Ministry of Justice

HM Inspectorate of Probation 

HM Inspectors – Youth programme (3 roles)

Advert and job description

HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of probation and youth justice services in England and Wales. We promote excellence in these services.

HMI Probation are seeking to recruit up to three inspectors. These posts are available on two-year secondments/loans or a fixed term contract of up to two years. 

When joining us on a secondment, remuneration (salary and any taxable allowances), pay progression and employment terms & conditions will be the same as currently received from the seconding employer. Due to recruitment rules, we can offer current civil servants a secondment of two years with a possibility of an extension to three years. For successful candidates who do not currently work for the civil service (for example staff working for local government/local authority) we can offer a two-year secondment.  When joining on a fixed term contract the salary will be £56,532.

If applying for a secondment, you should confirm with your employer that, in principle, they are willing to second you before you apply for these posts. If you are a HMPPS employee, senior leaders have agreed that probation staff can apply on secondment for HM Inspector (HMI) roles and will be supported with these secondments if they are successful. 

Successful candidates will be allocated a notional office base, as close to their home location as possible, for the purposes of travel and subsistence, but in practice we are flexible in terms of where in the country you wish to work from.  

About these roles

• Are you a senior manager in the criminal justice sector?
• Are you looking for a role that is interesting, challenging and makes a difference?
• Do you want to develop your leadership skills and boost your career prospects?

HM Inspectors (HMI) are responsible for leading inspections of youth justice services. You will also have the opportunity to contribute to our thematic inspections, which explore high-profile topics on a national basis.

As an HMI, you will be involved in every stage of our inspections: planning, conducting fieldwork, and drafting the final report. You will interview and hear from senior leaders, practitioners and children and young people as well as use a wide range of data sources to form judgments. You will identify effective practice as well as areas for improvement; you will also make recommendations and contribute to final ratings.

These are collaborative roles so you will work closely with the Head of Programme and other members of the inspection team and have regular contact with the Chief Inspector of Probation. Your final report will be submitted to the Secretary of State for Justice and will help to improve practice locally and nationally. 

The Inspectorate is committed to learning and development for all staff. During your first year with us, you will be required to complete and pass our internal training programme, which focuses on developing the skills and knowledge needed to undertake high quality inspection practice. You will receive ongoing feedback and support as you develop your professional skills.

About you

HMIs must: 

• have worked at a senior level in a related profession, and have experience of interacting with senior stakeholders (such as Directors of Children’s Services, Chief Executives and the Office of Police Crime Commissioners)
• have experience of assessing performance against a set of established standards
• understand and/or be adept at using qualitative and quantitative analysis methods
• be able to interpret and extrapolate themes from large volumes of written and numerical data
• be able to assimilate large quantities of information from a range of sources and produce a report using a house style guide
• be confident and competent in using IT (you have experience using Word, Excel, Outlook, a reasonable amount of case management software, etc).

HMIs will be expected to travel across England and Wales and spend time away from home. We want applicants to be fully aware of this requirement and to ensure this fits with your expectations and lifestyle. It has been estimated that the Lead Inspector and Deputy Lead Inspector roles will require HMIs to be onsite approximately ten times per year, more if allocated thematic roles. In addition, you will be required to travel and spend time away from home to attend other events, for example training weeks, within the inspectorate when they are held in-person. We strongly encourage you to contact us for a discussion and to ask any questions – these conversations will be confidential and will not count towards your application (see contact details at the end of the advert).

HMIs who have completed secondments with us have gone on to take senior leadership roles. A current HMI said: “One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was to join the Inspectorate. It’s an organisation that is working so hard to improve service delivery.”

The option of part time or job-share contracts can be discussed individually.

Selection process

You must complete your application by no later than 23:55 on Friday 30 May 2025.

We will invite short-listed candidates to an assessment centre, which will be conducted remotely on either Tuesday 8 or Wednesday 9 July 2025. Candidates MUST be available to attend on these days, we are unable to offer alternative dates. 

Candidates who are successful at the assessment centre will be invited to an interview based on a blend of behaviours and strengths. Interviews, which will be conducted remotely, will take place either the week commencing 28 July or the week commencing 4 August 2025. 

We recruit using the Civil Service Success Profiles

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles

Further information on the structure and expectations of our assessment centre process will be sent to candidates who are successful through the application sift stage. 

About us and contacts

We warmly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic and/or Welsh speaking candidates. 

Our vision

High-quality probation and youth justice services that change people’s lives for the better.

