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 up to three SEO Policy Roles. This campaign is being run externally and so is open to all eligible individuals who wish to apply.
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)
Staff are currently expected to be office based for an average minimum of two days per week, depending on individual circumstances.
Salary and Grade
These posts are SEO. 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, Part-time Jobshare, Flexible working
- Flexible working arrangements between base locations, MoJ Hubs and home.
Our staff, who have an HQ building as their base location, are expected to work in an office at least 2 days per week.
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.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
MOJ is one of the largest government departments, employing over 77,000 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
We work to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public. We are also responsible for the following parts of the justice system:
- Courts
- Prisons
- Probation Services
We also work in partnership with other government departments and agencies to reform the criminal justice system, to serve the public and support the victims of crime. We are also responsible for making new laws, strengthening democracy, and safeguarding human rights.
Priorities
- A prison and probation service that reforms offenders
- A modern courts and justice system
- A Global Britain that promotes the rule of law
- A transformed department that is simpler, smarter and more unified
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Background
The Prison Policy Directorate sits within the Ministry of Justice and is responsible for advising Ministers on all aspects of prison policy. The Joint Strategic Policy Unit is a multi-disciplinary team, made up of both policy and operational expertise. It sits both within the Prison Policy Directorate in the Ministry of Justice, and the Central Operational Services Directorate in HMPPS. It provides strategic level advice to senior officials, Ministers, and across Government.
Managing the strategic response to Covid-19 continues to be a strong focus for the team. Throughout winter, work has been focused on our operational and policy response to Omicron, including the appropriate level of restrictions and testing arrangements to maintain across the prison estate. Our focus is now shifting again towards recovery and regime progression and how we will “learn to live with covid” in the longer term.
As the remit of the team expands beyond Covid-19, we are focusing on cross-cutting, time-limited work, that is of importance for the business and / or is a Ministerial priority, that requires a policy as well as an operational response. Our non-Covid work to date has included deep dives into County Lines, governor autonomy, short-term prison capacity and a sprint on the recruitment and retention of staff.
We have up to three posts in the Joint Strategic Policy Unit. We are looking for talented, forward-thinking and adaptable individuals who are looking for an opportunity to work in a fast-paced policy environment and collaborate with a wide range of operational, policy, analytical, and legal colleagues across HMPPS, the Ministry of Justice and wider government.
The Joint Strategic Policy Unit is a friendly, enthusiastic and collaborative team that places a strong emphasis on ensuring our members feel happy, supported and engaged in their work. We are keen to make a difference, working closely with partners and supporting everyone to play their part to improve prison and probation services and outcomes. We have a strong commitment to personal and career development, helping everyone to grow and fulfil their potential.
Role Purpose
As a member of the Joint Strategic Policy Unit, the post holder will develop strategy and work across multiple policy areas to support the recovery of prison services from Covid-19 and as we take on other priority projects.
Main Activities / Responsibilities
The job holders will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:
- develop a rich understanding of causes, trends, opportunities, threats and possible futures through collecting and interpreting a wide range of sources of data and evidence;
- analyse, interpret and present evidence to form sound policy proposals and approaches and to identify which activities are likely to have an impact;
- develop and build strong partnerships with colleagues across the criminal justice system and across government, in the centre and operationally;
- drive forward and take ownership of the development and delivery of key strands of work and activities;
- identify relevant linkages with other projects within prison policy as well as across the department to ensure a joined-up approach and enhanced valued is added;
- provide high-quality briefing to senior officials and Ministers, showing excellent oral and written communication skills; and
- have the ability to respond flexibly to competing and complex demands to tight deadlines.
There may be an opportunity for line management.
Application process
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework
Experience
You will be asked to provide a CV during the application process
Behaviours
Your application will also be assessed against the following behaviours:
- Seeing the big picture (Lead Behaviour)
We are looking for candidates who are able to understand and apply strategic drivers to their area of work, including wider organisational priorities. Bring together views and perspectives of a range of partners and stakeholders to gain a wider picture of the landscape and develop a common understanding of objectives, relative priorities and trade-offs.
- Making Effective Decisions
We are looking for candidates who are able to confidently use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. They should be able to carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions and display confidence when presenting their decision, advice or recommendation.
We are looking for candidates who can establish effective relationships and collaborate with other departments and external stakeholders to support the delivery of departmental objectives.
We are looking for candidates who are able to take responsibility for their work to deliver the expected outcomes on time and to a high standard; to be able to plan ahead as well as reprioritise at short notice.
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (Level 3 – SEO and 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 Seeing the Big Picture. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths.
You will also be asked about Strengths which are not notified in advance. You can refer to the CS Strengths dictionary for more details: Success Profiles - Civil Service Strengths Dictionary (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Candidates invited to Interview
Interviews will be carried out remotely. During the interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours and Strengths from the success Profiles framework.
You will also be asked to give a short presentation (details of the presentation will be provided in advance)
Interviews are expected to take place towards the start of April 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
Joint Unit Information Sessions – we are hosting two virtual information sessions (on Microsoft Teams). These sessions are an opportunity to hear directly from members of the team on the work we do and there will be a chance to ask questions. The information sessions are scheduled for one hour on the 14 March at 5.30pm and the 16 March at 1pm.
If you are interested in attending either of these events, please get in touch with us on the contact details below, indicating which date you would like to attend.
If you are unable to attend either of these events and would like to know more about the role or what it is like working in our teams, please do get in touch via the contact details below.
Joint Strategic Policy Unit:
Francesca Ainsworth – Francesca.Ainsworth@justice.gov.uk
Dan Bell – Daniel.Bell1@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.
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