24553 - Quality Development Officer - London
Overview of the job
This is a specialist Probation Officer post, in which the post holder has specific responsibility to contribute to the development of excellence in the quality of work undertaken with offenders and victims in the National Probation Service (NPS).
The job holder will have no line management responsibilities.
Summary
The post holder will be part of the Divisional Performance and Quality team.
They will work in partnership with divisional /local managers, practice tutor assessors and operational staff to promote high quality work through delivery of quality assurance and improvement activities including: audit and analysis, practice workshops, coaching and providing support to colleagues.
In line with NPS policies and procedures, the post holder must at all times demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusion and an understanding of their relevance to the work they do.
The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.
Responsibilities, Activities and Duties
The post holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Deliver quality assurance activities as part of the national effective practice programme, and review the impact of these activities on operational practice
- Deliver practice improvement workshops and briefings to POs and PSOs, and review the impact of these on practice
- Support the re-launch and deployment of Skills for Effective Engagement Development and Supervision (SEEDS)
- Undertake audits of key work, provide analysis and feedback to staff and contribute to local improvement and quality plans.
- Working in partnership with local managers, develop audit and improvement activities based on local and divisional need and evidence from audits, inspections and case reviews arising from e.g. serious further offences, domestic homicides, serious case reviews
- Provide support to local managers in delivering improvement activities to staff in informal /formal capability processes. As agreed with line manager, provide focussed 1:1 support to POs and PSOs involved in formal capability process based on the improvement plans drawn up by line managers.
- Work in partnership with local managers to plan and support quality improvement in their cluster/function
- As agreed with local managers, provide coaching and support to groups of staff whose roles are changing
- Play an integral role in the work of divisional performance and quality team in implementing the national performance and quality programme
- Provide guidance and support to SPOs to undertake quality assurance work
- Respond to risk escalation requests raised by Community Rehabilitation Companies, determine risk level and if high risk (endorsed by a manager) decide on how this will be managed
- Carry out safeguarding children and safeguarding adult duties in accordance with the NPS statutory responsibilities and agency policies
- Demonstrate and promote pro-social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro-social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes
- Work within the aims and values of NPS and NOMS
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 alternations 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
The following competencies from the Civil Service Competency Framework will be used for selection purposes:
- Changing and Improving
- Making effective decisions
- Caring
- Delivering at pace
- Persuading and influencing
- Collaborating and partnering
Essential Skills/ Qualifications/ Accreditation/ Registration
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh
Qualifications
Essential
- Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma/ Honours Degree in Community Justice integrated with Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice.
- Or a qualification which was recognised at the time of qualification by the Secretary of State for Justice as per Section 10 of the Offender Management Act 2007.The following qualifications gained in England and Wales were previously recognised as providing such eligibility:
- Diploma in Probation Studies
- Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option)
- CQSW (with Probation Option)
Skills
Essential
- Evidence of undertaking good quality probation work
- Evidence of providing feedback and support to colleagues in undertaking good quality work
- Evidence of working collaboratively with others to improve quality Evidence of analysing information and using it to design an action plan to meet specific goals
Desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of NOMS performance and quality measures
- Knowledge and understanding of the purpose and processes for formal reviews of cases, e.g. serious further offences, domestic homicides, serious case reviews
- Knowledge and understanding of the role of HM Inspectorate of Probation
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with a wide variety of people who have experienced a range of social/personal difficulties. Experience of working with diverse communities including promoting equality and valuing diversity.
- An understanding and appreciation of equality Experience of working with individuals and groups in order to motivate and change offending behaviour.
- Knowledge and understanding of the work of the Criminal Justice System
- A working knowledge of relevant legislation and National Standards.
- Knowledge of Evidence Based Practice and risk/needs assessment tools.
Desirable
- Experience of delivering training to groups
- Experience of providing coaching or mentoring Experience of undertaking quality assurance/audit work
Working Arrangements & Further Information
Standard working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Generous allowances for paid holiday starting at 25 days per year, and rising as your service increases. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). Please visit www.gmpf.org.uk for further information.
Please note: Any current Civil Servant who is a member of the PCSPS, by accepting an offer of employment to the National Probation Services will be opted out of the PCSPS and auto enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as salary sacrifice arrangements for childcare vouchers, and voluntary benefits such as retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
Eligibility
All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post
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.
18/03/2019, 23:55 hours.
Closing Date: 18th March 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 24553.
Nicola Williams - Interim Head of Service
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.
Effectiveness in this area is about showing concern for colleagues, prisoners, and others recognising their needs and providing practical support. People who are effective apply and support the decency agenda for staff and prisoners and take into account their actions and decisions on the wellbeing of prisoners, colleagues and others. At senior levels, it is about developing and promoting a culture of care and ensuring that the decency agenda is real and living.
Effectiveness in this area means listening to each other, using reason and cooperation to reach agreement. We must all seeks to understand others’ perspectives whilst following through on agreements. Those who work in establishments must take time to understand the prisoners’ point of view and encourage prisoners to understand own / establishment’s perspective. At a senior level it is about promoting a culture of open interaction and effective consultation across all levels of the organisation. It is about influencing and involving the right people necessary to get things done.
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
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.