent Arms Length Body (ALB) of the Ministry of Justice and this appointment will be on secondment from Analytical Services Directorate at the Ministry of Justice.

2.1     About the Office of the Victims’ Commissioner 

The OVC’s overriding focus is to ensure that victims of crime are supported in coping and recovering from the impact of crime. This means that they not only receive their entitlements as set out in the Victims’ Code, but that they are also treated with humanity and decency by all those within the criminal justice system who come into contact with them. The Victims Commissioner is committed to championing the cause of victims in all appropriate forums across the criminal justice systems, as well as other agencies which have a statutory duty to provide support to victims. 

The OVC has five overarching strategic aims:

1. Work with all criminal justice agencies to ensure that victims of crime and witnesses are treated with humanity and decency at all times, so as to aid their ability to cope and recover from the impact of crime;

2. Monitor and report on criminal justice agencies’ compliance with the requirements of the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime and the Witness Charter; identifying areas that are deficient and making recommendations based on evidence of best practice; 

3. Review the provision of victim services on the basis of the four principles identified in “What Works”, namely: communication, procedural justice, interagency cooperation and professionalisation, and make recommendations on how services should develop and improve; 

4. Through regular contact with victims and practitioners of victims’ services, articulate a view of the criminal justice system from the perspective of victims; review and challenge decisions taken by policy makers and those responsible for developing practice. 

5. Through gaining first hand knowledge and understanding of victims’ services, identify and actively promote examples of best practice and excellence. 

2.2     About Analytical Services

MoJ provides an exciting and dynamic environment for analysts with considerable opportunity to make a difference.  ASD comprises over 200 analysts providing support, challenge and advice to policy and operational colleagues and Ministers right across MoJ and beyond.  Analysts have a crucial role to play in the achievement of the Ministry's goals, and there is a huge appetite for more and better analysis and analysts – and our analysts have responded with some major successes. 

2.3     About MOJ 

The Ministry of Justice is one of the largest government departments, employing around 76,000 people, with a budget of approximately £7.4 billion. Each year millions of people use our services across the UK - including courts, tribunals and prisons in England and Wales.  The justice system is an important public service and our work spans criminal, civil and family justice, democracy and rights. We are all likely to come into contact with the justice system at some point in our lives, either because we have been a witness to or victim of a crime, to protect and enforce our rights, or to settle disputes.

3. Key Responsibilites of the role may include:

• Assisting with the development of a programme of research into issues relating to victims and witnesses for the VC Office. 
• Conducting research relating to designated projects as set out in the VC Office annual business plan. Research reports and reviews must to be to a standard fit for peer review and publication.
• Disseminating research findings through meetings and presentations as appropriate.
• Contributing to the preparation of papers for regular meetings of the Victim’s Commissioner’s Forum. 
• Support the Victim’s Commissioner, policy and research colleagues within the VC Office by attending meetings as required, providing research advice and commenting on policy documents.
• Quality assuring the use and interpretation of research data and research findings by others.
• Representing the VC Office as a Government Social Research (GSR) representative, and promoting the value of social research across the VC Office and to criminal justice agencies.
• Demonstrating awareness of requirements in the following areas and always acting in accordance with the organisation's standards and guidelines:

• Taking responsibility for structuring own learning and development, and for keeping a record of Government Social Research (GSR) Core Professional Development.  

This is not an exhaustive list and the jobholder will be required to undertake activities that are appropriate to Research Officers in Analytical Services Directorate, MoJ. 

4. Competency Details  

Making effective decisions

• Make decisions when they are needed, even if they prove difficult or unpopular
• Identify a broad range of relevant and credible information sources and recognise the need to collect new data when necessary from internal and external sources
• Recognise patterns and trends in a wide range of evidence/ data and draw key conclusions, outlining costs, benefits, risks and potential responses
• Ensure all government and public data and information is treated with care in accordance with security procedures and protocols
• Recognise scope of own authority for decision making and empower team members to make decisions
• Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making to help build engagement and present robust recommendations

