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https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity
To apply for this role you will need to provide a personal statement (max 1250 words) to demonstrate your relevant skills and knowledge, and outline your experience of the following:
- Experience of designing and developing learning resources (lead criteria)
- Experience of managing and developing a team
- Experience of using effective relationship building skills to manage and communicate with multiple stakeholders
If there are substantial applications for the role, sifting will be on the lead criteria only.
Background Information
HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) is responsible for the delivery of probation services in England and Wales. In 2015, the Transforming Rehabilitation programme saw the landscape of probation services change significantly, with the creation of 21 privately run Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) and a publicly owned National Probation Service. These reforms led to around 40,000 more offenders receive post-sentence supervision in the community. In July 2018, the Justice Secretary announced the intent to undertake a fundamental reform of probation services with a further announcement, in June 2020, as to the intention to renationalise the service. The Prime Minister has also announced the recruitment of 20,000 new police officers and a series of reforms to sentencing policy to deliver the Governments’ ambitious future vision for the Criminal Justice System.
This suite of changes has, and will continue to have, a fundamental impact on how probation services operate, demand on the system, and the way that services are delivered to offenders who serve all or part of their sentence in the community. This in turn has a crucial impact on our workforce. We recognise that to make sure our probation workforce is fit for the future, resilient and able to respond to upcoming challenges we must do something more to make sure we attract the right people to the profession; ensure that every member of the workforce is able to build their capability and skills on an ongoing basis; allow those working across probation the opportunity to develop and further their careers; and, make sure that our workforce feels valued and appreciated for their sterling work. To this end, the Probation Workforce Programme has been established. This rapidly expanding programme team offers exciting opportunities to lead the design and delivery of a new strategic approach to workforce planning, standard setting and learning and development across the probation service, and will require strong and collaborative working across HMPPS and MOJ.
Overview of the job
This role will sit in the new Learning Design Faculty, within the Probation Workforce Programme and will lead the Learner Research and Design and Development teams, having oversight of both the learner research and testing practice and of the learning design and development approach. They will report to the Head of Learning Design Faculty.
The Learner Research and Design and Development teams will operate within a matrix structure, enabling optimal utilisation of resource and the ability to respond to unpredicted changes in scope and/or demand.
This role is non-operational and has formal line-management responsibility for the 10 FTE within the Learner Research, Design and Development teams.
This role is HQ based and will require occasional travel to other HMPPS sites/regions.
Summary
The post-holder will manage the end-to-end learning design and development approach; overseeing the (re) design and development of digital learning resources and experiences; monitoring the level of engagement and contribution from SMEs and application of evidence-based practice research and quality controls; escalating issues and/or risks to the Head of Learning Design Faculty as required.
The post-holder will be a strong advocate for change, championing and nurturing the new L&D model, processes and ways of working; motivating others to understand and embrace the change in culture for learning and continuous professional development across the organisation.
Responsibilities, Activities and Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Manage the end-to-end learning design and development approach; overseeing effective evidence-based research and testing practice and the (re-)design and development of learning resources and experiences.
- Develop relationships with key stakeholders, relevant teams and L&D communities to support the effective implementation of evidence-based, learner-centred design e.g. the Centre of Excellence, Effective Practice and Service Improvement Group.
- Oversee the collation and analysis of learner research findings, the publishing of learner research reports and the design and development of learning resources and experiences, ensuring they reflect and deliver the desired learning outcomes.
- Ensure that learning design enables adaptive learning requirements.
- Oversee the upskilling and/or preparation of learning facilitators and/or coaches to enable successful pilot and roll-out of learning resources and experiences.
- Work collaboratively with L&D Product Owners and colleagues at all levels across the programme and organisation to support the design and delivery of evidence-based, learner-centred learning resources and experiences, ensuring all parties are aware of the delivery coordination, support and facilitation requirements and timescales.
- Champion the new L&D model and new ways of working to promote and encourage a culture of learning and continuous development across the organisation.
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.
Behaviours
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
- Developing Self and Others
- Managing a Quality Service
Experience
- Experience of managing and developing a team.
- Experience of designing and developing learning resources.
- Experience of using effective relationship building skills to manage and communicate with key stakeholders.
- Desirable: Knowledge/experience of digital, virtual, social and face-to-face learning solutions.