Operational Support Manager

Ministry of Justice; Skegness; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the UK is looking for a middle management role to provide strategic support within the National Probation Service. The successful candidate will oversee cluster staff performance, ensure compliance with operational policies, and manage audits and inspections. This position requires strong leadership experience, knowledge of probation practices, and proficiency in stakeholder management. The role is ideal for someone seeking a hybrid working arrangement while contributing to critical public safety initiatives.

Benefits

Annual Leave: 25 days increasing to 30 after five years

Pension scheme

Access to extensive training opportunities

Family Friendly policies

Qualifications

• Significant experience at middle manager level.
• Experience of managing relationships and key local agencies.
• Knowledge of the wider criminal justice system.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic support within the National Probation Service.
• Ensure effective cluster employee recruitment and induction.
• Act as cluster lead for performance & quality audits.

Skills

Management of staff

Budgetary control

Performance monitoring

Stakeholder management

Report writing

Education

Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma

Diploma in Social Work

Job description

Working at the direction of the Head of Operational Function, the post holder will be deployed to a variety of roles in order to provide strategic support and to support the Head of LDU Cluster, providing management and leadership within the National Probation Service (NPS) Local Delivery Unit (LDU). The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position and may be required to participate in out of hours on call rota.

• Cluster operational lead on caseload segmentation issues such as Child Sexual Exploitation, Guns and Gangs, Integrated Offender Management, etc.
• Operational support to the Head of Cluster within relevant Probation Instruction criteria and rules such as Recall, High Risk of Serious Harm, Case Transfers, etc.
• Providing support to the Head of Cluster within the relevant Probation Instruction criteria and rules such as grievance, discipline, capability, complaints, etc.
• Responsible for the professional development of cluster staff.
• Responsible for developing and deploying the Cluster Training Needs Analysis.
• Ensure effective cluster employee recruitment and induction.
• Act as cluster lead for performance & quality.
• Act as cluster lead for audits and inspections.
• Operational support to the Head of Cluster in completing reviews and delivery of action plans such as Domestic Homicides, Serious Further Reviews, Serious Case Reviews, etc.
• Responsible for the management of the Business Manager and the administrative support functions within the cluster.
• Under the guidance of the Head of LDU Cluster, represent the NPS in local strategic partnerships and ensure appropriate representation within wider partnership frameworks in line with statutory responsibilities and operational policy.
• Participate in the Multi‑Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) locally in conjunction with other responsible authorities including chairing MAPPA level 3 meetings.
• In the absence of the Head of LDU Cluster, make decisions and provide advice on the management of offenders where senior management authorisation or involvement is necessary (e.g. authorising the recall of offenders to prison).
• Operational support to the Head of cluster in the management of complaints within the cluster and direct involvement in complaint resolution where necessary.
• Take the lead on specific divisional or cluster projects/portfolios including Equality and Diversity, Reward and Recognition, etc.
• Operational support to the Head of cluster in cluster compliance with Health and Safety legislation.
• Senior Management responsibility for estates, buildings and maintenance activities within the cluster.
• Demonstrate pro‑social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro‑social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti‑social behaviour and attitudes.
• Carry out safeguarding duties for children and adults in accordance with the NPS statutory responsibilities and agency policies.
• Work within the aims and values of NPS and HMPPS.

The duties and responsibilities listed above describe the post at present and are not exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alteration and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re‑examination under job evaluation and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non‑contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and/or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and are subject to regular review. For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre‑employment checks. Some of MoJ's terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on "modernised" terms in their current post or onto "unmodernised" MoJ terms if they are on "unmodernised" terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made. Standard full‑time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS' Flexible Working policy.

Behaviours

• Leading Effectively
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving

Essential Experience

• Significant experience at middle manager level, including the management of staff.
• Experience of monitoring performance in area of responsibility against predetermined targets, setting local targets and effecting necessary improvements.
• Experience of budgetary control including procurement.
• Experience of managing relationships, including working with key local agencies and stakeholders.
• Evidence of preparing high‑level written reports to a good standard.

Technical Requirements

A qualification in one of the following areas:

• Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma/Honours Degree in Community Justice integrated with Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice.
• Or, a qualification which was recognised at the time of qualification by the Secretary of State for Justice as per Section 10 of the Offender Management Act 2007. The following qualifications gained in England and Wales were previously recognised as providing such eligibility:
  • Diploma in Probation Studies
  • Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option)
  • CQSW (with Probation Option)
• Knowledge of the wider criminal justice system.

Benefits

Annual Leave: 25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 days after five years of service, plus public holidays. Leave for part‑time and job‑share posts will be calculated on a pro‑rata basis.

Pension: The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). Current Civil Servants who are a member of the PCSPS, by accepting an offer of employment to the National Probation Services, will be opted out of the PCSPS and auto‑enrolled into the LGPS.

Training: The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks: Opportunity to join employee‑run networks for minority ethnic origin, disabilities, caring responsibilities, women and LGBTQ+ employees.

Eligibility

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post.

Support

• Family Friendly policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.gov.uk or through Childcare Choices.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order:

• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email [e-mail]).
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([e-mail]).
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here).

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme for those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are "at risk of redundancy".