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.
Do you have the passion, values, and ability to help us solve the biggest problems of the justice system?
Senior Prison and Reoffending analysts, Data & Analysis, Ministry of Justice
1. Overview
We have up to 6 SEO roles available in Data and Evidence as a Service: Prisons, Probation and Reoffending, within the Data & Analysis Directorate.
Roles are open to:
- Existing analysts from GORS/GSS, either on level transfer or on promotion.
- Other candidates that are not members of the GSS or GORS professions but possess and can demonstrate similar experience at the appropriate level. Badging opportunities will be available once in post for those who wish to apply.
Minimum requirements to apply:
Candidates must be able to show the relevant experience and skills and must meet the criteria for entry:
You have significant work experience (usually a minimum of three years) evidencing use of data and/or analytical skills. Time spent on an analytical PhD can count towards this.
We welcome applications from candidates based across the UK. Candidates will have the option of being based in the Leeds or London HQ offices (with flexible working arrangements available) or your nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. These are in Liverpool, Leeds, South Tyneside, Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham, Cardiff, Ipswich and Brighton, Stafford, Ipswich, Wolverhampton, Sheffield. Alternative locations may be available and will be discussed and agreed on the completion of background checks.
Interviews are likely to take place in early February 2023 and will be held via MS Teams. We will keep a merit list for a year for those who successfully pass the interview board but who are not offered a post.
2. About Data & Analysis
We are passionate about improving justice outcomes through innovative research, data and analysis.
In Data and Analysis, we provide high quality data and analysis helping to ensure strategic, policy, finance, corporate and operational decisions are based on robust evidence.
We create a culture in which people are empowered with the data and information to make excellent decisions; using cutting edge tools, techniques and collaboration; putting evidence at the heart of the justice system.
We are a multi-disciplinary team of around 500 staff that sits at the heart of the Ministry of Justice providing analytical support across a diverse and exciting agenda. We work in a dynamic and fast-paced context and our skills are in heavy demand across the Ministry of Justice. Our collaborations beyond government are seen as ground-breaking.
The Data and Analysis community is made up of analysts and specialists including: Social Researchers, Economists, Operational Researchers, Statisticians, Data Engineers, Data Scientists and other data specialists (such as data strategists, data dissemination, generalists and assurance experts).
Why work in Data and Analysis?
In Data and Analysis, we want all our people to feel valued for who they are and for the work they do. We provide a warm, inclusive place to work and offer a wide range of flexibilities and benefits as part of our people offer to reward our staff.
What we offer
- Flexible working arrangements and a focus on equality of opportunity – including welcoming part-time and/or job-share arrangements, compressed hours, working from home or your nearest Justice Collaboration Centres or Justice Satellite Office.
- Career development – regular development and promotion opportunities across a wide range of roles, career development support, with a generous individual learning and development budget.
- Range of new areas of work and new tools and techniques – we pride ourselves on our excellent deployment of well-established analytical methods, but also our progress to date. Progress such as our ambitious and innovative transformation programme to leverage departmental data and drive evidence-based decision-making using cutting-edge tools and techniques (for example: experimentation, personalisation, artificial intelligence).
- Analysis is at the centre of the Department’s decision making – our transformation programme is focused on maximising our impact on departmental outcomes. The Ministry of Justice’s Senior Team and our Ministerial Team want all decisions to be evidence driven – your analysis will be key in influencing decisions and real-world impact
- Vibrant community – part of a multidisciplinary team that has a supportive culture and is looking to further develop the community with the help of everyone.
- See the frontline and what your work is influencing – regular opportunities to visit our front-line service providers, including courts, prisons, and probation to better understand the areas your analysis is affecting.
3. What you’ll do
- Prison Statistics Project Analyst
The Prison Statistics team – which sits within MoJ Data & Analysis – are responsible for processing, analysing and publishing data based on our key prison datasets, as well as offering key analytical insight to support / challenge policy initiatives.
Recent (and ongoing work) also includes supporting the Department’s response to prison capacity pressures (one strand of which is the recently announced Operation Safeguard – to use a number of police cells to hold prisoners). This work has included producing fast-paced analysis on prisoner cohorts to inform Ministerial policy options.
