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. Overview of the job The Prison Education Quality Improvement Manager post is a National HQ role, reporting directly to the Head of Service Improvement and Quality. The purpose of this role is to maximise collaboration in order to drive improvements in quality outcomes for Prisoners. Providing strategic oversight, innovation and planning to maximise PEF and DPS contracts whilst improving quality practices in Industries, workshops and purposeful activity places and all areas of Education, Skills and Work (ESW). The post-holder has strategic responsibility for managing a range of cross- government education, academia, training and funding partners, and external delivery partners, to ensure continuous development and innovation in the delivery of Education, Skills and Work (ESW) to offenders, in line with HMPPS, OSCG and government policy priorities to increase offender employability and reduce re- offending. The post-holder is responsible for seeking out innovation and current international research and evidence in both general academic and prison sector specific areas directly related to Education, Skills and Work (ESW) to drive continuous improvement. They will be responsible for managing the collection and deployment of a range of data to assess the effectiveness of provider and non-PEF quality standards and delivery in order to ensure both that a high quality service is delivered and that there is continuous improvement and development in the service to offenders. Summary The Prison Education Quality Improvement Manager: - Reports directly to the Head of Service Improvement and Quality.
- The post holder holds an extensive strategic portfolio of teaching, learning, training and skills development thematic, working with senior managers and Directors across a range of partner organisations and stakeholders including, Governors, Prison Group Directors, HMPPS Heads of Departments, Policy leads, MoJ, Ofsted and HMIP.
- The post will also have national thematic leadership responsibilities and requires specialised expertise in delivery and management of projects and programmes. This will include driving the strategic direction in response to the Dame Sally Coates Review, Education and Employment Strategy and collective vision of the Education, Employment, Industries Group agreeing detailed work plans with Band 8, 7 and other staff as required to deliver the strategy.
- Working in partnership with cross-government and external delivery partners, the job holder will support operational teams to validate curriculum design decisions and models for best practice.
- In Partnership with Senior Contract Management Teams, the job holder will drive positive impacts through quality assurance processes, sampling and moderation of the new Prison Education Framework (PEF) and the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).
- Manages and supports the development of innovation in service design and delivery for PEF.
Responsibilities, Activities and Duties The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties: - Hold lead responsibility and overall accountability for a portfolio of thematic subject matter expertise related education, teaching and learning delivery including, provider partnerships and Quality Assurance.
- Plan and organise complex support and resources required in Prisons to improve ESW provision.
- Support curriculum design in prisons to meet curriculum development, examination, technical, security and inspection requirements; develop and implement creative expansion initiatives; contribute to curriculum development and design; monitor employment outcomes; manage relationships with key stakeholders, especially employers; work with the Head of Digital to develop an IT specific employer engagement strategy.
- Representing HMPPS at senior level cross agency working groups, according to thematic responsibility.
- Utilise outstanding collaboration skills to engage and develop external stakeholder relationships according to thematic responsibility in order to support and facilitate collaborative commissioning including joint working between Governors, prison Groups, Ofsted, local authorities and service providers.
- Provide whole system and process assurance and oversight on the planning and delivery of services required to improve education and employment outcomes for offenders at all levels within the HMPPS system with a focus on but not limited to their thematic portfolio. This will require Informing and driving HMPPS/Provider Collaborative commissioning outcomes.
- Promoting strategic collaborative assessment of need at all levels to inform prioritisation and planning.
- The development and implementation of a whole system approach to thematic subject matter expertise.
- Effective communications and exchange of information between SCMT, CCMDs and providers of Education and Employment services.
- Ensuring our business is driven by data and evidence.
- Ensuring the system pays particular attention to those with protected characteristics and hard to reach groups.
- By working with Governors/Directors, Leaders of Education Services and Commissioners to develop and align strategies, priorities, outcomes and available financial resources to maximise the investment in Educational Services for offenders in custody and on release.
- Supporting and challenging emerging policy proposals and engagement with Ministers and senior MoJ officials, and where relevant inform the redesign and alignment of commissioning and delivery systems.
- Develop the capability of HMPPS and partner agencies to collaboratively commission effective, evidence based services to improve education, employment and justice outcomes.
- Undertake continuous professional development relevant to the role and portfolio and contribute to the learning and development of the team as a whole.
- Responsible for delivery of communications and dissemination of lessons learned to relate to thematic responsibilities with the team and across stakeholders.
- Manages a complex area of work or unique specialised subject matter.
- Support Education Contract Managers to review the commissioning and procurement of services, including those with the Public Library Authorities.
- Review library contracts and SLAs; ensure maintenance and development of the service to ensure appropriate provision including ESW support as well as leisure and personal development initiatives.
- Support the Virtual Campus team to co-ordinate and ensure the implementation of VC across the prison estate and, where possible, into the community through the probation service, manage relationships with cross-government bodies and stakeholders.
- Contribute to and develop policy, the sharing of best practice, review and update specifications, contracts, SLAs, PSIs, PSOs as required; provide responses to briefings, PQs, ministerial enquiries etc.
- Contribute to the quarterly performance reports and develop initiatives to manage performance and improve quality.
- Ensure that the learning from current evidence and research is incorporated in policy and service development.
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
- Communicating and Influencing
- Developing Self and Others
- Delivering at Pace
Essential Experience - Significant and demonstrable expert knowledge and experience of achieving educational outcomes for people in the criminal justice system.
- Extensive practical and professional experience of working across complex stakeholder groups and other Government departments including representing the agency at very senior levels and an understanding of the implications of working with devolved functions and administrations, wide experience of portfolio, programme and project management including benefits realisation.
- Extensive experience of problems solving complex issues, drawing on a wide variety of information sources including evidence based practice and where necessary commissioning activity to address knowledge gaps.
Technical Requirements - Qualified Teacher or Learning and Development specialist with a willingness to train as an Ofsted Inspector.
- In-depth understanding of the Education, Skills and Work (ESW) context of FE/HE and/or prisons and probation services and of the wider education and training environment and labour market; of distance and e -learning platforms and their applications.
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of curriculum development, quality assurance in education and training.
- Extensive knowledge of the expectations of Ofsted and the Education Inspection Framework (EIF).
- Understanding of the appropriate National Occupational Standards in specific education, training, employability and some related HR areas.
Ability - Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Able to interpret and communicate complex information including evidence.
- Excellent communication, liaison and negotiating skills to enable effective engagement with high-level partners.
- The ability to maintain a customer focus and ensure that the services delivered meet the ES &W needs of Prisoners.
- In-depth understanding of commissioning and contract management, and government policy underpinning these.
- Budgeting and financial planning.
- Staff management, development and support.
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