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General Information

Salary
£44,100 - £46,000
Working Pattern
Full Time
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Bolton, Salford, Wigan
Region
Greater Manchester
Closing Date
09-May-2025
Business Unit
NPS Greater Manchester UPW and Attendance Centres (2021)
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Other
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
5013

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Overview of the job

To implement and manage the strategic direction for Unpaid Work (UPW), ensuring that contract requirements are delivered efficiently and in compliance with specified standards and quality to support the overall objective to reduce reoffending. This role will be regionally based reporting directly to the Head of Unpaid Work for their region. They will have direct line management responsibility for a mobile and dispersed team working across the region. Occasional out of hours working will be required on an on-call duty rota to ensure that lone working staff have access to management support.

Summary

To ensure the requirements of the court are delivered through the assessment and planning of a diverse range of purposeful work placements, which meet health and safety requirements and ensure maximised accessibility that meets the diverse needs of people on probation. To work in partnership with other agencies and local stakeholders to ensure the quality delivery and performance of unpaid work services meet contractual targets and the achievements of good outcomes for people on probation to enable them to make suitable reparation to their communities. Overall management of the UPW team to achieve a high standard of service delivery, working efficiently whilst creating a safe working environment for staff and people on probation.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

The UPW Operations Manager may be required to undertake any combination, or all, of the duties and responsibilities set out below.
  • To provide effective management and leadership to the team and be accountable for the quality delivery of good practice and team performance.
  • To be accountable for the safe and effective delivery of the court order and all associated risks including reputational, organisational, public and staff safety.
  • To be accountable for the statutory link with risk management multi-agency forums.
  • Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to maximise awareness of Unpaid Work, for example with court report writers, sentencers and partnership agencies.
  • Engage with a range of community partners including the office of the PCC, local authority forums and community safety partnerships to promote the service, negotiate partnership agreements and to generate opportunities for new placements benefiting the local communities.
  • To provide management oversight regarding the suitability of offenders for community payback including the placement of high risk offenders and those with specific risk or other needs.
  • To recruit and proactively manage staff development, performance, attendance management, employee relations and diversity matters in line with HR polices.
  • Oversee the development and assessment of suitable projects and provide a leading role and direction in work with partners and key stakeholders, and represent the Probation Service as appropriate to the role.
  • To be accountable for asset and fleet management and equipment, and ensuring the most efficient means of service delivery by aligning resources to demand in a cost effect way whilst achieving the organisation’s strategic aims.
  • To work with the regional Health and Safety Advisor and Health and Safety Committee and union colleagues to ensure that working practices meet statutory requirements and to investigate any Health and Safety or Information Assurance breaches and introduce necessary improvements.
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

  • Working Together
  • Developing Self and Others
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Leadership 

Essential Experience

  • Experience of managing staff working with challenging people in a practical work environment.
  • Understanding of the role of the Probation Service in the Criminal Justice System and in a multi-disciplinary setting.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by victims of crime.
  • Experience of risk management and assessment - understanding of multiagency risk assessment and management procedures.
  • Experience of working under pressure and fulfilling demanding deadlines.
  • Experience of working flexibly as a member of a team to achieve performance targets.
  • Demonstrable achievements in managing/supporting change and effecting improvements in quality and efficiency.
  • Well-developed IT skills, including evidence of ability to interpret and apply performance reports.
  • Experience of proactively championing diversity and inclusiveness both internally and externally.
  • Management of Health and Safety policies and procedures and a working knowledge of Health and Safety legislation.
  • Experience of effective administration and information systems.

Technical requirements

  • Level 3 Institution of Occupational Safety and Health or equivalent qualification (or ability to achieve this within 6 months of appointment).
  • D1 Category Driving Licence.

Ability

  • An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.
Additional Information

If you are successful in this campaign please be aware that we have multiple offices across the Greater Manchester Probation Service region. If similar roles arise in other offices and you are appointable, we may look to offer you a position within these other locations. Our locations that we would like to consider your application are: 

Ashton-Under-Lyne , Atherton , Audenshaw , Bolton , Bury , Manchester , Oldham , Rochdale , Salford , Stockport , Stretford , Wigan. 

  

HM Prison Buckley Hall, OL12 9DP, HMP/YOI FOREST BANK MANCHESTER, M27 8FB, HMYOI HINDLEY - WORKS NEAR WIGAN, WN2 5TH, MANCHESTER MINSHULL CROWN MANCHESTER, M1 3FS, NPS 12 MINSHULL STREET MANCHESTER, M1 3FR, NPS 128 ROCHDALE ROAD OLDHAM, OL1 2JG, NPS FRED PERRY HOUSE STOCKPORT SK1 3UR, NPS 2 REDWOOD STREET SALFORD, M6 6PF, NPS ARGYL HOUSE BURY, BL9 0LN, NPS BALMORAL HOUSE BURY, BL9 0LN, NPS Bolton Magistrates Court, BL1 1UA, NPS CROWN SQUARE MANCHESTER, M3 3FL, NPS ST HELENA MILL BOLTON, BL1 2JS, NPS STOCKPORT MAGISTRATES COURT STOCKPORT, SK1 3NF, NPS TAMESIDE MAGISTRATES COURT ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, OL6 7TP, NPS WIGAN MAGISTRATES COURT WIGAN, WN1 1DW, SALFORD MAGISTRATES' COURT SALFORD, M3 6DJ, NPS ROZ HAMILTON HOUSE ASHTON-UNDER-LYME, NMS 1 Cromwell Court, OL1 1ET, NMS Unit 20, Chichester Business Centre, OL16 2AU,  

 

Upon your appointment to post, an Enhanced Vetting check will be conducted.  

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.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service, plus public holidays. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis

Pension

The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF).  Please visit www.gmpf.org.uk for further information.

Please note: Any current Civil Servant who is a member of the PCSPS, by accepting an offer of employment to the National Probation Services will be opted out of the PCSPS and auto enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

Eligibility

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices.  You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

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 5013

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 5013

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Managing a Quality Service
Developing Self and Others
Seeing the Big Picture

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
To be confirmed
Behaviours
Managing a Quality Service
Developing Self and Others
Seeing the Big Picture
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.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Level of security checks required
Enhanced Baseline Standard (EBS)