Other recent high-profile work has included fast-paced reactive analysis relating to COVID-19 court recovery – in particular the increasing remand prison population. Other work has included assessing the continuing impact of the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act, as well as innovative analysis based on maximising the use of existing data to identify the numbers and characteristics of ex-service personnel in the prison population – to support long-standing ministerial priorities.
This exciting role will have a project focus – expanding capacity within the team to work on analytical projects relating to prisons. One of the intended projects includes autonomous working with our underlying raw datasets as well as other analytical teams to produce a more robust estimate of ‘time spent on remand’ (which has been identified as an evidence gap), as well as a separate project investigating additional reporting on the characteristics of the ‘recall prison population’ (involving data quality assessments of specific variables to produce reports informing operational decision-making).
The role will also involve supporting the team (as required) on more routine data asks (in the form of Freedom of Information requests, Parliamentary Questions and statistical publications) as well as urgent Ministerial asks. The role will also likely include the Line Management of a Higher Executive Officer (HEO) member of staff.
This is a challenging post in a high-profile area where high-quality analytical work has the chance to make real impact and shape decision making at the highest levels of the Department. It requires working with policy, analytical and operational customers to elicit and refine their data requirements, then take responsibility for delivering analysis that has impact.
Key Responsibilities of the Role
- Leading discussions with senior colleagues to assess their analytical requirements and taking responsibility to deliver data projects that have real impact.
- Develop an expert understanding of different policy areas – in particular the characteristics of the prison population, as well as becoming a data expert on our underlying datasets.
- Delivering high-quality analysis at pace to support statutory work (PQs, FOIs and National Statistics publications) as well as urgent Ministerial asks.
- Line management of an HEO.
2. Senior Reoffending Statistics Analyst
The Reducing Reoffending Statistics team is responsible for processing, analysing, and publishing data and statistics based on our key reoffending datasets, as well as offering analytical insight to Ministers, policy colleagues, and external customers.
Reducing reoffending is a strategic priority for the Ministry of Justice and the statistics you will produce are an essential part of this programme. These statistics also facilitate policy decisions on a whole range of other topics, both across MoJ and externally, for example, including the impact on Women in the Criminal Justice system and the development of drugs policy at the Home Office.
As the senior analyst in the reoffending team, you will lead the group’s quarterly and annual national statistics publications on proven reoffending. You will work with a range of administrative data, such as prison data and the Police National Computer, to extract and process timely statistics. You will support the team on routine data asks, such as Freedom of Information requests, Parliamentary Questions and urgent Ministerial briefings. You will also lead some statistical analysis, for example, on long-term reoffending rates or reoffending by prison establishment.
You will be responsible for the continual development of the statistical and analytical capability of the reoffending team, taking a proactive approach on team development. You will also help in the creation and improvement of exciting data products that meet the needs of our data customers. The role will also include the Line Management of at least one team member.
This is a challenging post in a priority area where high-quality statistical and analytical work are crucial. You will have the opportunity to make real impact and contribute to decision making across government. You will be required to work with policy, analytical and operational colleagues and customers to deliver impactful advice on a range of topics.
Please note: due to operational restrictions, this post must be based at MOJ HQ, 102 Petty France, London with at least 2 days per week in the office. Additionally, the successful applicant will be required to secure Non-Police Personnel Vetting Level 2 clearance, which requires residency in the UK for the previous 3 years.
Key Responsibilities of the Role
- Leading the publication process of the group’s national statistics publication.
- Developing an expert level of understanding of the reoffending datasets and how they link together.
- Leading discussions with senior colleagues to assess their analytical requirements and taking responsibility to deliver data projects that have real impact.
- Delivering high-quality analysis at pace to support statutory work (PQs, FOIs and National Statistics publications) as well as urgent Ministerial briefing.
- Line management of at least one team member (depending upon experience).
3. Senior Prison Safety Analyst
The Prison Safety Statistics team is responsible for processing, analysing and publishing data based on prison safety data, as well as offering key analytical insight to policy colleagues, Ministers and external customers.
