Head of Operations for the East of England

The post holder will be responsible for operational delivery by the NPS within the region. The job holder will report to the Regional Director and have line management responsibility for a number of Heads of Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) and the Public Protection function in each region. In larger regions, there will be more than one postholder and responsibility for PDUs will be divided between postholders., The post holder will provide operational direction for the NPS within the region, overseeing and joining up services across several PDUs to ensure an integrated system that delivers on the purpose of probation: to protect the public and reduce reoffending. A key objective will be to ensure that high performance is consistent across PDUs. They will be responsible for strategic direction of the interface with courts and sentencers, as well as key public protection functions such as victims, safeguarding & MAPPA. Working with the RD, they will contribute to the development of strategic objectives across the probation region and operationalise these within the delivery arm of the business.

The post holder will ensure that any action plans developed by the Performance and Quality function are implemented in the operational line in a timely manner, embedding a culture of continuous improvement and actively addressing underperformance. They will implement national operational policies and procedures, using an overview of the whole region to identify and address areas of underperformance, ambiguity or inconsistency. The job holder will provide assurance to the RD that the necessary processes are in place and being adhered to in relation to both operational and corporate responsibilities. They will demonstrate inspirational, confident and empowering leadership, supporting the RD in driving an inclusive and positive culture for the region. They will collaborate with external partners at a regional or sub-regional level and represent the RD as appropriate.

In line with NPS policies and procedures, the job 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 work proactively to deliver the recommendations of the Lammy Report and implement the strategic framework for working with female offenders.

The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.

They may be required to participate in out of hours senior management on call rota.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

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

• Line manage a number of 'Heads of Function' who are responsible for

operational delivery in the PDUs and Public Protection.

• Hold senior leaders to account for the performance of their PDUs and Public Protection teams, ensuring that consistent and high standards are maintained and taking effective action to address deficits.


• Develop and implement regional strategies in line with the national strategic framework.


• Work with senior leaders to ensure a holistic approach to delivery against the strategic direction set by the Regional Director.


• Provide advice and make ultimate decisions on the management of offenders where senior management authorisation or involvement is necessary.


• Provide assurance to the Regional Director that systems are in place to manage, monitor and escalate critical cases. Ensure that senior managers, Ministers and Press Office are provided with prompt and accurate information on high profile and sensitive cases that will have a bearing on the reputation of the organisation.


• Lead strategic work on delivering services to the Courts, working with sentencers and other CJS partners to improve sentencer confidence.


• Manage devolved budgets in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation and ensure that the region implements effective financial controls.


• Provide assurance to the Regional Director that PDUs are compliant with all relevant regulations and that all corporate responsibilities are being met.


• Work with Criminal Justice partners and stakeholders at a regional or sub-regional level to ensure effective delivery. Represent the Regional Director with external agencies in line with delegated functional and decision-making responsibilities.


• Encourage whole-system alignment within the PDUs by liaising with the Head of Community Integration to ensure contracted and voluntary sector providers of probation services are available to deliver the best outcomes for offenders.


• Liaise with those responsible for centrally managed services such as Approved Premises to ensure timely allocation to accommodation.


• Work collegiately with NPS and HMPPS leaders at a national level to inform strategic planning, maintaining a current awareness of wider developments with an impact on the organisation.


• Model effective management behaviour as a visible and approachable leader, demonstrating a commitment to equality and inclusion. Reinforce prosocial behaviour and attitudes and challenge anti-social behaviour and attitudes.


• Manage resources effectively, balancing competing demands in the prioritisation and allocation of resources across PDUs.


• Deliver Human Resources related policies and practices including chairing grievance appeals, conduct and discipline and capability hearings.


Behaviours

For the purpose of selection the following behaviours will be measured:

• Leadership


• Managing a Quality Service


• Changing and Improving


• Making Effective Decisions


• Seeing the Big Picture


• Developing Self and Others, The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.


For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ's 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 full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS' Flexible Working policy.

