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Immigration policy lead
HEO (Band C), 37 hours a week.
This vacancy is for a HEO policy role within the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) and Lay Observer (LO) Secretariat, a MoJ Arm’s Length Body, providing support to IMB members and Lay Observers, who are independent, publicly appointed, unpaid volunteers based in prisons, Immigration Removal Centres, Short Term Holding Facilities and court settings in the UK.
Based: 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London (current work pattern – 2 days in the office and remote working but subject to change).
Overview:
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Independent Monitoring Board and Lay Observer Secretariat as the immigration policy lead. This role is based in a team of 27 staff supporting the work of the IMBs and LOs. You will be a motivated, enthusiastic individual committed to providing exceptionally high level of support to internal stakeholders in a fast-paced volunteer environment.
Members of the Independent Monitoring Boards are unpaid public appointees who provide statutory, independent scrutiny of the treatment and care of people in prisons and immigration detention. They are appointed by ministers and operate in prisons and Young Offender Institutions (run by HM Prison and Probation Service - MOJ), in immigration removal centres, various short-term holding facilities and on repatriation flights for those being removed from the UK (run by the Home Office).
Lay Observers are also unpaid public appointees, whose responsibility it is to check on the welfare of detained people in court custody suites and while they are travelling in the care and custody of escort contractors.
Summary:
We are looking for an immigration policy lead to join the Secretariat. The post holder will be responsible for the development and provision of policy advice in the area of immigration detention. They will support the IMB National Chair to maximise the reach and impact of the work of IMBs. The post holder will be line managed by the secretariat immigration lead but will have strong links with the policy team for support and guidance.
The post holder will be key to identifying avenues where the IMB can influence policy development. They will ensure that the IMB is up to date with policy changes so that we can inform the membership and ensure that monitoring is in line with latest guidance. In particular, the IMB will want to identify and understand from the findings of the Brook House Inquiry for policy and practice developments in immigration detention monitoring.
Key Responsibilities:
Key responsibilities will include, but may not be limited to:
- Drafting presentations, policies, positions, briefing papers and national/thematic reports
- Collating and analysing key issues and themes from various internal and external sources, including IMB annual reports and associated surveys/information
- Collating and analysing numerical data to identify trends and inform policy development
- Supporting research as required for policy and impact work
- Supporting the National Chair, IMB Management Board and CEO and to develop and manage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
- Proactively develop relationships with key policy leads in immigration detention policy to influence policy development and interpret policy changes to support effective monitoring
- Coordinating, managing and drafting IMB responses to external consultations in liaison with individual Boards/members and the National Chair
- Producing written submissions to relevant parliamentary committee inquiries, collating information from Boards and recent annual reports
- Providing briefings, Q&A and support for parliamentary committee hearings etc, including attending, advising and taking notes
- Providing briefings, Q&A and supporting information for internal and external stakeholder meetings, including functional/subject groups, identifying agenda items, taking minutes and following up actions as necessary
- Briefing the Chair/CEO for visits to Boards/establishments/external events
- In conjunction with the secretariat immigration lead and Head of Policy and Impact, horizon scanning for developments in policy, research or practice affecting the work of immigration IMBs including identifying opportunities to influence these
- Alongside the Communications and Engagement Lead, organising internal engagement sessions for IMB members and on a range of policy topics, including liaising with speakers, and producing summaries.
- Working collaboratively with the Secretariat team. Performing other job-related duties as assigned.
Essential criteria
- A good understanding of immigration detention
- An understanding of working with volunteers
- Strong inter-personal skills
- Strong organisational skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Proven ability to work with a range of internal and external stakeholders on multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to make evidence-based decisions and provide senior leaders with timely, accurate advice
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge and understanding of the IMB
- Experience of working with volunteers
Civil Service Behaviours
- Seeing the big picture
- Making effective decisions
- Communicating and influencing
- Working together
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