 Managing a quality service

• Make effective use of project management skills and techniques to deliver outcomes, including identifying risks and mitigating actions
• Develop, implement, maintain and review systems and service standards to ensure professional excellence and expertise and value for money
• Work with team to set priorities, goals, objectives and timescales
• Establish mechanisms to seek out and respond to feedback from customers about service provided
• Promote a culture that tackles fraud and deception and ensures security of information
• Develop proposals to improve the quality of service with involvement from a diverse range of staff, stakeholders or delivery partners

 Delivering at pace

• Successfully manage, support and stretch self and team to deliver agreed goals and objectives
• Show a positive approach in keeping their own and the team’s efforts focused on the goals that really matter
• Take responsibility for delivering expected outcomes on time and to standard, yet allowing the teams space and authority to deliver objectives
• Plan ahead but reassess workloads and priorities if situations change or people are facing conflicting demands
• Regularly monitor own and team’s work against milestones or targets and act promptly to keep work on track and maintain performance
• Coach and support others to set and achieve challenging goals for themselves

 Collaborating and Partnering

• Establish relationships with a range of stakeholders to support delivery of business outcomes
• Act as a team player, investing time to generate a common focus and genuine team spirit
• Actively seek input from a diverse range of people
• Readily share resources to support higher priority work, showing pragmatism and support for the shared goals of the organisation
• Deal with conflict in a prompt, calm and constructive manner
• Encourage collaborative team working within own team and across the Department

 Professional Competency - GSR

The successful candidate should demonstrate the competencies relevant to the GSR analytical profession. Please note that a number of the GSR competencies mentioned below may overlap with the MOJ competencies listed above. We therefore recommend that in providing evidence for the GSR competency, candidates focus on the technical and methodology aspects of the competencies that are specific to the profession. We will use evidence presented for the MOJ competencies in assessing the wider skills candidates have.

 GSR Competency:

• Knowledge of research methodology, method, techniques, and application of these in small scale research projects
• Identifying research needs, designing and specifying research
• Analysis and interpretation
• Managing and commissioning social research 
  

5. Skills

• A thorough and up to date knowledge and understanding of the pros and cons of a wide range of quantitative and qualitative research methods to advise, critique or make independent use of
• Experience in applying a broad range of research methods and analytical techniques
• The ability to accurately and thoroughly evaluate complex information, assessing relevance, quality and robustness, making sound inferences and picking out key messages
• The ability to work autonomously at all stages of the research process, including research design, delivery, write-up and dissemination
• The ability to use their interpersonal skills to build rapport as well as productive relationships and networks with a wide range of people to achieve goals, for example contractors, academics, policy colleagues and other analytical colleagues e.g. economists and statisticians and demonstrating integrity, flexibility of style/approach and cooperation through teamwork
• The ability to communicate clearly and in an appropriate format and user-friendly style both orally and in writing
• The ability to provide advice and recommendations for action in a measured, impartial but unambiguous way to a non-technical audience
• The ability to acknowledge personal development needs and to learn from others
• The ability to think imaginatively, generate practical and constructive solutions
• The ability to get to grips with complex issues quickly and make sound, evidence based decisions and recommendations
• The ability to be organised and be able to plan and prioritise their own work

6. Opportunities

• To gain experience of working closely with senior officials and high profile public appointees.
• To gain experience in working for a Government Arms Length Body organisation.
• To work in a multi-disciplinary environment with stakeholders from across the criminal justice system and voluntary sector.
• To gain experience in being responsible for entire research projects. Gaining experience in research design, primary data collection and analysis and writing up research projects for publication.
• To work on high profile projects which attract national media attention and directly impact government policy.
• To apply and develop your strategic thinking and leadership skills.
• To work in a small friendly team, gaining insights into other job roles such as policy development and communications. 

Details Required In Your Application

To fully complete your online application, in addition to the competency based application form, you must include an up to date CV (this should be a maximum of two sides of A4). Only applicants who submit this document will be considered for an invite to interview. Please remove all personal information and do not save the file with your name. 

For Further Information Please Contact:

Elaine Wedlock

Elaine.Wedlock@victimscommissioner.org.uk

07976 767346

Closing Date: 19th February 2019 at 23:55

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 24176

If you have any job role specific questions, please contact Elaine Wedlock on 07976 767346 or email 

Elaine.Wedlock@victimscommissioner.org.uk