Mandatory - Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP)

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:

• Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma/ Honours Degree in Community Justice integrated with Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice


• BA (Hons)/Graduate Diploma in Community Justice (incorporating a level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice (Vocational Qualification))


• Diploma in Probation Studies


• Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option)


• CQSW (with Probation Option)


[Experience]

• Significant experience of the delivery of probation services at senior manager level.


• Substantial experience of line management of staff, including supervision, appraisal and motivating.


• Experience of formulating and implementing policy successfully and effectively., Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP). 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 200, Making Effective Decisions - 250 word limit

Seeing the Big Picture - 250 word limit
Developing Self and Others - 250 word limit
Leadership - 250 word limit
Managing a Quality Service - 250 word limit
Experience
Work History
Statement of Suitability - 750 word limit
Technical Skills

• Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma/ Honours Degree in Community Justice integrated with Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice BA (Hons)/Graduate Diploma in Community Justice (incorporating a level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice (Vocational Qualification)) Diploma in Probation Studies Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option)


• CQSW (with Probation Option) - 250 word limit
  
  Basildon , Bedford , Bury St Edmunds , Cambridge , Chelmsford , Cheshunt , Colchester , Grays , Harlow , Hemel Hempstead , Huntingdon , Ipswich , Kettering , King's Lynn , Lowestoft , Luton , Northampton , Norwich , Peterborough , Southend-on-Sea , St Albans , Stevenage , Watford , Wellingborough , Wisbech

Building/Site 1
JSO Walter Tull House, Northamptonshire, NN1 1NS, NMS 12-13 Adam Court, PE1 5PP, NMS 1St Floor Dryden House, PE29 3NU, NMS Boathouse Business Centre, PE13 3BH, NMS Civic 2, Victoria Avenue, SS2 6ER, NMS Clemitson House, LU1 2RP, NMS MID ESSEX Gemini Centre, CM2 0YN, NMS Municipal Offices, NN15 7QX, NMS Part 3rd Floor, Victoria House, CM1 1JR, NMS Part Second Floor, Civic Office Complex, RM17 6SL, NMS Portal House, CO2 7BA, NMS Suite 1, 3rd Floor, Hubbard House, IP1 2QA, NMS The Basildon Centre, SS14 1DL, NMS Waterhouse Street, HP1 1ES, NPS 20 OXFORD STREET WELLINGBOROUGH, NN8 4HY, NPS 203 WHAPLOAD ROAD LOWESTOFT, NR32 1UL, NPS 27 WARKWORTH STREET CAMBRIDGE, CB1 1EG, NPS 4 MITRE BUILDINGS HARLOW, CM20 1DR, NPS 41 HARPUR STREET BEDFORD, MK40 1LY, NPS ARGYLE HOUSE STEVENAGE, SG1 2AD, NPS CARRAWAY HOUSE BASILDON, SS15 6PH, NPS CENTENARY HOUSE NORWICH, NR3 1RT, NPS DETTINGEN WAY BURY ST EDMUNDS, IP33 3TU, NPS EAST HEART CENTRE CHESHUNT, EN8 9XL, NPS GODWIN HOUSE HUNTINGDON, PE29 3BD, NPS MID
HERTS CENTRE ST ALBANS, AL1 3XH, NPS PENINSULAR HOUSE IPSWICH, IP4 1AQ, NPS PETERBOROUGH MAGISTRATES COURT PETERBOROUGH, PE1 1ED, NPS PROBATION OFFICE KINGS LYNN, PE30 1HP, NPS SOUTH WEST HERTS CENTRE WATFORD WATFORD, WD18 0BN
Grade 1
Other
Organisation Grade for HMPPS 1

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years' service, plus public holidays. 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.

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

Support

• A range of 'Family Friendly' policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.


• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.


• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.


• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.


• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.


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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To Shared Service Connected Ltd (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);


• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);


• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)


The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team., Seeing the Big Picture
Leadership
Changing and Improving
Managing a Quality Service
Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.
Additional Assessment(s)
Presentation

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'.