Operations Manager - Unpaid Work

Ministry of Justice; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice is recruiting a Regional Unpaid Work (UPW) Operations Manager to lead a dispersed team across the region. You will report to the Head of Unpaid Work for your region, manage on-call duties, and ensure delivery of compliant, high-quality unpaid work services to reduce reoffending.

You will supervise staff, coordinate with partners, and drive performance against contractual targets while maintaining a safe, professional working environment for staff and people on probation.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective management and leadership to the UPW team and be accountable for quality delivery of good practice and team performance.
• Ensure safe and effective delivery of the court order and manage risks including reputational, organisational, public and staff safety.
• Maintain statutory links with risk management multi-agency forums.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to maximise awareness of Unpaid Work and partnership opportunities.
• Oversee development and assessment of suitable projects and represent the Probation Service as appropriate.

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. Responsibilities, Activities & Duties The UPW Operations Manager may be required to undertake any combination, or all, of the duties and responsibilities set out below.

• 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.