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 permanently for an HEO Foreign National Offender Policy Advisor role. This campaign is open to current civil servants on level transfer and suitable candidates on promotion.
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)
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
Job Description overview
There is an exciting and stretching HEO role available in the high performing, fast-moving Foreign National Offender policy team working on priority departmental and cross Government issues. Reducing the number of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) in UK prisons is a top priority for the Government. The FNO policy team work on improving the processes for early removal of FNOs back to their home countries and the development and implementation of new policies.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
MOJ is one of the largest government departments, employing around 70,000 people (including those in the Probation Service), with a budget of approximately £9 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.
What we do
The Prison Policy Directorate is responsible for advising Ministers on all aspects of prison policy. Our key priorities include reducing the number of prisoners who reoffend on release from prison, ensuring that prisons are safe and secure, and developing a comprehensive strategy for the future of the prison estate and the recruitment and training of the prison workforce. Other important work includes the scrutiny of prison performance and developing policy that supports the effective management of Foreign National Offenders and other specific cohorts of prisoners.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Foreign National Offender Policy Advisor – the role
The successful candidate will:
- Lead on developing briefing for Ministers, including working closely with colleagues on migration and international issues with the Home Office and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (both in the UK and overseas);
- Work across policy and with operational colleagues to improve the management of FNOs in prison;
- Attend meetings and/or Boards on behalf of the team and co-ordinate and support projects;
- Ensure high quality responses to a range of PQs, correspondence and cross government requests on foreign national offender matters;
- Build good working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders – particularly other policy teams, HMPPS, Home Office, FCDO and HMCTS.
Skills and Experience
Successful candidates will need to display the following skills and capabilities:
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
- Ability to get to grips with a complex policy area quickly.
- Ability to work flexibly, independently and take responsibility for and lead own areas of work.
- Ability to build strong working relationships with partners and stakeholders.
- Excellent oral and written communications skills.
Application process
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.
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
- Leadership
- Seeing the big picture
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (Grade HEO 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 these behaviours.
Candidates invited to Interview
Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely.
During the interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours from the success Profiles framework.
Interviews are expected to take place February 2022.
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 to know more about the role or what it is like working in our team.
Samantha Ramsey, Samantha.ramsey@justice.gov.uk 07973 721721
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.
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