We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
About Independent Monitoring Boards
Members of Independent Monitoring Boards (IMBs) are unpaid public appointees (volunteers) who monitor places of detention. There are around 1200 IMB members, organised into 127 Boards monitoring prisons and places of immigration detention, each with its own Chair. 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 (LOs) are also unpaid volunteers appointed by ministers, whose responsibility it is to check on the welfare of individuals in court custody suites and while they are traveling in the care and custody of escort contractors.
As independent scrutiny bodies, IMBs and LOs have a growing public profile and play an increasingly crucial role in providing assurance to ministers and the public on the conditions and treatment of those held in detention. They are members of the UK’s National Preventive Mechanism, under the UK’s international human rights obligations to prevent torture and other ill-treatment of people in detention. They work closely with HM Inspectorate of Prisons and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, who also play a key part in the oversight and assurance of places of detention. The findings of IMBs and LOs are fed into the performance and scrutiny information used by government to contribute to prisons and immigration detention policy and process changes, in line with the government’s commitment to ensuring safe, humane and effective places of detention.
About the role
This role is responsible for managing the policy impact for IMBs and LOs, particularly in relation to influencing change to legislation, policy and practice. Day to day, you will be liaising with stakeholders about potential points of influence, collating themes or key issues identified by the monitoring carried out by members and ensuring the relevant decision-makers are informed about those themes or issues. You will also coordinate with colleagues to make sure members are provided with up to date information about policy or guidance that impacts on their monitoring.
You will be a motivated, enthusiastic individual committed to providing an exceptionally high level of support to staff and volunteers in a fast-paced environment.
Proposed changes to the organisational structure and governance, along with the increasing profile of the IMBs, make this an exciting time to join the organisation.
We are committed to increasing the diversity of our teams and welcome applications from less represented groups. We do not require you to have experience of working in the immigration detention sector.
Key Responsibilities
Key responsibilities will include, but may not be limited to:
Overseeing the drafting of 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 and using this information to actively influence policy development and change in the services monitored
Conversely, digest policy changes in a manner that is easily understood by members to aid with their monitoring activity
Supporting research as required for policy and impact work, including advising on appropriate methodology, analysing data and drafting reports
Supporting National Chairs, IMB Management Board, LO National Council and the CEO to develop and manage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
Develop relationships with key policy leads in the services monitored by the IMBS and LOs
Overseeing IMB/LO responses to external consultations in liaison with individual Boards/members/LOs and National Chairs
Horizon scanning to identify opportunities for providing briefings or submissions that reflect what members are seeing as part of their monitoring duties.
Horizon scanning for developments in policy, research or practice that are relevant to the work of members
Supporting development of toolkits &/or guidance for members to support their monitoring
Working with the Communications Manager to ensure members are kept informed about any changes that impact on their monitoring
Line manage Policy Lead(s)
Working collaboratively with the Secretariat team and members
Act as source of advice for Secretariat staff and members on issues of policy, taking responsibility for finding answers to policy queries
Performing other job-related duties as assigned.
Skills
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following skills.
Essential criteria
A good understanding of the prison and/or immigration detention system
An understanding of working with volunteers
Strong inter-personal skills
Strong organisational skills
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Excellent insight into policy work
Good experience using a robust evidence base to influence policy
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.
Ability to work as part of a team
Desirable criteria
Civil Service Behaviours
You will be required to provide evidence of the following Competencies:
Further information about the Civil Service Competency Framework can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework
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