Ministry of Justice

Do you have the passion, values, and ability to help us solve the biggest problems of the justice system?
Evaluation Analyst, HEO, Analysis Directorate Ministry of Justice

1.    Overview
We have 1 role in the Next Generation Accredited Programmes team, within the Analysis Directorate.

Roles are open to:

1.    Existing analysts from all professions (GORS/GSS/GSR/GES) either on level transfer or on promotion.
2.    Other candidates that are not members of GSS, GORS, GSR, GES professions but possess and can demonstrate similar experience at the appropriate level. Badging opportunities will be available once in post for those who wish to apply.

Specialist allowance
Due to the role(s) being analytical, those successful in recruitment will be eligible for a specialist allowance following an analytical interview based on the following values:
•    HEO London: £1,000  
•    HEO National: £1,500

Minimum requirements to apply:
Candidates must be able to show the relevant experience and skills and must meet the criteria for entry:

Must meet at least one of the following:
1.    You possess a numerate degree or a degree that has an analytical, statistical or research element, with a 2:2 or above, or as a higher degree (e.g. MSc, PhD).
2.    Alternatively, you have significant experience evidencing use of data and/or analytical skills (outside of a part-completed Civil Service degree apprenticeship).

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 March 2025 and will be held via MS Teams. We will keep a merit list for a year for those who successfully pass the interview board but who are not offered a post.

2. 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 c.500 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.

3. What you’ll do
Overview

Accredited Programmes are part of the Department’s main rehabilitation offer and aim to change the thinking, attitudes and behaviours which may lead people to reoffend. Building Choices is a new programme being rolled out across community and custody over the next year.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an ambitious multi-strand evaluation including a Randomised Control Trial (RCT) and multiple process evaluations as the programme is fully rolled out.
There is a commitment to an evidence-based approach to programme development, meaning that findings from the evaluation will be fed back in to shape the programme creating a feedback loop between evaluation and design.
Job Description
This will be a varied role, working across research, analysis and evaluation in community and custody. The main focus projects will be a process evaluation running in probation, assessing implementation in that context, and a nested process evaluation in custody, running alongside the RCT in 6 prison sites. The process evaluations use a theory-based approach, bringing together qualitative and quantitative data to assess whether the programme is delivering on the theory of change.
The role will involve qualitative and quantitative research, from carrying out interviews with staff and participants to analysing management information data on the delivery of the programme.

Main Activities/Responsibilities
•    Conducting and analysing interviews with delivery staff and participants of the Building Choices programme.
•    Analysing data on key metrics to be included in process evaluation reports.
•    Reporting writing- including both formal reports and more agile reporting that may be provided to stakeholders through presentations.
•    Working closely with stakeholders in HMPPS deliver of Accredited Programmes across community and custody.
•    Supporting submissions to the Correctional Services Advice and Accreditation Panel (CSAAP), an independent group of academic experts who provide accreditation recommendations to HMPPS.


4. Who you are

The following experience and skills will be required:
•    Capability and some experience of designing and delivering both quantitative and qualitative research.
•    A strong understanding of evaluation approaches (both quantitative and qualitative).
•    Able to work collaboratively and coordinate across multiple analytical areas, with a range of different datasets and prioritise to maximise impact and quality of products.
•    Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with both policy and operational stakeholders and partners to drive work forward.
•    Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to explain data and analytical concepts and practices to non-technical stakeholders, discussing analytical options and making recommendations.


The following experience and skills are desirable:
•    Understanding and knowledge of Offending Behaviour Programmes


5. How to apply

You’ll need to submit an anonymised CV and Statement of Suitability as part of your application. You will not be considered if you do not provide both.

Your CV should be no more than 2 pages long and should show us your work history and previous experience. It should be well structured, succinct, and written in clear language.

Your Statement of Suitability should be no more than 750 words and should give us examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role. Consider giving examples that cover all the requirements in the ‘Who you are’ section and use work you have completed to demonstrate how you meet each one.
 
5a. Selection Process
There will be an initial sift of applicants through comparing submitted evidence against the ‘Who you are’ bullets. 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 be using a mixture of methods to assess your abilities, strengths, experience, 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 candidates that pass the interview will be offered the roles. The whole process can take up to a month.

Behaviours
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework at interview stage:
•    Seeing the Bigger Picture
•    Delivering at Pace
•    Communicating and Influencing  

Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade.
 
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf
 
For existing analysts from all professions, as well as the three civil service behaviours stated above, you will be assessed on two sets of professional competencies at interview.

For external (non-Civil Service) candidates (and unbadged candidates within the Civil Service), as well as the three civil service behaviours stated above, you will be assessed on your analytical knowledge, experience and abilities, and the impact of your analytical work.  

Professional Competencies
 
•    Professional Competency (1) Knowledge & Skills
o    GSS - Data Analysis.
o    GORS - Knowledge and application of OR Skills and Techniques.
o    GES - Analysis of Data.
o    GSR - Knowledge and application of GSR technical skills

•    Professional Competency (2) Influence & Impact
o    GSS - Presenting and disseminating data effectively.
o    GORS - Achieving impact with analysis.
o    GES - Effective communication.
o    GSR - using and promoting social research

For more information regarding Professional Competency (2) please refer to the analytical profession internet links below. Please note that some aspect of the professional competency may overlap with the MoJ competencies listed above. We therefore recommend that in providing evidence for the professional competency, candidates focus on the technical and methodology aspects of the competencies that are specific to the profession. We will use evidence presented for the MoJ competencies in assessing the wider skills candidates have.

Government Statistician Group (GSG): Further information, including a user guide, can be found within the link below:  
GSG Competency Framework 2021
Government Social Research Service (GSR): Further information can be found within the link below:
GSR Competency Framework 2022
Government Operational Research Service (GORS): Further information can be found within the link below:  
GORS Competencies
Government Economic Service (GES): Further information can be found within the link below:
GES Professional Standards 2022
 
6. Applicants invited for Interview  
You will be required to give a 5-minute presentation. 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:
Rachel.sturrock@justice.gov.uk