Reporting to the Head of Assurance, the Assurance Lead will be a senior manager within the National Operations and Assurance Team (NOAT) in the Joint Extremism Unit (JEXU). The post holder will be accountable for the design and delivery of effective operational risk management and assurance practices surrounding counterterrorism (CT) delivery in the prison or probation sector. The post holder will represent the Assurance Team in their designated area (prison or probation), liaising with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders (including - but not limited to - Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, Home Office, Ministry of Justice, CT Policing) in order to establish and provide reassurances. This is a non-operational, national post., The Joint Extremism Unit (JEXU) is jointly run by the Directorate of Security in Her Majesty's Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Homeland Security Group in the Home Office - and is the strategic centre for all counter-terrorism (CT) work in the prison and probation sector. JEXU's National Operations and Assurance Team (NOAT), within which this role sits, was created in 2019 to provide national coordination of a number of key CT specialist capabilities and to deliver improved counter-terrorism operational assurance across prisons and probation. Following a number of terrorist attacks, the requirement to enhance those capabilities grew at pace and in January 2020, the Home Secretary and Lord Chancellor announced an investment package, bringing with it, new skills and capacity to expand and enhance (amongst other things) our counter-terrorism assurance capabilities. The Role The Assurance Lead will have responsibility for delivering this expansion and enhancement within custody or the community, working closely with operational colleagues to design and deliver effective operational risk management and assurance practices around our counter-terrorism work. This role is integral to ensuring JEXU are able to provide dedicated CT leadership to key parts of the CT sector to provide JEXU with a detailed understanding as to how well CT operations are being delivered. It enables the CT sector as a whole to have a better understanding of the risks and opportunities that exist and ways in which continuous improvement can be driven. This is more practical when there is one lead for engagement and oversight covering each side of CT delivery; in the community or custody. The geographical base for the Assurance Lead post can be flexible but will require some work in London and other locations as required. The post-holder must have SC clearance before commencing the role and be willing to undertake the national security clearance process to achieve DV clearance within the first 12 months. Responsibilities, Activities and Duties The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
* Lead, manage and coordinate effective and efficient assurance of CT activity in custody and the community.
* Oversee and co-ordinate CT operational risk management for the sector based on a programme of monthly risk reporting.
* Build productive working relationships with colleagues at all grades within JEXU, across prisons and probation and the wider CT-sector to ensure that operational delivery activities are effective and efficient.
* Communicate with and influence stakeholders across CT-sector to ensure the effective risk management and assurance of CT operational delivery.
* Support the Head of Assurance with project management delivery of an enhanced counter-terrorism operational assurance framework.
* Project Management individual workstreams (including but not limited to delivery of CT Quality Development Tools).
* Write and present briefings, reports and presentations to ministers and seniors on complex issues impacting CT operational delivery.
* Critically and objectively assess findings from assurance activity and make recommendations to inform performance management, system/process development and quality and effective practice - playing a critical role to look across delivery to identify strategic themes, examples of good practice and areas for improvement.
* Provide detailed reports on assurance findings to JEXU and partners in the CT Sector.
* Communicate effectively with senior leaders within JEXU, across Government and to Ministers through high quality briefings, operational assurance products and attendance at various governance boards.
* Delivering high quality line management to a dispersed staffing group of various grades to develop and deliver the risk management and operational assurance capability.
* Provide devolved line management and support to those not in direct line management hierarchy in a complex and nationally dispersed unit, including staff outside of HMPPS in wider CT sector.
* Work on their own initiatives to identify key themes, examples of good practice and areas for improvement, making recommendations for improvements in the CT sector including contributing to drafting new operational guidance.
* Represent JEXU with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders (including ministers) at Management level.
* Keep up to date with developments in practice, legislation and policy related to terrorism and the effective management of that cohort.
* Deputise for the Head Assurance as required.
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., National CT Caseworker 12 months maternity cover to support with the following:
* PtD National Caseworker - support identification via national caseloads, support the CT network with referrals, national CT link for Public Protection Casework Section (PPCS), quality assurance of referrals and rescind applications. National point of contact for seniors.
