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HQ Job Description (JD)
Band 8
Directorate: Rehabilitation Pathways and
Partnerships
Job Description: Senior Evidence Specialist
Document Ref.
HQ JES 3165 Senior Evidence Specialist v1.0
Document Type
Management
Version
1.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
4 July 2024
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
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HQ JES 3165 Senior Evidence Specialist v1.0
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Job Description
Job Title
Senior Evidence Specialist
Directorate
Rehabilitation Pathways and Partnerships
Band
8
Overview of the
This is a specialist manager job within HMPPS headquarters.
job
Evidence-Based Practice integrates scientific evidence with the
operational perspective to design and provide high-quality
services reflecting the goals of the organisation and the interests,
values, needs and choices of the individuals we serve.
The primary purpose of the job is to provide an evidence-based
practice service to the joint HMPPS and NHS England Offender
Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway programme. The job holder
must set standards for acceptable evidence and review the
evidence base in relation to correctional practice in order to
ensure that HMPPS policy and practice is defensible and
effective. The job holder is responsible for effectively
communicating the evidence base to others across the
organisation in a transparent and accessible way. Additionally,
they will help to develop the evidence base in order to inform
agency practice, involving both in-house research and
collaboration with research partners in MoJ and beyond the
agency.
This is a non-operational role.
Summary
This is a specialist manager role supporting the delivery of the
HMPPS strategy principle to create an open, learning culture by
drawing on data, evidence, information, research and experience
from across the system - building on what we already know and
helping to fill the gaps.
The job holder is accountable for critically evaluating the
evidence-base and communicating this to inform and direct
operational policy and practice. The post holder influences
operational policy, strategy and practice through the generation
of evidence summaries on topics and practice issues relevant to
staff working in prison, probation and youth custody, and through
providing evidence consultation to central and local teams. This
includes considering evidence against value for money, to guide
spending by the Service.
HMPPS aims to deliver safe, decent, fair and rehabilitative
services to those in prison, in youth custody or on the probation
caseload. The role contributes to these aims through the expert
translation of evidence to shape everyday practice in prisons,
probation and youth custody, delivering research to fill
knowledge gaps and consulting into the strategic development of
polices and practice to bring the best outcomes for staff and the
people in our care. The team works alongside colleagues in
other departmen OFFIC
ts and IAL
g
roups within the agency including,
HQ JES 3165 Senior Evidence Specialist v1.0
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psychology and effective practice in each of our three sectors as
well as central strategy teams and local staff and managers.
The job holder needs to have experience in conducting research
and a professional qualification that reflects specialist skill in this
area. They will need to demonstrate knowledge of the existing
correctional research literature and the skills required to source
and monitor fast-moving developments in the field and convey
these to a non-technical audience. The role also requires an
understanding of which research methodologies are appropriate
for different research questions and demonstrable skills in
managing large datasets and running robust data extraction and
analysis. The role also includes developing the evidence-case,
by conducting original research.
As a manager within the Evidence-Based Practice Team, the
post holder will be expected to demonstrate the qualities set out
in the Leadership Qualities Framework, including an ability to set
purpose and direction for their area of work. They will also be
expected to contribute expertise and knowledge to the corporate
design and vision of the Service and its strategic objectives.
They will ensure that they deliver on key objectives and make an
effective contribution to the work of the Group, HMPPS and
Ministry of Justice (MoJ). They will attend and contribute to
meetings and be responsible for promoting the roles and work of
Groups across HMPPS and with other stakeholders and
partners.
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following
Activities and
responsibilities, activities and duties:
Duties
1. Responsibility for translating the existing evidence base
to inform policy and practice in HMPPS:
• The job holder will take responsibility for the production of
systematic evidence reviews from start to finish in order to
produce robust and useful summaries of the literature on
relevant topics for HMPPS colleagues, providers and further
stakeholders. These summaries will be of publishable
standard and the job holder will be responsible for the quality
and integrity of the product and for ensuring all research
governance standards are properly met.
• The output of these reviews may take various forms from
informal verbal advice to formal written corporate products
that will help HMPPS practice stay close to the evidence. The
post holder will need to monitor and evaluate the evidence
base on assigned key themes and identify gaps in our
knowledge and contribute to strategies for filling these.
• An important function of this role is to bring relevant evidence
into decision making in a way that is clear and transparent;
translating what may be complex or conflicting information
into robust and defensible advice that seeks to reflect the
evidence base while recognising operational realities.
• The job holder will contribute to the development,
interpretation, translation, and dissemination of research
evidence and work to promote the value of evidence-based
practice in the Agency and help people to adopt this
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approach in their work/activities.
• The job holder will contribute to draft responses to
Parliamentary and Ministerial enquiries for their area.
Ensuring responses to questions are accurately researched,
drafted and coordinated with relevant partners and completed
within deadlines.
2. Participating and contributing to academic and
practitioner networks and contacts:
• Ensures that research, practice and emerging knowledge can
be used to inform and steer HMPPS practice and policy. The
job holder will work with colleagues across MoJ, HMPPS,
other partners and the research community to maintain
information sharing networks, collate learning, translate
information and determine evidence to underpin what
HMPPS delivers and how HMPPS operates.
• The job holder will collaborate with colleagues across
HMPPS, MoJ and other government departments to establish
information sharing networks, collate learning, translate
information and determine evidence to underpin policy and
practice. The job holder will need to foster excellent working
relationships with colleagues across HMPPS and MoJ and
with private and voluntary organisations.
• The job holder will be expected to share evidence and guide
evidence-based practice by attending and contributing to
programme boards and workstreams across the Agency.
3. Responsibility for developing the evidence base:
• The job holder will be responsible for conducting research
and analysis using both existing datasets and new data
generation to steer HMPPS’ approaches to its priorities. This
work must be conducted to rigorous methodological
standards, so that it passes peer review and directly enables
policy change/development that is empirically grounded.
• The work must also often be conducted within tight timetables
to meet the needs of HMPPS. The job holder will be directly
responsible for the quality and conduct of these research
activities.
• The job holder will contribute to the evidence base by leading
on specific delegated projects including both in-house and
external research.
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.
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence
through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales)
Welsh.
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Civil Service Success Profile Criteria
Behaviours
• Changing and Improving
• Developing Self and Others
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Bigger Picture
Strengths
Note: we recommend you choose 4 to 8 strengths locally - select
from the list of Civil Service strength definitions on the intranet.
Experience
The level in the organisation at which the job holder is expected
to function requires:
• Experience, knowledge and understanding of research
methods and standards and skills in the interpretation of
evidence, including demonstrated ability to conduct critical
literature reviews and quantitative or qualitative research to
publishable standard.
• A track record of publishing research and/or conducting
research reviews to peer review standard is required for this
post.
• Experience of working across stakeholder groups to deliver
finished products that are fit-for-purpose.
• Understanding and experience of reducing reoffending/
rehabilitation and public protection.
• Experience of delivering to deadlines and under time
pressure.
Technical
• Qualification to degree level or equivalent and/or professional/
Requirements
management qualification and/or commitment to Continuing
Personal/Professional Development.
• Advanced technical skills in data management and data
analysis. An advanced user of Excel and SPSS software
packages.
Ability
• Able to understand complex information, including technical
and statistical research reports, and translate it into evidence
based pragmatic products.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills particularly
evidenced through strong drafting skills.
Minimum
Please do not alter this box
Eligibility
• 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
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HQ JES 3165 Senior Evidence Specialist v1.0