27931 - Community Lead (Women)

Community Lead (Women)

One year on from the publication of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Women’s Strategy, and the drive to reduce the number of women serving short custodial sentences, the HMPPS Women’s Team are recruiting a senior manager to lead on implementing the community components of the Strategy. The successful applicant will engage with NPS leads and other stakeholders, including those responsible for women in prison to drive the delivery of effective outcomes for women. The post holder will join a small team and will work with key partners within HMPPS, MOJ and other government departments, including those with responsibility for the new probation structures, to ensure the needs of women are reflected at a strategic and operational level. The role will focus on embedding the needs of women into wider NPS and HMPPS policies including the Offender Management Model in custody, offender management in the community and in driving up the quality of information provided to sentencers.

This role is therefore a significant opportunity to play a leading role in embedding evidence of effectiveness at all stages of a woman’s contact with HMPPS and to contribute to better outcomes for women across the whole Criminal Justice System.

The team works closely with MOJ in implementing the Women Offenders Strategy, and with colleagues in the Prison Service to ensure provision for women in custody is operationally effective and ensuring community and prison work are properly joined up. The team is also involved in working with ministers, supporting the Parliamentary process and producing briefings and answers to Parliamentary Questions (PQs).

Overview of the job

Following the publication of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Women’s Strategy, and the drive to reduce the number of women serving short custodial sentences, the HMPPS Women’s Team need a strategic leader with operational experience to lead NPS (and CRCs) in implementing the community components of the Strategy.

The post holder will be part of HMPPS Womens’ team which has an office based in Croydon. The post holder will need to be able to travel to London up to three times per week but can also work from remote locations across England and Wales. The post reports directly to the Deputy Director for Women and requires confidence in deputising for the Deputy Director. The post has line manager responsibility for one middle manager although this may increase over time.

This is therefore a strategic role to ensure evidence of effectiveness at key stages of a woman’s contact with HMPPS is embedded in all work with women across probation and to contribute to better outcomes for women across the whole Criminal Justice System.

Summary

The post involves securing implementation of policy by middle and senior managers across the NPS and working with external and internal stakeholders to drive the delivery of effective outcomes for women. The post also involves working with key partners within HMPPS, MOJ and other government departments, including those with responsibility for the new probation structures, to ensure the needs of women are reflected at a strategic and operational level. The role will focus on embedding the needs of women into wider NPS and HMPPS policies including the Offender Management Model in custody, offender management in the community and in driving up the quality of information provided to sentencers.

The team works closely with MOJ in implementing the Women Offenders Strategy, and with colleagues in the Prison Service to ensure provision for women in custody is operationally effective and ensuring community and prison work are properly joined up. This is a high profile role and the team works closely with ministers, provide advice and briefing to support the Parliamentary process.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

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

• Chair meetings of senior leaders across NPS (Women’s Leads) to implement the community components of the MoJ Strategy for Women Offenders.
• Manage projects to ensure effective advice to courts and Parole Boards.
• Deputise for the Deputy Director by covering relevant meetings as required.
• Develop strategies to deliver consistency of offender management of women in custody with the management of women in the community.
• Work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders and partners to ensure alignment with relevant reforms and initiatives e.g. probation review programme and court reform programmes.
• Work with relevant audit and assurance bodies e.g. HMI Probation and HMPPS internal assurance to ensure the needs of women are reflected in audit and inspection plans and standards.
• Lead key stakeholder groups including groups of NPS and CRCs women offender leads.
• Work with colleagues to skill the workforce to deliver effective outcomes for women (including development and roll out of POWER Training).
• Obtain and review performance information to monitor performance and drive improvement.
• Link with the HMPPS Equalities Team to ensure the need of women with protected characteristics are reflected in policy and operations.
• Contribute to the development of Whole System Approaches including diversion and out of court disposals.
• Identify and share good practice in managing women offenders across probation (NPS and CRCs).
• Provide information as required (sometimes to tight deadlines) to the Executive Director NPS, Deputy Director of Women Offenders, Ministers and for departments across Whitehall.
• Manage a senior probation officer to support delivery of the other work plans and other staff 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 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:

• Leading and communicating
• Building capability for all
• Seeing the big picture
• Managing a quality service
• Changing and improving

Essential Skills, Qualifications, Accreditation & Registration  

• A strong track record of influencing others to deliver change across a complex environment will be essential.
• Previous experience of working in a Policy area related to women will be advantageous.
• Microsoft: Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and PowerPoint (or equivalent i.e. Lotus Notes).

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 - 27931.

If you would like to know more about this post we will be holding a conference call at 9.30 am on 25th July. You are welcome to dial in to hear about the role and to ask questions. Dial in details are:

Dial in details are: 0800 496 0693

Access Code 52 37 822#

If you have any additional questions about this post, please contact the Deputy Director Women

Claire Wiggins – Tel No: 07773 050 149 – Email: Claire.wiggins@justice.gov.uk

Ingrid Wheeler - Tel No: 07773 040 849 - Email: Ingrid.Wheeler1@justice.gov.uk