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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.

Background to the Team

Within the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for the Leadership, Talent & Capability Team in People Group it is our vision to make a Department where leaders inspire; talent is nurtured; diversity is celebrated; and everyone is enabled to be their best.  As a Team we are here to champion leadership excellence, nurture and develop talent to inspire and empower every individual to fulfil their potential.  Through the delivery of high quality, high impact programmes and assessments we strengthen individual and organisational capability, create a pipeline of future leaders and promote a culture of continuous improvement and growth.

Role purpose and summary

To assist the Lead for Assessments and the team by providing psychological support to develop Organisational Capability by translating the Capability and Assessments Strategy into a plan that delivers effectively across the MoJ Family. This include ensuring that all assessments adhere to professional psychological guidelines, testing best practice and the highest ethical standards contributing towards an integrated model for organisational development.  

This includes:   

• Providing psychological support in the development and delivery of high-quality promotional assessments and selection procedures. This includes the assessment processes across the Leadership, Talent and Capability portfolio, with the aim of the MoJ becoming a beacon of learning and continuous professional development.  
• Supporting the design of assessment materials and processes for internal staff promotion accreditation, or placement onto fast-track or leadership programmes.  
• Effective collaboration and engagement with a range of stakeholders at all levels and across boundaries including working with other Government departments and agencies as appropriate to support civil service alignment of leadership, talent and capability activities.  Including supporting decision making, managing stakeholder/customer expectations, and persuading and influencing others who are likely to prefer alternative options or approaches.   
• Contribute to the development and delivery of psychological research, and continuous improvement activities within the Directorate, utilising knowledge of the latest capability theories and thinking and identifying appropriate opportunities to ensure that we are continually investing in new innovative ways and methods of developing and accessing our people.   
• Advise the Leadership, Talent and Capability Team, on areas related to psychological assessment at work, training and development, and leadership.  
• Striving for excellence in a dynamic and creative way, open to working in a collaborative, iterative way that gets the best from the team whilst working at pace 

Impact role has on organisation

The Psychological Assistant role is a specialist role that supports the deliverables within the Capability plan that require Occupational Psychology knowledge, theory and practice e.g. developing, designing, and delivering of promotional assessments across the MoJ family to support the development of leadership skills and practices, ensure effective progression processes, strengthen individual and organisational capability and support continuous improvement and growth across the MoJ family and its 80,000 members of staff. 

Key Accountabilities, responsibilities, and deliverables

• To assist with and support relevant research activities to ensure that the design of all assessment material reflects best practice  
• Co-ordinate volunteers and staff for job analysis, desk topping, bench-testing and training weeks for new assessments, including keeping an up to date spreadsheet of volunteers for future assessments, diary requests 
• Assist with all aspects of selection and assessment as required including assisting with the design the development portfolios,  job analysis interviews and focus groups and contribute to reports, the completion of Equality Analysis for assessments and portfolio, initial quality review of assessment measures, production of behaviourally anchored scoresheets for all levels of assessment – provided by the lead designer  and gather and cleanse data for adverse impact analysis.
• Manage the Reasonable Adjustments process for assessments, in line with internal policy, legal regulations and psychological principles including logging reasonable adjustment scheme queries/applications from candidates and support and agree appropriate and reasonable adjustments  (in line with the Equality Act) through assessment under the supervision of a Chartered Psychologist,  to ensure that candidates/learners not put at a disadvantage in any assessment.   
• Monitor the National Assessment Team functional mailbox for all assessment related queries. 
• Maintain and design accurate, secure and confidential results and accreditation databases.  
• Support the data/statistical analysis of all assessment results, including: compiling candidate assessment results for review and sign-off by Head and Director of Assessments; writing and sending of results letters, and input to the production of technical assessment (adverse impact, item analysis) and comprehensive candidate feedback reports.    
• To support and assist with the design of focused feedback solutions (including sending out detailed and comprehensive feedback reports to candidates and reviewing assessment feedback from candidates) and learning and development interventions 
• To support and assist with the design and delivery of comprehensive training packages for training of assessors, role players and induction of new staff.  
• Research best practice and latest thinking utilise stakeholder feedback and lessons learnt to continuously improve and pursue excellence and credibility across MoJ.

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 undertake additional tasks commensurate with their grade.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience incl. qualifications

Essential

• An understanding and recognition of the varied roles and responsibilities across the MoJ and developing people to be their best in order to deliver a world class justice system.
• Track record of building and maintaining lasting stakeholder relationships.
• Working knowledge of statistics and competent in using SPSS (Statistical Programme for Social Scientists). 
• Ability to critically evaluate information.  
• Have an in‐depth understanding of the Equalities Act legislation, including building and maintaining an understanding of disabilities and health conditions.
• Experience of working in a flexible, agile environment, working to tight deadlines and ability to plan ahead to ensure that the portfolio is developed to meet changing operating requirements.
• Skills:  Teamwork and collaboration; leadership, professionalism and strong work ethic
• Strong organisational and planning skills, presentation skills, oral and written communication skills.
• Utilise a high degree of autonomy and working on your own initiative.
• Effectively prioritise and deliver several projects simultaneously.

Desirable

• Qualification in Occupational Psychology (Stage 1) (MSc in Occupational Psychology related subject). 
• Knowledge and understanding of selection and assessment processes and tools.  
• Experience of delivering training/presentations.

Qualifications

Degree in Psychology.