Ministry of Justice

Do you have the passion, values, and ability to help us solve the biggest problems of the justice system?

HEO Data Warden - Ministry of Justice

1.    Overview

We have 1 role in the Prison Data Assurance team, within the Analysis Directorate.

Roles are open to: 

Existing Civil Servants at HEO (or equivalent) and to other eligible Civil Service staff on promotion. Additionally, individuals outside of the Civil Service may apply as external candidates.

Minimum requirements to apply: 

Candidates must be able to show the relevant experience and skills and must meet the criteria for entry.  

We welcome applications from candidates based across the UK. Candidates will have the option of being based in the Leeds or London HQ offices (with flexible working arrangements available) or your nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office: see this map for more details.  

Alternative locations may be available and will be discussed and agreed on the completion of background checks. 

Interviews are likely to take place in August 2026 and will be held via MS Teams. We will keep a merit list for 12 months for those who successfully pass the interview board but who are not offered a post. 

2. What you’ll do  

As a Data Warden within Prison Data Assurance (PDA) you will be responsible for supporting assurance activity on prison data to enable better outcomes to the business. This role will involve working alongside HMPPS colleagues on recommendations to improve data for Releases in Error and Unlawful Detention. This role does not require membership of one of the Civil Service’s analytical professions. 

Our team’s assurance activities support the wider MoJ and HMPPS in making key decisions based on the best available data. We support improvement to data presented in multiple platforms including HMPPS Performance Hub which is an online reporting tool. Our work contributes to key publications by ensuring data is as accurate as possible. We support new data requests, engaging with policy stakeholders and digital developers to ensure we are capturing the data for the right reasons and that this is presented appropriately and in an easy-to-understand format.

You will be responsible for the following key activities: 

• Making sure data is available to users: Commonly through metrics, reports and dashboards on the HMPPS Performance Hub. 

• Data Accuracy: ensuring data is understood and quality assured to enable colleagues to have accurate information for reporting to ministers and stakeholders. 

• Project work: Manage multiple pieces of work relating to prison data 

• Maintaining and updating guidance: Ensuring technical notes and guidance are kept up to date, enabling end users to record data more accurately.  

• Presentations and upskilling: Provide support to frontline staff and other stakeholders on data, building understanding through presentations and other delivery methods. 

• Providing user support: As stakeholders, colleagues and customers raise queries about the data. 
• Stakeholder engagement: work alongside stakeholders to improve data outputs

• Line Management: effective support of EO Data Warden Support(s) 

The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities: 

• Engaging with stakeholders to identify requirements and manage data reporting to meet Ministerial and business needs. 
• Ensuring the delivery and maintenance of high-quality documentation and data on custody to support the effective operation of the HMPPS/MoJ. 

• Line management, providing support, guidance, leadership and development. 

• Ensuring engagement, information sharing and upskilling of topic stakeholders across the business to ensure that data quality / data assurance processes are understood and integrated within custodial data flows; data is interpreted correctly and used appropriately; data suppliers are supported to meet expectations around delivery. 

• Supporting the transformation of new prison datasets / management information into Business-as-Usual delivery including supporting the development of data into the HMPPS Performance Hub where relevant to your area. 

• Supporting the team in maintaining quality assurance of Prison Data, ensuring accurate data entry. 

• Work with colleagues to review and update guidance and technical notes for data recording and HMPPS Performance Hub metrics.  

• Lead innovation and improvements to Data, through use of data maturity models 

3. Who you are 

The following experience and skills will be required: 

• Ability to work with stakeholders on data projects, managing expectations of outputs and timelines. 
• Ability to develop creative and practical solutions to complex challenges

• Experience in assuring and identifying errors in large datasets and improving data quality. 

• Experience supporting team member development and their understanding of more technical work.  

• Ability to present complex information to non-technical customers, both verbally and in writing. 

The following experience and skills are desirable: 

• Experience of using Excel to organise, assess and work with data. 

• Experience of prison data / data recording systems and / or wider administrative data systems 

• Knowledge and previous application of the Government Data Quality Framework including the data maturity models.   

4. About the Analysis Directorate 

We are passionate about improving justice outcomes through innovative research, data and analysis. In the Analysis Directorate, we provide high-quality data and analysis helping to ensure strategic, policy, finance, corporate and operational decisions are based on robust evidence. 

