Operations Manager

Ministry of Justice; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Family friendly policies

Flexible benefits

Disability Confident employer

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice is recruiting for a regional Unpaid Work lead, reporting to the Head of Unpaid Work for the region. You will manage a dispersed team across the region and ensure delivery of contract requirements, health and safety standards, and quality outcomes to reduce reoffending.

You will work with partners across agencies, assess offender suitability for community payback, and drive performance against contractual targets, supported by a flexible hybrid working model.

Qualifications

• Experience of managing staff in challenging environments.
• Understanding of Probation Service in the Criminal Justice System.
• Knowledge of issues faced by victims of crime.
• Experience of risk management and multi‑agency processes.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Proven track record of improving quality and efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective leadership to the team and be accountable for quality delivery.
• Ensure safe and effective delivery of court orders and associated risks.
• Maintain statutory links with multi‑agency risk management forums.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to raise awareness of Unpaid Work.
• Engage with community partners to promote the service and placements.
• Recruit and manage staff development, attendance, and diversity matters.

Skills

Leadership

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Health & Safety

IT literacy

Diversity & inclusion

Education

IOSH Level 3

D1 Driving Licence

Job description

To implement and manage the strategic direction for Unpaid Work (UPW), ensuring that contract requirements are delivered efficiently and in compliance with specified standards and quality to support the overall objective to reduce reoffending. This role will be regionally based reporting directly to the Head of Unpaid Work for their region. They will have direct line management responsibility for a mobile and dispersed team working across the region. Occasional out of hours working will be required on an on-call duty rota to ensure that lone working staff have access to management support., To ensure the requirements of the court are delivered through the assessment and planning of a diverse range of purposeful work placements, which meet health and safety requirements and ensure maximised accessibility that meets the diverse needs of people on probation. To work in partnership with other agencies and local stakeholders to ensure the quality delivery and performance of unpaid work services meet contractual targets and the achievements of good outcomes for people on probation to enable them to make suitable reparation to their communities. Overall management of the UPW team to achieve a high standard of service delivery, working efficiently whilst creating a safe working environment for staff and people on probation.

• To provide effective management and leadership to the team and be accountable for the quality delivery of good practice and team performance.
• To be accountable for the safe and effective delivery of the court order and all associated risks including reputational, organisational, public and staff safety.
• To be accountable for the statutory link with risk management multi‑agency forums.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to maximise awareness of Unpaid Work, for example with court report writers, sentencers and partnership agencies.
• Engage with a range of community partners including the office of the PCC, local authority forums and community safety partnerships to promote the service, negotiate partnership agreements and to generate opportunities for new placements benefiting the local communities.
• To provide management oversight regarding the suitability of offenders for community payback including the placement of high risk offenders and those with specific risk or other needs.
• To recruit and proactively manage staff development, performance, attendance management, employee relations and diversity matters in line with HR polices.
• Oversee the development and assessment of suitable projects and provide a leading role and direction in work with partners and key stakeholders, and represent the Probation Service as appropriate to the role.
• To be accountable for asset and fleet management and equipment, and ensuring the most efficient means of service delivery by aligning resources to demand in a cost effect way whilst achieving the organisation's strategic aims.
• To work with the regional Health and Safety Advisor and Health and Safety Committee and union colleagues to ensure that working practices meet statutory requirements and to investigate any Health and Safety or Information Assurance breaches and introduce necessary improvements.

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 accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re‑examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme 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 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.

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.

Essential Experience

• Experience of managing staff working with challenging people in a practical work environment.
• Understanding of the role of the Probation Service in the Criminal Justice System and in a multi‑disciplinary setting.
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by victims of crime.
• Experience of risk management and assessment - understanding of multiagency risk assessment and management procedures.
• Experience of working under pressure and fulfilling demanding deadlines.
• Experience of working flexibly as a member of a team to achieve performance targets.
• Demonstrable achievements in managing/supporting change and effecting improvements in quality and efficiency.
• Well‑developed IT skills, including evidence of ability to interpret and apply performance reports.
• Experience of proactively championing diversity and inclusiveness both internally and externally.
• Management of Health and Safety policies and procedures and a working knowledge of Health and Safety legislation.
• Experience of effective administration and information systems.

Technical requirements

• Level 3 Institution of Occupational Safety and Health or equivalent qualification (or ability to achieve this within 6 months of appointment).
• D1 Category Driving Licence.

Ability

An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

The MoJ offers a range of benefits

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years' 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). Please visit www.gmpf.org.uk for further information. Please note: Any current Civil Servant who is 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 Local Government Pension Scheme.

Training

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

Networks

The opportunity to join employee‑run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

Eligibility

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

Support

• A range of '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 Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
• 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 e mail [e-mail]);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([e-mail]);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

As a Disability Confident employer

MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

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.

Recruitment for veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces. For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

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'.