* National Casework - support to operational delivery colleagues in strategic release planning which may include a review of national datasets, support PPCS with the review of Parole Board directed releases within the reconsideration window.
* Joint Extremism national point of contact for PPCS and the Parole Board.
* Serious Further Offence (SFO) Reviews - provide the CT specialist input to SFO reviews concerning a terrorism offence.
* Responsible for ensuring CT delivery process maps and guidance are relevant and up to date on EQUIP.
* Thematics Lead - providing co-ordination and oversight of thematics and reviews, including moderation, support for QEPOs and responsibility for urgent commissions from Seniors. This will also include presenting at senior governance boards.
* Recommendations Oversight - Maintain JEXU internal recommendations tracker, obtain quarterly updates, and present analysis of progress & barriers at JEXU SMT (every 6 months).
* National Casework Data Review
The geographical base for the Assurance Lead post can be flexible but will require some work in London and other locations as required. The post-holder must have SC clearance before commencing the role Working Arrangements & Further Information 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. 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. If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff. The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.
* Seeing the Bigger Picture
* Communicating and Influencing
* Changing and Improving
* Managing a Quality Service
* Working Together
* Delivering at Pace
Experience The essential requirements for this post include:
* Experience of operational audit, assurance and/or risk management activity
* Experience of analysing and implementing findings from inspections and audits; ensuring actions are embedded in practice change
* Experience of working in the prison and/or probation service or a comparable operational environment (e.g. within the criminal justice system or involving delivery of offender/public services), at management level
* Experience in influencing senior stakeholders internally, in other Government Departments or Criminal Justice Agencies
* Experience of working in a multi-agency setting
* Strong operational knowledge of probation and/or prison practice
* Experience of managing a team of staff
Desirable:
* Experience of working in the counter terrorism sector (ideally within HMPPS)
Technical Requirements
* NVQ Level 4 or equivalent in a relevant subject (or appropriate practical experience)
* IT Skills; Microsoft: Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint
Ability
* Sound judgement, good communication and analytical skills
* Ability to communicate, influence and negotiate with stakeholders at a
management level in a complex and multi layered delivery landscape
* Excellent written communication skills including report writing, briefings,
presentations
* Practical ability to achieve demanding objectives, Communicating and Influencing - 250 word limit
Delivering at Pace - 250 word limit Working Together - 250 word limit Changing and Improving - 250 word limit Experience Statement of Suitability - 500 word limit Technical Skills Desirable to have probation qualification - Diploma in probation studies or equivalent - 250 word limit A sift based on the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
The Joint Extremism Unit (JEXU) is jointly run by the Directorate of Security in Her Majesty's Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Homeland Security Group in the Home Office - and is the strategic centre for all Counter-Terrorism (CT) work in the prison and probation sector. JEXU's National Operations and Assurance Team (NOAT), within which this role sits, was created in 2019 to provide national coordination of a number of key CT specialist capabilities and to deliver improved counter-terrorism operational assurance across prisons and probation. Following a number of terrorist attacks, the requirement to enhance those capabilities grew at pace and in January 2020, the Home Secretary and Lord Chancellor announced an investment package, bringing with it, new skills and capacity to expand and enhance (amongst other things) our counter-terrorism assurance capabilities.
The national salary range is £53,324 - £58,656, London salary range is £56,221 - £63,503. Your salary will be dependent on your base location, Annual Leave -The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case. Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays -You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. Pension -The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best. Work Life Balance HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ Season Ticket Advance -After two months' service, you'll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work Childcare Vouchers For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers Training HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes -There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts -All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles Eligibility -All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post -All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS -All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist 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 Shared Service Connected Ltd (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
* To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
* 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 SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team. For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please see our Disability Confident Scheme Frequently Asked Questions webpage. 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. Interview dates To be confirmed Closing Date, Delivering at Pace Working Together Changing and Improving Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance. A Great Place to Work 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 : Redeployment Interview Scheme Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.