Our analysts lead high priority analytical projects to investigate and address real problems within our prison system, recently these have included a deep dive into the profile of self-harmers in the prison estate and investigating the time of different incidents to advise workforce planning.
These projects are agreed with stakeholders to develop insight into areas of real need and involve cross team working with colleagues across the business. Alongside this, there is the opportunity to be involved with the publication of official statistics, providing management information, topic expertise and insight.
The role will also involve supporting the team on more routine data asks (in the form of Freedom of Information requests and Parliamentary Questions) as well as urgent Ministerial asks. The role will also likely include the Line Management of a Higher Executive Officer (HEO) member of staff.
This is a challenging post in a high-profile area where high-quality analytical work has the chance to make real impact and shape decision at the highest levels of the Department. You will be required to work with policy, analytical and operational colleagues, and customers to deliver fast-paced, impactful advice on a range of topics.
Key Responsibilities of the Role
- Leading discussions with senior colleagues to assess their analytical requirements and taking responsibility to deliver data projects that have real impact.
- Develop an expert understanding of our different safety datasets.
- Delivering high-quality analysis at pace to support statutory work (PQs, FOIs and National Statistics publications) as well as urgent Ministerial asks.
4. Prison Performance Lead Analyst
This role sits in the Prison Performance Team within the Data and Analysis Directorate. We support the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) agency with data, statistics and analysis. Our work provides ministers and HMPPS leadership with evidence to support the development of policy and running operations and improve the performance of prisons.
As the Prison Performance Lead Analyst, you will be responsible for the development and delivery of the prison performance frameworks which is used to measure current priorities in prisons. To do this, you will work closely with operational and policy colleagues at all levels up to Senior Civil Service with occasional engagement with Ministers and external stakeholders including HM Inspectorate of Prisons and unions. You will provide analysis and advice to stakeholders. You will also have the opportunity to engage with and influence front line prison staff.
Within the role, you will produce regular analysis to assess and visualise performance in prisons. You will help manage the annual prison performance cycle, from agreeing and communicating the prison performance framework through to leading the Annual Prison Performance Ratings publication, ensuring that all data and information is produced to time and quality assured by another analyst within the team. You will also undertake ad-hoc analysis on prison performance data as required.
The team are also on a journey to automate data flows and products. You will play a key role in this and will have the opportunity to learn and develop coding skills, particularly in R and SQL.
You will line manage one HEO Prison Performance Analyst, planning their workload and taking responsibility for their development.
This is a fast paced, high-profile role where you will make a real impact in the prison sector with your analysis helping to drive improvements in prisons.
Key Responsibilities of the Role
- Representing Data and Analysis in prison performance discussions with policy and operational colleagues
- Leading development and release of internal prison performance information and external statistical publications, including responses to Freedom of Information requests and Parliamentary Questions.
- Developing an expert understanding of prison performance and sharing insight from it with others
- Line management responsibility for one HEO Prison Performance Analyst, including their career development and delivery
- Supporting your Grade 7 team lead in developing the team’s skills and tools, deputising when necessary.
- Presenting analysis in written publications, presentations and face to face briefings.
5. Prison Data Development Projects (2 posts): Reducing Reoffending and Prison Escort Custody Services
The Prison Data Development Projects team – which sits within MoJ Data & Analysis – are a new team responsible for the creation, processing, analysis, assurance and reporting of data to support customers within the MoJ and His Majesties Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The team support key customers with evolving their access and use of data as well as leading on projects to expose new data and answer new analytical questions.
We are looking for two SEO analysis to join the team to work in the following areas (alongside an existing role working as part of a large cross MoJ / HMPPS team working on the new Prison Education Services contract). These analysts will work in the following two areas:
- Reducing reoffending: Where the post holder would, amongst other projects, work to help explore existing data (as well as potentially advising and supporting the delivery of new data) to improve management information and briefing and deliver targeted developments to enable the MoJ to build its evidence base. This work will require working both independently and with a host of stakeholders and other analysis within MoJ Data and Analysis to successfully deliver projects and datasets.
