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Who are we?

The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) is the public body which advises Ministers, including the Secretary of State for Justice on the youth justice system. Our ambition is to see a Child First youth justice system. A system which looks to children’s’ strengths and supports children to become the best version of themselves. To this effect we engage with a wide variety of organisations, partners and parties with an interest in youth justice; we share good practice, champion improvement and issue grants.

Our Vision

Working to ensure a youth justice system that sees children as children, treats them fairly and helps them to build on their strengths so they can make a constructive contribution to society. This will prevent offending and create safer communities with fewer victims.

Aims of the Youth Justice System

Prevention of offending by children and young people:

• To reduce the number of children in the youth justice system

• To reduce reoffending by children in the youth justice system

• To improve the safety and wellbeing of children in the youth justice system

• To improve outcomes of children in the youth justice system

Thinking of joining us?

Our recruitment is based on merit, we welcome applications from all who can commit to our vision and values, we offer considerable flexibility in how you work and expect commitment and flexibility in return. We continue to strive for equity, diversity and inclusion in our culture and our staff group. To this end we very much encourage applications from those people with protected characteristics. Our staff are public servants, eligible for the Civil Service pension scheme and we are accredited by the Civil Service Commission. This means applications from across Civil Service Departments, their agencies and Arms-Length Bodies are treated as internal applicants. We also welcome applications from those who do not currently work in these bodies or the public sector.

Role purpose:

• The ICT Manager is a strategic management role contributing to ensuring the YJB successfully delivers its responsibilities under Section 41 (part 5) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. This requires the YJB to provide assistance to local authorities and other persons in connection with information technology systems and equipment used or to be used for the purposes of the operation of the youth justice system and the provision of youth justice services.

• The post holder manages the day to day operation of Youth Justice System (YJS) ICT systems which facilitate the effective, secure and timely transfer of information between the youth justice agencies. This includes the transfer of information between all Youth Justice Services, Secure Establishments, Youth Custody Service’s Placements service and the Youth Justice Board.

Role context:

• YJB is the only public body with oversight of the whole youth justice system. Evidence and Intelligence is key to our understanding of the youth justice landscape. This supports effective decision making, gives assurance to ministers that our advice has a solid evidence base and supports the achievement of our strategic objectives.

• The ICT Team sit within the Business Intelligence and Insights Directorate which gathers and interprets information from a range of sources (including data, research, and wider intelligence). This information supports: the YJB’s oversight of the Youth Justice System (YJS), helps us to understand how the system is operating and whether it is achieving its aims, and helps to identify future opportunities and challenges for children and the YJS. The directorate leads the organisation in gathering, developing, and using data and evidence well.

• The ICT team are responsible for the successful day to day operation of YJS (Youth Justice System) ICT systems which facilitate the effective, secure and timely transfer of information between the Youth Justice agencies.

Key activities and relationships

• Support the achievement of the YJB strategic and business plan through your leadership role, both within your directorate and across the wider YJB.

• Have a lead role in the delivery of the YJB transformation programme.

• The team aid local authorities and other persons in connection with information technology systems and equipment used or to be used for the purposes of the operation of the youth justice system and the provision of youth justice services.

• Maintenance of the technical standards for the transfer of YJS information.

• Delivery of agile software development to enhance and maintain the Youth Justice Application Framework and associate systems.

• Delivery of the services that support the YJS ICT such as first, second- and third-line support, Hosting and networking.

• Delivery of the ICT services that supports YJB’s day to day operation by working with YJB’s MoJ Digital and Technology’s Demand and Engagement Manager to ensure that services are reliable and meet YJB’s needs. This includes the ordering and delivery of ICT equipment and software.

• Responsible for maintaining open technical standards for the transfer of information, consulting and engaging with all organisations and suppliers ensuring that the standards are implemented.

• Working closely with Product Owners to facilitate the delivery of agile application developments as agreed by the YJS ICT Governance group to time, cost and quality.

• Support the budget holder to agree contracts, and ensure ICT suppliers are paid, whilst ensuring value-for-money for ICT in YJB and the YJS.

• Contributes to ensuring effective services which support the YJS ICT. The role will support the YJB’s desire to introduce innovation by creating an environment in which different YJS agencies are supported in finding new delivery models while enabling the secure sharing of information between agencies.

• Contributes to ensuring the delivery of the ICT services that support YJB’s day to day operation.

• Contributes to the provision of information assurance and cyber security services in the YJB.

• Enabling delivery of the Government Digital Strategy: Digital by Default in respect to the Youth Justice System.

• At all times, demonstrate support and respect for the YJBs commitment to equity, inclusivity and the diversity of the YJB and its partners.

• Be responsible for making sure you understand and adhere to your responsibilities in relation to health and safety and data protection.

