Senior Operational Support Manager (Ref: 12656)

HM Prison and Probation Service; Blyth; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the UK is looking for a strategic leader to manage health and justice partnerships within probation services. This role involves oversight of health and well-being initiatives aimed at reducing reoffending and improving care continuity for those on probation. Applicants should have extensive management experience, along with relevant qualifications in community justice or social work. The position requires strong analytical and stakeholder engagement skills and involves regional travel across the North East.

Benefits

Access to learning and development

Flexible working options

Civil Service pension with employer contribution of 28.97%

Annual Leave

Public Holidays

Qualifications

• Significant experience at middle manager level, including staff management.
• Experience of monitoring performance against targets.
• Evidence of preparing high level written reports.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to Health and Justice Partnership Coordinators.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external partners.
• Lead themes in mental health, substance misuse, and physical health.

Skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder engagement

Problem-solving

Management experience

Education

Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma/Hons Degree

Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option)

Job description

The postholder will work at a regional and strategic level providing management and leadership to a team of Health and Justice Partnership Coordinators to deliver on the Social Care Strategy within the probation service.

This key strategic senior leadership role will report directly to the Head of Community Integration (HoCI). The role will involve working with an extensive range of internal and external partners to improve the health and wellbeing of those under probation supervision and contribute to reducing health inequities within the criminal justice system. This includes improving ‘continuity of care’ that deliver robust pathways to treatment services. This work will make a key contribution to reducing reoffending and reducing the number of victims of crime that will support HMPPS' shared goals with health and social care partners.

The Health and Social Care agenda is complex and will require the postholder to engage with and lead multiple themes, which include, but are not limited to, mental health, substance misuse, physical health and social care.

The postholder will have excellent analytical and stakeholder engagement skills with an ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to solve problems and find pragmatic solutions that deliver improved outcomes for people on probation.

The postholder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.

This role is regional and will require travel across the North East Region.

Overview of the job

Working at the direction of the Head of Operational Function the postholder will be deployed to a variety of roles in order to provide strategic support. To support the Head of the LDU Cluster a providing management and leadership within the National Probation Service (NPS) Local Delivery Unit (LDU). To represent the Head of LDU Cluster with external agencies/stakeholders and staff as appropriate. The postholder may be required to participate in out of hours on call rota.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

• 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 absence of the Head of LDU Cluster to 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.
• Under the guidance of the Head of LDU Cluster to 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 children and safeguarding adult duties in accordance with the NPS statutory responsibilities and agency policies.
• Work within the aims and values of NPS and HMPPS.

The duties/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.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Nationality requirements

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the EUSS
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

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. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and 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.

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 incl. procurement
• Experience of managing relationships incl. 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/Hons 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.