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.
The Prison Policy Directorate is recruiting for one HEO (Band C equivalent) policy advisor role. This campaign is being run externally and is open to all to apply. If you are applying as an external candidate and are successful you will be offered a Fixed Term Appointment. If you are already a civil servant, recruited via open and fair competition and are successful you would join MoJ on loan from your current department. This is a fixed term appointment until 31st March 2024.
Location:
Successful candidates will have the option to be based at one of the following locations:
- 102 Petty France, London
- 5 Wellington Place, Leeds (occasional travel between Leeds and London may be required post Covid-19)
New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum of the pay range. Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.
Ways of Working
At the MoJ we believe and promote alternative ways of working, these roles are available as:
- Full-time, part-time or the option to job share
- Flexible working patterns
- Flexible working arrangements between base locations, MoJ Hubs and home.
At the moment the majority of our staff are currently working from home due to Covid-19
If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.
We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
MOJ is one of the largest government departments. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales. This vacancy sits in the prison policy directorate, which advises ministers on all aspects of policy. This is one of the most challenging and interesting areas of public policy, requiring an understanding of what causes criminal behaviour, how individuals can be supported to desist from crime, and how to work with operational colleagues and across government to achieve change in an area of significant public interest.
What we do
This is a hugely exciting role to work on a high-profile programme using better data to help deliver against the government ambition to reduce reoffending.
The Better Outcome through Linked Data programme is a cross-government initiative to deliver better evidenced, joined-up and more effective cross-government interventions to support vulnerable adults at specific touchpoints in their interactions with government services. This will enable policymakers and those working on the frontline of UK public services to have better quality evidence on what works in supporting victims, reducing homelessness, identifying drug misuse and helping offenders turn their backs on crime.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Job Description overview
Better Outcomes through Linked Data: Reducing Reoffending – the role
This role sits within the reducing reoffending policy strand and involves working with colleagues across government and with local services to design and deliver a demonstrator pilot that uses an innovative approach to data to improve outcomes for those at risk of reoffending.
The chosen candidate will have responsibility for:
- Leading the programme management of the reducing reoffending project, working with operational, policy and analytical colleagues to deliver to key deadlines and oversee our governance arrangements.
- Engaging with a range of stakeholders across MoJ, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and other government departments, updating them on our progress, responding to queries and ensuring we are aligned with related programmes of work.
- Supporting HMPPS colleagues in stakeholder engagement and programme preparedness.
- Briefing and drafting information for senior managers and Ministers on the programme and its progression.
- Supporting the design and delivery of the demonstrator pilot, with the opportunity to lead on specific policy areas aimed at reducing reoffending.
Skills and Experience
Essential skills:
- Interested in criminal justice issues, and ambitious about improving outcomes for people.
- Good organisational skills and the ability to deliver to competing deadlines at a high standard.
- Proactive and confident in scoping and developing work, driving it forward and taking initiative, and take pride in producing high-quality work.
- Enjoys thinking strategically and taking a solution-focused approach to analysing problems.
- Understands the broader political context for their work, and can work within this context to achieve positive change.
- A collaborator who can confidently work with a range of stakeholders and influence others to implement solutions.
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
Desirable:
- Experience working in policy is helpful but not essential, and we do not require prior civil service experience. Colleagues in MoJ policy teams have a wide range of experiences; some who are new to the MoJ have come from other parts of the public sector, the third sector and private sector.
We believe in and promote alternative ways of working, so these roles are available as:
- Full-time with flexible working patterns
- Flexible working arrangements between base locations, MoJ Hubs and home.
Application process
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.
Experience
You will be asked to provide a Statement of suitability. You will be asked to set out in 500 words how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential skills set out in the overview above.
Behaviours
Please provide examples of how you have met each one of the behaviours listed below (see Annex A for more information):
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (Level 3 –HEO/SEO or equivalent):
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf
Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on the lead behaviour of Delivering at Pace. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths from the success Profiles framework.
Candidates invited to Interview
Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely.
Interviews are expected to take place in late November 2021.
If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.
We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity
The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description.
Contact information
Please do get in touch if you would like more information on the role or what it is like working in our team, please contact Natasha.Beebe1@justice.gov.uk
Annex A - The STAR method
Using the STAR method can help you give examples of relevant experience that you have. It allows you to set the scene, show what you did, and how you did it, and explain the overall outcome.
Situation - Describe the situation you found yourself in. You must describe a specific event or situation. Be sure to give enough detail for the job holder to understand.
- Where are you?
- Who was there with you?
- What had happened?
Task - The job holder will want to understand what you tried to achieve from the situation you found yourself in.
- What was the task that you had to complete and why?
- What did you have to achieve?
Actions - What did you do? The job holder will be looking for information on what you did, how you did it and why. Keep the focus on you. What specific steps did you take and what was your contribution? Remember to include how you did it, and the behaviours you used. Try to use “I” rather than “we” to explain your actions that lead to the result. Be careful not to take credit for something that you did not do.
Results - Don’t be shy about taking credit for your behaviour. Quote specific facts and figures. Explain how the outcome benefitted the organisation or your area. Make the outcomes easily understandable.
- What results did the actions produce?
- What did you achieve through your actions and did you meet your goals?
- Was it a successful outcome? If not, what did you learn from the experience?
Keep the situation and task parts brief. Concentrate on the action and the result. If the result was not entirely successful describe what you learned from this and what you would do differently next time. Make sure you focus on your strengths.
TOP