• Work positively and collaboratively with colleagues in both England and YJB Cymru and will consider the impact of developments on policy, practice, and legislation specific to Wales.

• Work flexibly. All posts within the YJB operate flexibly to make sure the requirements of the business are met and as such you may be required to undertake other duties in your role or duties in other parts of the business at your grade to meet business priorities

Main Responsibilities

• Act as a positive influence for the work and culture of the YJB by encouraging positive emotions and positive social exchanges in the workplace. Set high expectations and live up to them. Make sure you deliver on the commitments you make. Value the contribution of others and nurture positive relationships as well as skills and professional development

• Ensuring that the YJB has access to the information technology and related support it needs to inform its functions and strategic objectives.
  
  

• Support the provision, development and evolution of platforms delivering the requirement of the Crime & Disorder Act (YJAF, Asset+, Exchange, Basecamp, Resource Hub).
  
  

• Support key contract management by liaising with MoJ Commercial and Contract Management Directorate to compete, award, and maximise the performance of live contracts.
  
  

• Coordinate the day-to-day Information Assurance services for the YJB providing relevant Data Protection and cyber security support.
  
  

• Coordinate the compliance process of third-party Case Management Systems used by YJS against YJB Data Recording Requirements. Ensure that YJAF is also fully compliant to facilitate this process.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Civil Service Success Profiles,

The assessment process will be made up of two parts:

1. An Application (see below)

2. Interview (see below)

Application Stage:

Please provide:

• CV

• Written examples demonstrating in no more than 250 words for each of the following essential civil service behaviours: Managing a Quality Service (Lead behaviour) (250 words). Communicating & Influencing (250 words) Seeing the Big Picture (250 words), Making Effective Decisions (250 words) and

• A statement (no more than 500 words) of how you meet the ‘essential criteria: Technical, Experience and Ability’ as outlined in the job description.

• (Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted based on the lead behaviour: Managing a Quality Service & Essential Criteria)

Interview

For candidates who get to the interview stage it will be a blended interview covering, further elaboration on your application and the Civil Service behaviours, and strengths as described in the Success Profiles - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (this is a very particular style of interview please make sure you make yourself aware of these in advance).

Reserve List

Those candidates who successfully demonstrate at interview, the behaviours, strengths, and essential criteria required by YJB for the role, but who are not selected as the successful candidate, may be added to a reserve list for 12 months. Candidates on a reserve list may be contacted and offered a role which is sufficiently similar, without further need for application, within the timeframe.

Essential Criteria

Skills and knowledge

• Technical:

• Knowledge/understanding of the Youth Justice System and the role of the Youth Justice Board (desirable)

• Experience:

• Excellent reporting and business analysis skills, with experience of managing and implementing projects using a structured project management methodology (essential)

• Experience of managing and delivering services via a range of third party suppliers (essential)

• Experience in producing and delivering both technical and User Guidance and training (essential)

• Experience of commercial procurement and contract management (desirable)

.

• Ability:

• Good understanding of Agile software development (desirable)

• Although technical IT knowledge is not required the post holder should be able to quickly understand technical issues at a high level and coordinate a relevant response where required

• Competent in MS Office suite, including advanced Excel skills.

• Behaviours: link to civil service success profiles Behaviours

• Seeing the Big Picture

• Making Effective Decisions

• Managing a Quality Service (Lead behaviour)

• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits of working for the Youth Justice Board

• Opportunity to work in an organisation that seeks to make a positive difference to the lives of children at risk of entering and within the youth justice system

• Family friendly policies including flexible working opportunities. Many of our staff combine working from our offices in either London or Wales, or working from one of the Ministry of Justice Collaboration Centres/Satellite Offices throughout the country, with working from home; compressed hours, part-time working

• Civil Service Pension Scheme, and/or continuous service transfer of Civil Service Pension Scheme as applicable

• Annual leave of 25 days per annum plus public holidays (or for those transferring directly on a lateral move from Civil Service Departments, their Agencies, Arms-Length Bodies (ALBs) and Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPB) we may, subject to confirmation, match current annual leave entitlement, up to 30 days

• As an accredited NDPB we may, subject to confirmation, accept your continuous service from other Civil Service departments their agencies and ALBs/NDBPs (however all new joiners join on 37 hours per week/ pro-rata for part-time)

• Special recognition bonus scheme

• Special leave for unplanned emergencies and for voluntary work

• Employee Assistance Programme offering confidential support and advice for personal and work issues and occupational health

• Health and well-being initiatives such as flu-vaccinations

• Free eye tests and eyecare vouchers for VDU workers

• Interest free season ticket loans

• Regular professional development

• Professional HR Case Management support for managers