- Prison Escort Custody Services (PECS Gen4): Working in support of the PECS Generation 4 project to ensure that reporting systems and data streams are accurate, meeting the needs of the business and delivered in an efficient way. Key to this role will be improving the automation of data production; working with stakeholders in PECS Gen4 as well as other colleagues to enable, accurate, timely, data to be provided to support the business to monitor the delivery of the project and contracts within the same, and also to ensure that the business is able to identify how the services offered can be improved. In addition, this role will be required to support our contract management function with analysis to help them target their resources to help effectively monitor and manage the contract using data.
Key Responsibilities of the Role
- Leading discussions with senior colleagues to assess their analytical requirements and taking responsibility to deliver data projects that have real impact.
- Develop an expert understanding of different policy areas at pace.
- Supporting the delivery of quality assured data.
- Using the data maturity model to continue to improve the governance, architecture, skills / leadership / cultures and quality of the data available to the business in the respective areas.
4. Who you are
The following experience and skills will be required:
- Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to engage with range of senior stakeholders
- The ability to plan, prioritise and lead analytical work.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to act on your own initiative
- The ability to work independently on projects and make sound judgments
- Experience in quantitative analysis and presenting your results with impact
- The ability to see the big picture and understand implications of decisions
- Strong coding proficiency (e.g., R, Python, SQL) and experience in analysing large data sets.
- Strong team work ethic, with a keen interest in team capability development
The following experience and skills are desirable:
- Experience using R and SQL.
- Experience of presenting to stakeholders of all levels.
- Professional knowledge and experience of the prison system
5. Selection process
There will be an initial sift of applicants through comparing submitted evidence against the expectations for the Behaviours and Technical Skills. This usually takes two weeks, depending on the number of applications.
Those who make it through the initial sift will be invited to a Civil Service Success Profile interview. In the Civil Service we use Success Profiles to help us find the right person for the job. We will be using a mixture of methods to assess your abilities, strengths, experience, technical skills and behaviours. We highly recommend learning about Success Profiles and using the Situation, Task, Action, Result and Reflection (STARR) framework when structuring your answers.
The highest scoring candidates that pass the interview will be offered the roles. The whole process can take up to a month.
Behaviours
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework for the following behaviours at both the sift and interview stages:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf
Technical skills
For existing analysts from GSS and GORS, as well as the three civil service behaviours stated above, you will be assessed on two sets of professional competencies at both the sift and interview stages.
For external (non-Civil Service) candidates (and unbadged candidates within the Civil Service), as well as the three civil service behaviours stated above, you will be assessed on your analytical knowledge, experience and abilities, and the impact of your analytical work at both the sift and interview stages.
Please provide written examples of:
- Where you have undertaken quantitative data analysis
- Where you have presented data effectively
Professional Competencies
- Professional Competency (1) Knowledge & Skills
- GSS - Data Analysis.
- GORS - Knowledge and application of OR Skills and Techniques.
- Professional Competency (2) Influence & Impact
- GSS - Presenting and disseminating data effectively.
- GORS - Achieving impact with analysis.
For more information regarding Professional Competency (2) please refer to the analytical profession internet links below. Please note that some aspect of the professional competency may overlap with the MoJ competencies listed above. We therefore recommend that in providing evidence for the professional competency, candidates focus on the technical and methodology aspects of the competencies that are specific to the profession. We will use evidence presented for the MoJ competencies in assessing the wider skills candidates have.
Government Statistician Group (GSG): Further information, including a user guide, can be found within the link below:
GSS Competency Framework 2021
Government Operational Research Service (GORS): Further information can be found within the link below:
GORS Competencies
6. Applicants invited for Interview
You may be required to give a 5-minute presentation or carry out an analytical skills test at interview. Details of this will be sent to those candidates who are invited for interview.
7. Further Information
If you require any additional information about these roles, please contact:
Role 1: Daniel Hawksworth, Daniel.hawksworth@justice.gov.uk
Role 2: Nathan Case, Nathan.case@justice.gov.uk
Role 3: Jon Mitchell, Jon.mitchell@justice.gov.uk
Role 4: Edward Rowland, Edward.rowland@justice.gov.uk
Roles 5 and 6: Guillaume Foxton, Guillaume.Foxton@justice.gov.uk
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