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General Information

Salary
£26,475 - £31,650
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Chatham
Region
Kent, Surrey & Sussex
Closing Date
13-May-2025
Business Unit
Community Payback
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Other
Number of jobs available
2
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
5214

Descriptions & requirements

Job description
This role is based in Chatham, we have one full time and one part time position available, with a fixed base location with an expectation that you will travel as Operational delivery requires to other offices within the Region (West Kent) (you will receive travel allowance at the relevant financial year rate and terms of contract).

This role will require a flexible approach with start times from 7.00 AM and finish time of 16.45 PM and will include weekend shifts.

We currently have 1 full time and 1 part time position available with a working pattern must include at least one weekend day with alternative days to be agreed with successful candidate.

A typical full time 37-hour week will consist of 4 days at 9.25 hours per day and must include one weekend day and remaining days to be discussed as operational delivery requires.         

**Please note: Candidates must hold a full UK Manual Driving Licence when applying for this role, this is a mandatory technical requirement in order to carry out this role. We cannot accept candidates who hold an automatic Driving Licence only.**

A career in community payback gives you the power to make a positive impact on the lives of People on Probation as well as your community. People come from all walks of life to form one team in the Probation Service.

It's all about supporting People on Probation on their journey and making your community a better place. Whether that's building benches or cleaning the streets, you're there because you genuinely want to help.

If this sounds like you, apply now.

To hear more about a day in the life of a Community Payback Supervisor, please click here

Overview of the job

This is an operational role directly supervising work groups of offenders serving a community sentence. This may include driving service vehicles to transport people or equipment. The post holder will be responsible for all work site supervision tasks and will work with service users to ensure that all tasks are carried out to the best of their ability. This will include working alongside people to demonstrate good practice as necessary.

Summary

The post holder will work on varied projects that involve practical tasks that should be seen by the public to be a credible punishment providing reparation to the community. The post holder will exercise appropriate authority to maintain discipline and good behaviour within working groups, alerting the relevant staff to any infringement of discipline or behaviour.

The post holder will contribute towards the rehabilitative potential of the sentence and will support some service users to gain employment skills through a positive work experience with the opportunity to gain vocational or skills-based training.

Staff are expected to contribute towards review and evaluation of all aspects of service delivery and to contribute towards a culture of continuous improvement.

Post holders may be required to undertake weekend working as part of their normal pattern of working. The work may involve working alongside volunteers or staff from partner organisations.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
  • Conduct Pre-Placement Unpaid Work Induction sessions.
  • Conduct a start of the day ‘tool box’ talk to ensure all service users understand the task at hand and safe working practice and motivate and support service users to complete their Order.
  • Follow work directions within the project placement file.
  • Ensure Health & Safety procedures are followed, alerting the relevant staff to any risk, ensuring that any associated paperwork is completed accurately and on time as required, including contributing to the review of placement risk assessments.
  • Ensure that appropriate tools, equipment and supplies are available in accordance with local procedure and that instructions for safe use are followed by service users.
  • Conduct a dynamic risk assessment to ensure all hazards are noted and managed.
  • Use pro-social and other motivational techniques to ensure that service users complete the work assigned in a disciplined and well-behaved manner.
  • Monitor the attendance of service users allocated to agency placements and promote successful completions.
  • Maintain all service users’ records in accordance with organisational requirements ensuring that all information is updated onto the case management system in a timely and accurate manner.
  • Work towards accreditation as a workplace assessor or deliver training assessments for selected service users within the supervised work group to provide enhanced learning opportunities.
  • Contribute towards promoting Community Payback with colleagues, external agencies, Sentencers and the public.
In line with PS policies and procedures, the job holder must at all times demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusion and an understanding of their relevance to the work they do. The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/ confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.

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.

Civil Service Success Profile Criteria

Behaviours
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Working Together
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Leadership
Experience
  • Experience of Practical Skills
  • UK Manual Driving Licence – Category D1 Minibus
  • Evidence of commitment to teamwork
  • Effective inter-personal skills with the ability to supervise people constructively while maintaining authority
  • Evidence of problem-solving within a workplace or similar environment
  • Knowledge of safety at work, public protection and risk of harm in all aspects of work
Technical Requirements
  • Basic knowledge of First Aid and willingness to undertake further training
  • To attain IOSH L3 or equivalent and a willingness to attend further training
  • Willing to achieve and maintain L3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) or equivalent
Ability
  • Ability to model pro-social attitudes and behaviour to service users
  • Good written communication skills
About the Recruitment Process

To apply to this role you will be required to complete a short application form and detail responses to two Civil Service Behaviour and one Experience based questions.

Your application will be sifted once the application deadline has closed. You will then receive further instruction on the progress and outcome of your application.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

If you are successful in the recruitment process to join the Probation Service, your starting salary will be £26,475

The Probation Service offers the opportunity for annual pay progression through a Competency Based Framework (CBF), which if eligible, will see your pay increase. CBF is designed to enable you to move up through the pay band range as your competence grows.

Probation Service also increase their pay band ranges annually in line with Civil Service Pay guidance, which will also apply an increase to band pay ranges where applicable.
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.

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

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

Application form stage assessments

Communicating and Influencing
Managing a Quality Service
Specific licence requirements
Candidates must have a full UK Manual Driving Licence to be eligible to apply for this role.
We cannot accept applications from candidates who only hold an automatic driving licence.
Evidence of Experience
Experience Questions

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
To be confirmed
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Leadership
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)