847 - Supervising Officer

£22,640 - £25,225
London
Hemel Hempstead
HM PRISON MOUNT HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, HP3 0NZ
Band 4
Permanent
Full Time
Prison Officer

This vacancy will be within the Residential Services or Offender Management Unit.


Organisation Level


Delivery for the jobs at this level will be task focus delivering defined activity or service within own area of expertise.

The job holder will assist in the rehabilitation of prisoners, to reduce their reroffending and to lead purposeful lives upon completion of their sentence.


Overview


Job holders within this Group Profile will provide day to day supervision for Prison Officers and Operational Support Grades (OSG). They will supervise and coordinate the delivery of the establishment’s regime and activities within residential unit/areas to ensure all local/national policies are maintained. These are operational and prisonerrfacing roles with no line management responsibilities.

Characteristics


Typical tasks associated with this Group Profile include:

  • Supervise all staff within their area of responsibility, ensuring they are briefed on the work for the day.
  • Prepare and deliver team briefings and handovers as appropriate x Supervise and prioritise activities inrline with local procedures ensuring workload/regime is delivered escalating issues to Custodial Manager when required.
  • Promotes Prison Service policy in all activities and behaviours by promoting diversity, decency, safety and reducing reroffending agendas.
  • Supervise and support Prison Officers and other staff when dealing with prisoner applications and other issues raised by prisoners.
  • Supervise and support Prison Officers with actions arising from Standard Audit, Her Majesty Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) Action Plans, Managing Quality of Prison Life (MQPL) surveys including local self audit action plan.
  • Co-orordinate any paperwork for the Incentive and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme, completing relevant documentation for submission to Custodial Manager.
  • Support and create a safe working environment for staff, prisoners and visitors by adhering to Health and Safety legislation, ensuring Safe Systems of Work (SSOW) and Risk Assessments are followed reporting incidents to Custodial Manager.
  • Coach and mentor staff including new recruits and arrange for other staff to provide mentoring support as required Prison Officer Entry Level.
  • Training (POELTs) and new graduates x Corordinate and collate data concerning their area of work.
  • Co-ordinate initial staff response at the scene of an incident until a Custodial Manager is present.
  • Contribute to the development and application of local policy, procedures and practice.
  • Contribute to staff appraisals by providing relevant performance information to line managers.
  • Allocate daily staff resources to activity within their unit where appropriate.
  • Manage a caseload of Assessment Care Custody Teamwork (ACCT) within their work area.
  • Discharging prisoners subject to local Risk Assessment.
  • Carry out checks as required e.g. Cell Sharing Risk Assessment (CSRA), Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP).

Job Descriptions Relating to this Group


Profile


The Job holder once in post will be in matched to a job description a sample list is attached below.

The post is rotational so the job holder could during their career carry out the role of different job descriptions.

  • Supervising Officer : Cat A Escorts
  • Supervising Officer : Nights
  • Supervising Officer : Nights YP
  • Supervising Officer : Operations
  • Supervising Officer : Operations YP
  • Supervising Officer : PEI
  • Supervising Officer : Regime
  • Supervising Officer : Residential Therapeutic Communities
  • Supervising Officer : Safe Decent and Secure
  • Supervising Officer : Safe Decent and Secure YP
  • Supervising Officer : Special Unit
  • Supervising Officer : Safe Decent and Secure IRC
  • Supervising Officer : Regime IRC
  • Supervising Officer : Nights IRC
  • Supervising Officer : Operations IRC
  • Supervising Officer : Special Secure Unit (Wing)
  • Supervising Officer : Supervising Officer Benchmark

Essential Skills / Qualifications / Accreditation / Registration


The job holder must have been accredited as a Prison Officer by successfully completing Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT) or will have been in post prior to 2007. The job holder must have successfully completed their probationary period including having achieved the Custodial Care Diploma.

Will be competent in custodial procedures, including dynamic risk assessment and must be trained and annually refreshed in control and restraint techniques.

NOMS staff newly promoted to a Band 4 Supervising Officer or Facilities and Services Supervisor role within Establishments will be required to undertake the Diploma in Team Leading. Newly promoted staff are expected to complete the qualification as part of the requirement of their role.

Staff newly promoted into Band 4 Offender Supervisors or Specialist Officer roles within establishments will be expected to undertake the Diploma if they are covering or carrying out the role of Supervising Officer on a ‘regular’ basis.

Staff working in establishments who were mapped to a Band 4 Supervising Officer or Facilities and Services Supervisor role as part of the F&S restructuring process and staff who have rergraded to Band 4 from a higher grade are not required to complete the qualification as they have previously worked at an equivalent level (or higher).

When transferring to a Young Persons establishment the job holder will be required to successfully undertake an assessment to demonstrate suitability to work with Young People.

Working Arrangements and Further Information


Some of MoJ’s, including NOMS, 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


-The Prison Service 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. The Prison Service 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


-The Prison Service offers a childcare vouchers scheme. The scheme enables staff to take part of their salary in the form of Childcare Vouchers. This is known as a Salary Sacrifice. The vouchers can then be used to help meet the costs of any form of registered or approved childcare for children aged 0-16. The vouchers are exempt from tax and National Insurance contributions


Training


-The Prison Service 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 the Prison Service provide 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 NOMS

-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the Prison Service considers to be racist


Civil Service Code


The Civil Service Code, first published in 1996, sets out the core Civil Service values and the standards of behaviour expected of all civil servants in upholding these values.

  • Integrity – putting the obligations of public service above personal interests.
  • Honesty – being truthful and open.
  • Objectivity – basing advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.
  • Impartiality – acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving governments of different political parties equally well.

To review the Civil Service Code visit: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/values

11/11/2016, 23:55 hours.

Closing Date: 11th November 2016 at 23:55 hours

If you require any assistance please call 0845 010 3508 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail hr-recruitment-enquiries@noms.gsi.gov.uk.

Please quote the job reference.

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.



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
Achieving a Safe and Secure Environment

Being effective in this area is a key responsibility for all of us to both protect the public and prevent victims. We must all promote and contribute to an orderly, safe and secure environment both within our own unit / establishment and across the whole of the Agency. Those who work in establishments must support the principles of dynamic security by treating the needs of prisoners individually; developing controlled, professional relationships with prisoners; and contributing to a constructive regime. At senior levels, it is about creating strategies, policies and processes that contribute to the achievement of a safe and secure living and working environment.

Caring

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.

Leading and Communicating
Persuading and Influencing

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.

Showing Drive and Resilience

Effectiveness in this area is about being consistently motivated, committed and able to perform duties in all situations. People who are effective maintain a personal conviction when faced with resistance. Those who work in establishment must retain a professional approach when confronted by aggression and strong emotion from prisoners. At senior levels, it is about remaining focussed on achieving objectives in the face of resistance, organisational constraints or unforeseen problems.

Managing a Quality Service

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

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.

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.