Role: Head of Investigation Services

Business: Office of Public Guardian (OPG)

Location: National

Grade: G6

Salary: National £71,381 - £80,419 London £75,674 - £85,257

Contract Type: Permanent

Minimum Hours: 24

Organisational Overview

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) protects people in England and Wales who may not have the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves, such as about their health and finance. We are an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), set up in 2007 following the introduction of the Mental Capacity Act of 2005.

OPG is responsible for registering lasting powers of attorney (LPA) and enduring powers of attorney (EPA) and supervising deputies who are appointed by the Court of Protection.

OPG is a fantastic place to work offering a range of development opportunities. The OPG is a disability confident employer and is committed to developing a supportive and inclusive environment that reflects the diverse community we serve.

OPG is currently delivering an ambitious transformation programme. This will change the way we provide services and help us meet the growing needs of our users, partners and our stakeholders. It will make sure our users experience a better level of support and will help us to respond to the changing needs of society. Transformation will ensure we can better support adults at risk and create high-quality services that are accessible and affordable.

Team Overview

Operations is the largest directorate in OPG containing around 1500 people who undertake all the customer facing, frontline functions needed to ensure our customers can make and register lasting powers of attorney. We also supervise those who have been appointed by the Court of Protection to support those who may not have the capacity to deal with their own affairs, and we also investigate concerns raised about how those who have responsibilities within this framework have discharged their duties.

Duties and Responsibilities

What we are looking for

One of the key statutory functions OPG is responsible for is to investigate concerns raised from members of the public, institutions and professionals about the way “attorneys" (those who due to a lasting power of attorney have taken on responsibility for a vulnerable person affairs) discharge those duties.

This is a sensitive and complex area and demand for our services is rapidly growing. We are looking for a dynamic experienced leader who can create and deliver excellent services for the public and stakeholders while also leading a fundamental transformation of the ways we deliver those services. You will need to inspire colleagues and those you work with to be able to deliver for today while also transforming for tomorrow. We are therefore looking for someone who is as comfortable in getting things done via collaboration and influencing others as they are in setting and delivering direction within the teams. The overall aim is to make our investigations function fit for the future,

Responsibilities of the Role

• Lead a team of around 300 people and support colleagues to deliver on a set of demanding key performance metrics to high quality and efficiency standards.

• Be a role model for inclusive, listening leadership in line with OPG values ensuring colleagues can bring their whole selves to work while delivering best in class public service.

• Lead a fundamental transformation of the way investigation activities are undertaken in OPG including implementing the recommendations of the future state review (due to report in Q1 26/27) to ensure we are targeting the right concerns at the right time and the right way.

• Collaborate with key stakeholders both within and outside OPG offering support and challenge in their roles and ensuring our investigation functions continues to improve, innovate and deliver.

• Consider, develop and deliver new ways of delivering investigation services and at the same time ensure that those outcomes are successfully reported, and measured to high quality and efficiency standards.

• Be an effective, engaged, member of the wider Operations senior leadership team ensuring join-up, support and challenge so that Operations is a cohesive whole operating together.

Agreed Expectations

The successful candidate will be expected to work from their base location on a weekly basis in line with current Civil Service requirements, outside of any reasonable adjustments.

Regular travel to both our key sites in Nottingham and Birmingham will be expected as part of this role.

Skills & Qualifications

Essential Skills

• A strong track record of leading operational service delivery in a complex environment involving sensitive decision making.

• The ability to deliver ever improving operational performance while transformation is ongoing

• Evidenced experience of leading a business area at a senior level through change with implemented positive outcomes.

• The ability to build networks, collaborate and use those strong networks to build better outcomes for our customers

• Personal resilience and the credibility to both challenge and support own team and wider stakeholders in delivering the new vision for investigation services

• Strategic thinking and analytical skills with evidenced ability to both see the overall vision and turn those ideas into reality.

Desirable Skills

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates.

• Experience of working in an environment dealing either customer fraud/compliance or risk management would be an advantage but is not required

Application process

This recruitment will follow the Civil Service Success Profile process. Candidates will be expected to complete the following as part of the application:

• Statement of Suitability of no more than 1000 words, to demonstrate your experience against the essential and desirable skills required for this role.

• Behaviour statement of no more than 250 words against the following Behaviours, at Level G6:

  • Leadership

In the event of a high number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the lead Behaviour:

• Leadership

Interview Process

If you are successful at sift, you will be invited to an interview which will use the Civil Service Success Profiles. At interview, candidates should expect questions on:

• Strengths relevant to the role

• The following Behaviours at Level G6:

  • Leadership (Lead)

  • Changing and Improving

  • Working Together

  • Delivering at Pace

All interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Reasonable Adjustments

At OPG we consider all applications on the basis of merit and want you to feel able to demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any reasonable adjustments for any aspect of the selection process, do not hesitate to get in contact with us.

As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. If you are applying for a role within OPG and would like to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the selection process.

For further information on benefits of working for OPG, such as our Flexible Working Policy and a FAQ, please check the candidate information pack attached to this advert.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, we may offer you an alternative role at the same or lower grade should one be available.