24298 - MAPPA Senior Policy Adviser

Overview of the job

The MAPPA Team in the Public Protection Partnerships Section of OMPPG has responsibility for the oversight of the policy on MAPPA issues for the whole of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). The Team ensures appropriate arrangements to manage high risk of harm violent and sexual offenders are in place on a multi agency basis. This serves to protect the public and the reputation of NOMS as an organisation designed to protect the public and reduce reoffending.

The Senior Policy Adviser role is in place to provide formal advice to Ministers, senior officials and practitioners on the multiragency public protection arrangements. Developing national policy, managing legislative changes and creating and updating operational guidance are the core business of this role. This post acts as lead for any legislative changes. The post holder is also responsible for developing, planning the delivery of and consulting on new policy initiatives or legislative changes relating to MAPPA in conjunction with the rest of the MAPPA team.

The post holder has responsibility for project managing revisions of the MAPPA

Guidance, a several hundred page document, including a share of the drafting, proof reading, arranging printing and distribution of the guidance

The post is the key civil servant in a team of secondees, ensuring that their operational experience is properly harnessed and directed. The post holder leads on the Section’s correspondence, treat official, ministerial, FOIs, and PQs which require significant skill and ability to work to tight deadlines. Submissions to ministers, on standard, reactive or proactive measures originate from this post holder.

The team works with a range of stakeholders across the criminal justice system to ensure that the MAPPA is reflected in any new policy developments. The post holder is expected to work with colleagues across NOMS and across government in order to ensure MAPPA policy is up to date and consistent with wider NOMS and government aims taking into account changes in legislation and working practices.

This is a high profile role as violent and sexual offenders in are frequently in the media. The management of high risk violent and sexual offenders is a key strategic objective for the NOMS,

The MAPPA team is responsible for the agreeing the performance standards of

MAPPA agencies. This role is key in monitoring performance and delivering regular analysis holding agencies and areas to account.

Summary

The Senior Policy Adviser is the permanent civil servant in a team made up largely of secondees. The post holder is responsible for parliamentary and ministerial work undertaking detailed policy research to provide replies to Ministerial correspondence, briefings to Ministers and PQs and ensures consistency in the team. The standard of research, advice and draft reply for Ministers must be extremely high and are expected to require minimal amendment from the Head of Team or Head of Group.

The post holder will project manage rewrites and deliver revisions to the statutory

MAPPA guidance. They provide formal advice to senior managers, practitioners and others across the criminal justice system.

The post holder will manage the statutory MAPPA annual report process with assistance from a senior statistical officer and the head of MAPPA team. They will also lead in several specific policy areas several policy areas

This post reports to the Head of the MAPPA Team in the Offender Management and Public Protection Group (OMPPG)

Responsibilities,Activities and Duties

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

Managing the MAPPA Annual Report process. This involves coordinating 42 areas in creating an overall report written and statistical report. This activity falls under the arrangements for the management of restricted data, ie, governed by the statutory Code on Official Statistics.

Leading for the team on legislative changes relating to MAPPA. This involves significant efforts to ensure appropriate parliamentary procedure is followed, work in producing a consultation papers or on prospective legislative changes that affect MAPPA.

Managing with senior colleagues the revisions to and publication of the Secretary of State’s statutory MAPPA Guidance.

Writing first drafts of detailed submissions to ministers, influencing government policy.

Drafting Parliamentary Question answers, submissions to senior officials and ministers, FOI responses and official correspondence about MAPPA.

Providing advice on MAPPA to practitioners and key stakeholders, making decisions on interpretation of the statutory MAPPA guidance and using independent judgement to resolve queries which can be complex.

Providing briefings/contributions about MAPPA to colleagues in other government departments (and others) and to comment on proposals (legislative or otherwise) that affect MAPPA.

Managing the MAPPA Lay Adviser Ministerial appointment process on behalf of the Secretary of State.

Working with other government departments to ensure MAPPA are consistent with related policy and legislative changes in other departments.

Undertaking detailed research for questions of policy and providing interpretation of the published guidance.

Agreeing key performance indicators (KPIs) for areas and undertaking regular analysis of the KPIs.

Constructing agendas and provide secretariat support to the MAPPA

Responsible Authority National Steering Group; a group which includes the senior responsible officers for MAPPA as well as the Public Protection Reference group of regional Assistant Chief Officers of Probation.

Working as team information manager, managing the corporate record of the team.

Writing MAPPA business plans annually in conjunction with head of section.

Writing and delivering presentations to internal and external audiences in relation to MAPPA policy areas.

Liaising with legal advisors to ensure policy objectives are met and are consistent with legal advice.

Representing NOMS and MAPPA in national meetings as required.

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 rerexamination under the Job Evaluation scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the Job Holder.

Competencies

The 4 Competency Framework clusters and their respective 15 competency indicators are shown below:

Setting Direction:

Seeing the Big Picture; Changing & Improving: Making Effective Decisions Delivering Results:

Achieving Commercial Outcomes; Delivering Value for Money; Managing a Quality Service: Delivering at Pace Engaging People:

Leading and Communicating; Collaborating and Partnering; Building Capability for All NOMS Specific Skills and Behaviours:

Closing date: 22/02/19 at 23:55 hours

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 24298