This is an exciting time to join the New Futures Network (NFN) team - the specialist team in HMPPS that builds partnerships with employers of all sizes and across different industries. These partnerships help businesses fill skills gaps and enable prison leavers to find employment. Find out more about NFN here: https://newfuturesnetwork.gov.uk and follow us on Twitter and Linkedin.
There has been significant investment in employment related services following the recent Spending Review and commitments outlined in the Prisons Strategy White Paper. You could be part of delivering a step change in supporting prison leavers secure employment. Securing a job on release has a positive impact to individuals, their families and communities, and is a significant contributor to reducing reoffending.
You will be supporting the Head of Data and Insight as an Operational Policy Lead. There are two roles – one is focussed on supporting our Ministers and senior leaders through delivering timely and accurate briefings, advice and recommendations; and working with a range of colleagues to develop and implement new policy and practice that will solve operational problems. The second role is geared at raising the profile of NFN and the work on employment amongst HMPPS staff, prisoners and a range of other organisations we work with closely. You will also be responsible for creating informative content to support the employers NFN work with – there are over 400 at present.
If invited to interview, as part of the interview you will be required to present a short Powerpoint via screen-sharing over Microsoft Teams.
This should be between 5-10minutes long and will be your opportunity to demonstrate your communication style. For the presentation, please answer the question 'How can New Futures Network develop and improve the information provided to employers, other organisations and the public on our website?'
Overview of the job
The job holder is expected to identify the need for the development of new policy or revision of existing policy, carry out appropriate research, analyse information from a range of sources and then provide first drafts of policy instructions and guidance.
Summary
The job holder will develop effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders at all levels, including operational front line staff and senior officials from other government departments.
The post holder will on occasions be required to represent NOMS in meetings with internal and external stakeholders, including Other Government Departments.
Responsibilities, Activities & Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Developing, planning the delivery of and consulting on new operational policy or legislative changes in respect of the relevant policy areas, and assisting with their implementation including drafting new guidance, and training staff across England and Wales as required.
- Drafting replies to ministerial correspondence and correspondence from offenders, victims, and members of the public, and researching and drafting submissions and answers to Parliamentary Questions.
- Responsible for researching, drafting and producing both informative and persuasive submissions, for clearance by Head of Team, to Ministers which often comment on complex and sensitive inter-departmental issues, for which agreement must be sought.
- Responsible for drafting notes to senior officials, informing them of the status of cases.
- Undertaking detailed research for questions of policy and providing interpretation of the published guidance.
- Liaising with legal advisors to ensure policy objectives are met and are consistent with legal advice.
- Providing national guidance and interpretation on the relevant policy areas, including legislation and complex case specific issues in response to enquiries from staff and managers in probation divisions and prisons, officials from other NOMS /MoJ Units, Government departments and agencies.
- Setting up projects, with appropriate governance arrangements to support the project, identifying risks and mitigating action and reporting on progress to senior managers and stakeholders.
- Representing the policy area/team/group at meetings with HQ and frontline staff - and feeding back information to senior management.
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
- Changing and Improving
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Leadership
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
Essential skills/experience
- Excellent written and communication skills.
- Experience of policy development.
- High level of personal organisation; basic level of project management desirable.
- Enjoys and is adept at working with a broad range of colleagues.
- Able to work independently and lead areas of work.
- Adaptable and resilient, given the fast-paced nature of the roles.
Technical requirements
- IT literacy.
- An understanding of the process of Government, including the workings of Private Office.
- For the communications role, the ability to deliver communications materials in a variety of formats including via Powerpoint presentations and digital, to meet the needs of different audiences.
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