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General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £57,398 - £63,139, London salary range is £60,518 - £68,357. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
14-Sep-2026
Business Unit
NMS Interventions Services (Admin)
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
2
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
20804

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Interventions Services National Specialist Lead PERMANENT

Directorate: Rehabilitation & Change

Job Title: Interventions Services National Specialist Lead

Grade: HMPPS Band 8

Job description 

The National Specialist Lead (NSL) within HMPPS Headquarters is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and maintenance of specialist interventions aimed at reducing reoffending. The role ensures that accredited and nonaccredited programmes are evidence based, clinically robust, and aligned with organisational priorities. NSLs design and oversee interventions and related products for complex groups, including those convicted of violent and sexual offences, and ensure programmes respond to evolving research, policy, and population needs.

NSLs provide expert clinical and operational advice across HMPPS and to external partners. They offer strategic guidance to senior managers, commissioners, psychologists, and practitioners, supporting high quality intervention delivery in prisons and the community. This includes advising on programme development, policy, training requirements, and emerging practice, ensuring HMPPS maintains a strong national and international reputation for effective rehabilitation.

A core part of the role is delivering high quality national training for staff who facilitate offending behaviour programmes. NSLs design and update training materials, deliver training and ensure that staff are prepared to deliver effective, evidence-based interventions. They also lead innovation, developing new interventions and assessment tools to respond to gaps in provision, changes in needs, commissioning priorities, and wider political or strategic shifts.

Overall, the NSL plays a crucial leadership role in ensuring HMPPS offers effective, evidence-based interventions that support rehabilitation and public protection, while also maintaining their own specialist expertise through ongoing professional development to retain credibility with commissioners, practitioners, and external stakeholders.

Candidates should note that one of the roles is National Specialist Lead for Healthy Sex Programme (HSP). For this role the successful candidate must be HCPC Registered and/or chartered registered psychologist. 

This campaign is to recruit 2 permanent B8 National Specialist Leads. Applicants should note there is also a temporary NSL campaign that's running Simultaneously. Applicants should apply to all campaigns they are interested in.

Key responsibilities

Designing and Developing Interventions

Leading the design, development, accreditation, training, implementation, support, and maintenance of both accredited and non‑accredited offending behaviour programmes (including specialist assessments).

Ensuring Clinical Integrity and Evidence-Based Practice

Ensuring all interventions are clinically robust, grounded in international evidence, fit for purpose, defensible, and developed through consultation with stakeholders. Aligning all products with HMPPS’ strategic priorities for reducing reoffending.

Providing Expert Clinical and Operational Advice

Offering advice to senior commissioners, HMPPS delivery sites, other government departments, and external partners. Contributing to briefings, parliamentary responses, policy development, and strategic decision‑making.

Supporting Stakeholders and Building Partnerships

Working collaboratively across HMPPS and with external agencies to share expertise, ensure programmes meet local needs, contribute to cross‑government groups, and respond to changes in populations and commissioning requirements.

Leading and Delivering Specialist Training

Designing, updating, and delivering national specialist training to ensure staff are equipped to deliver high quality, evidence-based intervention

Innovation and Product Development

Leading the development of new interventions and assessment tools, identifying gaps in provision, ensuring products are contemporary, evidence‑informed, and delivered on time. Considering political change, population needs, and emerging evidence.

Maintaining Professional Competence

Staying current in understanding and applying the evidence base on effective rehabilitation, and in relation to specific cohorts.

Additional Duties

Undertaking other tasks appropriate to the grade when required, with any significant changes discussed in line with job evaluation processes.

Technical Requirements

  • Registered Psychologist or Qualified Probation Officer.

Essential Skills

  • Specialist skills and expertise relating to the assessment and treatment of individuals in prison or in the community.
  • A minimum of five years’ experience of working with people who have offended in a community or custody setting.
  • Proven experience of providing training to multi-disciplinary staff.

Desirable skills

  • Experience of working with individuals who have specific responsively needs e.g. learning disability.
  • Experience of delivering and supervising an accredited offending behaviour programme.
  • Experience of delivering, supervising and managing accredited programmes in custody or in the community.
  • Proven training/experience of providing clinical supervision to facilitators who deliver treatment.
  • Chartered and / or Registered with HCPC.

Further information

If you would like further information about the role you should reach out to either cara.cunningham@justice.gov.uk or Aubrey.vanzyl@justice.gov.uk

Applicants can also see more details about the role here: [https://sway.cloud.microsoft/PHHugKEGuaxqrE2B?ref=email]

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.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Benefits

Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays.

Pension

-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service  (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

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 the HMPPS considers to be racist

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 TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

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.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information
MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference: 20804

HMPPS:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference: 20804

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Changing and Improving
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Please can you outline adherence to the below mandatory experience statements listed below:

Specialist skills and expertise, with a confident understanding of the evidence, relating to the assessment and rehabilitation of people in custody or on probation

A minimum of five years’ experience assessing and rehabilitating people in custody or on probation
Proven experience of providing training and/or supervision to multi-disciplinary staff.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Technical
Technical Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Specific qualification requirements
Registered Psychologist or Qualified Probation Officer.

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
To be confirmed
Behaviours
Changing and Improving
Making Effective Decisions
Working Together
Delivering at Pace
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.

Other Assessments

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

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.