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General Information

Salary
£44,100 - £46,000
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Location
Peterborough
Region
East of England
Closing Date
08-Jan-2025
Business Unit
NPS East of England Public Protection (2021)
Post Type
Fixed Term
Civil Service Grade
Other
Number of jobs available
1
Job ID
1455

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Senior Probation Officers 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

• To be accountable for the quality delivery of good practice and team performance improvement within policy and national standards

• To ensure that all team resources, including interventions, are deployed cost effectively and provide best value in terms of both budget control and realising the organisation’s strategic aims

• To ensure that staff can efficiently and effectively meet the requirements of the NPS’ contract with HMPPS, Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC) and local business plans as required

• To access, interpret, analyse and apply performance data pro-actively in order to maximise LDU/team performance, evaluate practice and deliver organisational aims

• To proactively manage staff development, issues of underperformance, attendance, health and safety, employee relations and diversity matters. Adopt a consistent, fair and objective standpoint when making decisions in relation to individual staff issues

• To ensure that offender managers manage risk appropriately, and meet all public protection standards and targets

• To contribute directly to public protection through multi-agency arrangements and individual casework review, discussion and feedback 

• To promote a culture of innovation and continuous improvement to service delivery

• To manage financial resources for your area of responsibility as required by your Head of Operational Function and in line with HMPPS financial regulations and policies. To authorise expenditure within financial limits

• In accordance with the business plan, to provide a leading role and direction in work with partners and key stakeholders, and represent the NPS as appropriate to the role

• To facilitate effective communication between the LDU/Operational Unit management team and internal and external partners

• To play an active part in the corporate management of the NPS as necessary, as a member of the LDU/Operational Unit Management Team

• To undertake specific areas of responsibility as delegated by the Head of Operational Function.

Additional Information

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.

Benefits

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

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.

Contact Information
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

Please quote the job reference 1455

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Delivering at Pace
Managing a Quality Service
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Essential Experience - Substantial experience with a proven record of good practice in a variety of settings (including offender risk assessment and management) as a Probation Officer or from working within another criminal justice agency or related work context ? Understanding of the role of the Probation Service in the Criminal Justice System and in a multi-disciplinary setting. ? Knowledge and understanding of the factors which influence engagement with victims? Experience of risk management and assessment, understanding of multi ?agency risk assessment and management procedures? Evidence of ability to evaluate practice? Evidence of ability to provide a practice perspective on policy development? Experience of working under pressure and fulfilling demanding deadlines? Experience of working flexibly as a member of a team to achieve performance targets? Experience of contributing to the provision of effective administration and information systems? Demonstrable achievements in managing/supporting change and effecting improvements in quality and efficiency ? Able to demonstrate 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? Ability to implement the services health and safety policies - Understanding of the role of the Probation Service in the Criminal Justice System and in a multi-disciplinary setting. Knowledge and understanding of the factors which influence engagement with victims
Evidence of Experience
Statement of Suitability
Technical
Technical Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
You must hold a Probation Officer qualification or be a qualified Probation Officer. PQF Honours Degree/Graduate Diploma and Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice; Or Diploma in Probation Studies; or Diploma in Social Work (Probation option); or CQSW (Probation option)
Specific qualification requirements
You must hold a Probation Officer qualification or be a qualified Probation Officer. PQF Honours Degree/Graduate Diploma and Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice; Or Diploma in Probation Studies; or Diploma in Social Work (Probation option); or CQSW (Probation option)

Interview stage assessments

Behaviours
Delivering at Pace
Managing a Quality Service
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation
Level of security checks required
DBS Standard