We create a culture in which people are empowered with the data and information to make excellent decisions; using cutting edge tools, techniques and collaboration; putting evidence at the heart of the justice system. 

We are a multi-disciplinary team of around 650 staff that sits at the heart of the Ministry of Justice providing analytical support across a diverse and exciting agenda. We work in a dynamic and fast-paced context and our skills are in heavy demand across the Ministry of Justice. Our collaborations beyond government are seen as ground-breaking. The Analysis community is made up of analysts and specialists including: Social Researchers, Economists, Operational Researchers, Statisticians, Data Engineers, Data Scientists and other data specialists (such as data strategists, data dissemination, generalists and assurance experts). 

Why work in the Analysis Directorate? 
In the Analysis Directorate, we want all our people to feel valued for who they are and for the work they do. We provide a warm, inclusive place to work and offer a wide range of flexibilities and benefits as part of our people offer to reward our staff. 

What we offer  

• Flexible working arrangements and a focus on equality of opportunity – including welcoming part-time and/or job-share arrangements, compressed hours, working from home or your nearest Justice Collaboration Centres or Justice Satellite Office. 

• Career development – regular development and promotion opportunities across a wide range of roles, career development support, with a generous individual learning and development budget. 

• Range of new areas of work and new tools and techniques – we pride ourselves on our excellent deployment of well-established analytical methods, but also our progress to date. Progress such as our ambitious and innovative transformation programme to leverage departmental data and drive evidence-based decision-making using cutting-edge tools and techniques (for example: experimentation, personalisation, artificial intelligence). 

• Analysis is at the centre of the Department’s decision making – our transformation programme is focused on maximising our impact on departmental outcomes. The Ministry of Justice’s Senior Team and our Ministerial Team want all decisions to be evidence driven – your analysis will be key in influencing decisions and real-world impact. 

• Vibrant community – part of a multidisciplinary team that has a supportive culture and is looking to further develop the community with the help of everyone. 

• See the frontline and what your work is influencing – regular opportunities to visit our front-line service providers, including courts, prisons, and probation to better understand the areas your analysis is affecting. 

5. How to apply  

You will need to submit behaviour examples for the following 4 behaviours:  

• Managing a Quality Service (Lead Behaviour)  

• Delivering at Pace

• Changing and Improving 

• Working together 

Each example should be no more than 250 words.  

Should a large number of applications be received, a pre-sift may be undertaken using the Civil Service behaviour, Managing a Quality Service: Candidates who pass the pre-sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.  

To provide interested candidates with more information about the team and role, we will be offering two meet and engage sessions over Microsoft Teams. These are an optional opportunity open to all candidates to find out more information about the team and role and ask questions you may have about the vacancy. 

The dates of these sessions are:  

• Tuesday 14th July: 17:30 – 18:30
• Wednesday 22nd July: 13:00 – 14:00

Please note the content of both of these sessions will be the same so interested candidates need only to choose one session. Attendees should also note that because these sessions will be held over Microsoft Teams, attendee names will be visible to all other attendees. 

To book a space on one of the sessions please email the following address: analysispeopleoperations@justice.gov.uk 

5a. Selection Process  

There will be a sift of applicants using behaviours evidence. This usually takes two weeks, depending on the number of applications.  

Those who make it through the initial sift will be invited to a Civil Service Success Profile interview. In the Civil Service we use Success Profiles to help us find the right person for the job. We will assess your abilities through a test of technical skills and behaviours. We highly recommend learning about Success Profiles and using the Situation, Task, Action, Result and Reflection (STARR) framework when structuring your answers. 

The highest scoring candidate that passes the interview will be offered the role. The whole process can take up to a month.  

Behaviours 

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework at interview stage through these behaviours: 

• Managing a Quality Service (Lead Behaviour)  

• Delivering at Pace

• Changing and Improving 

Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles/success-profiles-civil-service-behaviours 

6. Applicants invited for Interview   

You will be required to give a 5-minute presentation on a piece of data assurance activity you have conducted. Details of this will be sent to those candidates who are invited for interview.  

7. Further Information  

If you require any additional information about the role, please contact: Ben.Cotton@justice.gov.uk or Guillaume.Foxton@Justice.gov.uk