HQ Job Description (JD)
Band 6
Directorate: Wales & Public Protection
Job Description -Secretary of State Representative/Risk
Adviser
Document Ref.
HQ-JES-2984 Secretary of State Representative/Risk Adviser v1.0
Document Type
Management
Version
1.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
9 May 2022
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
HQ-JES-2984 Secretary of State Representative/Risk Adviser v1.0
Job Description
Job Title
Secretary of State Representative/Risk Adviser
Directorate
Wales & Public Protection, PPCS
Band
6
Overview of the job
The Public Protection Casework Section (PPCS) is placed within the Public Protection
Group of the HMPPS Wales and Public Protection Directorate.
The post of Secretary of State Representative/Risk Adviser within PPCS is not
operational, although the business objectives of PPCS are focused on delivering
frontline public protection casework.
The Secretary of State Representative/Risk Adviser responsibilities are:
• Representing the Secretary of State at Parole Board hearings for indeterminate,
determinate sentenced and recalled prisoners, including directions hearings and
case conferences.
• There is an expectation that the post-holder will travel to prisons around
England and Wales when required, which may include overnight stays.
The job holder will report to either the Head of the Enhanced Case Management
Team, the Senior Risk Adviser or the National Security Team Senior Manager.
Summary
The job holder will be responsible for progressing complex cases through the
Generic Parole and Recall process. Preparing and presenting Secretary of State
submissions to Parole Board hearings on issues relating to public protection. The
post holder will represent the Secretary of State at oral hearings in person, remotely
via video link and in writing via written submissions, so effective communication
skills both written and verbal are essential.
Knowledge, expertise and operational experience of risk management and public
protection is essential in this role. The post holder will work directly with probation
practitioners to provide advice and support in relation to a range of cases with
varying complexities including TACT, high profile and complex cases, and will analyse
complex parole directions and develop relationships with stakeholders to progress
complex cases.
Working with their line manager, the post holder will also provide advice in order to
support an efficient and timely review process for determinate sentence recalled
prisoners.
Responsibilities,
The post holder will be required to carry out the following range of responsibilities,
Activities and Duties
activities and duties:
• Representing the Secretary of State at Parole Board hearings for
indeterminate, determinate sentenced and recalled prisoners, including
directions hearings, case conferences and provide advice on complex cases.
• Support the work of PPCS case managers by reviewing and quality assuring
the risk assessed executive release reports prepared by them following
recall.
• Support the work of PPCS case managers by providing advice and guidance
to progress and ensure directions compliance, identify gaps in release and
risk management plans and ensure such gaps are addressed.
• Liaise with colleagues in the field and within prisons to ensure that release
or re-release is timely and does not undermine public protection.
• Build and maintain effective and positive working relationships and practice
with staff across HMPPS, the Parole Board and other stakeholders as
HQ-JES-2984 Secretary of State Representative/Risk Adviser v1.0
required with a particular focus on offender managers/roles and
responsibilities and their role in the Parole, Recall and executive release
process.
• Participate in the delivery of training and contribute to discussions about
best practice.
• Assisting the Heads of Casework with the handing of high profile, complex
and sensitive cases providing advice to senior managers and Ministers when
required.
• Disseminating the disciplines of risk assessment and risk management, and
the tools used for each, ensuring that staff within PPCS are sufficiently
developed to use the knowledge and tools appropriately to ensure that
their decisions are properly informed ones and do not place the public at
unnecessary risk of harm.
• Developing excellent working relationships with managers within PPCS, the
PS, Parole Board, prisons and other agencies; ensuring regular contact with
specific leads and provide training/briefing and guidance to HMPPS staff in
best practice for parole, recall and review casework.
• Escalating serious/significant review casework issues within prisons, the
Probation Service and the Parole Board which undermine the overall
performance of the review process. These might include the Probation
Service failing to send witnesses to Parole Board oral hearings, or persistent
failure to submit reports for parole or recall dossiers on time, thus affecting
the timely re-release of prisoners.
• As directed identify complex/high profile cases and provide advice to senior
managers etc.
• Undertake additional activities including sitting on recruitment panels,
attending and advising capability hearings and providing first draft
ministerial submissions.
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.
Behaviours
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8.
Ability
• Well-developed knowledge and understanding of HMPPS operations.
• Professional understanding of risk assessment, risk management and probation
practices so that they are able to support the making of informed risk
assessments before taking release decisions in individual cases
• Must be able to demonstrate a proven track record of delivery and achievement.
• Must be able to demonstrate a developed ability and track record of working
successfully with stakeholders.
• Strong written, verbal and non-verbal communications skills.
• Able to demonstrate resilience and ability to handle significant levels of pressure
whilst delivering high profile outcomes. The ability to work flexibly whilst
managing competing demands is essential.
Experience
• An established background of experience in offender management.
• Showing and demonstrating wider detailed experience in some or all of the
following areas would also be desirable but not essential:
o Policy implementation and involvement in complex high-profile casework.
HQ-JES-2984 Secretary of State Representative/Risk Adviser v1.0
o The ability to communicate and engage with a wide range of stakeholders to
present ideas/proposals.
o An understanding of the Parole System.
Technical
None
Minimum Eligibility
Please do not alter this box
• 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 HMPPS consider to be racist.
Hours of Work
Leave Blank
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
To be used by the JES Team only
HQ-JES-2984 Secretary of State Representative/Risk Adviser v1.0
Success Profile
Strengths
Behaviours
It is advised strengths
Ability
Experience
Technical
are chosen locally,
recommended 4-8
Making Effective Decisions
Well-developed knowledge and
An established background of
understanding of HMPPS operations.
experience in offender management.
Seeing the Big Picture
Professional understanding of risk
Showing and demonstrating wider
assessment, risk management and
detailed experience in some or all of
probation practices so that they are
the following areas would also be
able to support the making of
desirable but not essential:
informed risk assessments before
o Policy implementation and
taking release decisions in individual
involvement in complex high-
cases
profile casework.
o The ability to communicate and
engage with a wide range of
stakeholders to present
ideas/proposals.
o An understanding of the Parole
System.
Communicating and Influencing
Must be able to demonstrate a
proven track record of delivery and
achievement.
Working Together
Must be able to demonstrate a
developed ability and track record of
working successfully with
stakeholders.
Managing a Quality Service
Strong written, verbal and non-
verbal communications skills.
Able to demonstrate resilience and
ability to handle significant levels of
pressure whilst delivering high
profile outcomes. The ability to work
flexibly whilst managing competing
demands is essential.
HQ-JES-2984 Secretary of State Representative/Risk Adviser v1.0