Our purpose

HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of probation and youth justice services in England and Wales. We set the standards that shine a light on the quality and impact of these services. Our inspections, reviews, research and effective practice products provide authoritative and evidence-based judgements and guidance. We use our voice to drive system change, with a focus on inclusion and diversity. Our scrutiny leads to improved outcomes for individuals and communities.

Our values

Influential: We care about making a positive impact on the organisations we inspect and the individuals they work with.Independent: We ensure that the judgements we make are supported by evidence, are fair and impartial.Professional: We work in a respectful, transparent, professional way, listening to and sharing learning internally and externally.Inclusive: We work as ‘One HM Inspectorate of Probation’, valuing and respecting each other’s viewpoints and skills, so that everyone feels a part of what we do.Diverse: We are passionate about diversity and the value that comes through giving everyone a voice in our inspections and the chance to succeed in our organisation.
Read more about our vision, mission and values on our website:

About us – HM Inspectorate of Probation

If you would like to discuss these posts, please contact HMIP.Enquiries@hmiprobation.gov.uk, marking your email ‘HMI Youth recruitment May 2025. 

Gall ymgeiswyr sy'n siarad Cymraeg gysylltu â Helen Davies ar 0791 949 0420 os ydynt am drafod y swydd yn Gymraeg. Cysylltwch â corporate@hmiprobation.gov.uk os hoffech gael yr hysbyseb hon a'r disgrifiad swydd yn Gymraeg. Marciwch eich e-bost “Cais am Gyfieithiad Cymraeg – HMI”. 

Welsh speaking applicants can contact Helen Davies on 0791 949 0420 if they wish to discuss the position in Welsh. Please contact corporate@hmiprobation.gov.uk if you would like this advert and job description in Welsh. Please mark your email “Request for Welsh Translation – HMI Youth”. 

We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all staff. We will not discriminate on grounds of gender, ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, faith or any other factor not relevant to a person's work. 

Key requirements of the role

• Lead inspections taking responsibility for planning, fieldwork and the preparation of reports
• Be responsible for the assessment of organisations being inspected, including making recommendations for the rating they receive
• Lead the on-site team during the inspection process, manage relationships with key stakeholders including external partners in the inspection, the organisations SPOC and local management team
• Be accountable for judgements, ratings, and any recommendations arising from the inspection
• Lead and facilitate meetings with senior managers and staff from probation and youth sectors, as well as staff from partnership organisations.
• Analyse and interpret data to make judgements and facilitate the writing of high-quality reports
• Lead and contribute to discussions about inspection findings with colleagues in the MoJ, HMPPS, YJB and other relevant organisations
• Contribute to HMI Probation’s work on policy areas, based on inspection findings
• Act as deputy lead, support or duty inspector as required
• Undertake assessments of front-line practice, providing feedback to individual case managers/ responsible officers about their work
• Undertake work on joint inspection programmes, working collaboratively with colleagues from other Inspectorates
• Through appropriate leadership, role model and promote a culture that respects the Inspectorate’s values of being influential, independent, professional, inclusive, and diverse
• Briefing and coaching of Assistant Inspectors while they are working on the inspection. 
• Write and deliver training packages for inspection staff, including local area assessors, brief and coach local assessors whilst they are working on the inspection
• Work closely with the communications team to ensure effective internal and external communication of the results of the inspection. 
• Encourage a culture that values openness, honesty, support and challenge
• Keep abreast of the latest thinking and developments in practice and understand the implications for professional practice. As part of the knowledge network in HMI Probation, take the lead in developing knowledge of developments in a specialist area of practice.
• Support the recruitment of new AIs and HMIs
• Personal resilience and stamina to spend considerable time away from home, including lone working and self-motivation
• Recognise and promote diversity issues in all aspects of work

Additional responsibilities as appropriate:

• Some HMIs will have additional responsibilities for leading specified workstreams, including the Welsh Language Scheme and liaison with Welsh Government
• Contribute to the development of inspection programme methodology 

Person Specification - Success Profiles

Behaviours

Communicating and Influencing

Communicate with others in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way in order to build trust. Explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand. Take into account people’s individual needs. Deliver difficult messages with clarity and sensitivity, being persuasive when required. Consider the impact of the language used. Remain open-minded and impartial in discussions, whilst respecting the diverse interests and opinions of others. Introduce different methods for communication, including making the most of digital resources whilst getting value for money. Monitor the effectiveness of own and team communications and take action to improve where necessary. 

Working Together

Actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on shared objectives. Challenge assumptions while being willing to compromise if beneficial to progress. Build strong interpersonal relationships and show genuine care for colleagues. Ensure consideration and support for the wellbeing of yourself and individuals throughout the team. Understand the varying needs of the team to ensure they are supported and their experiences are utilised. Create an inclusive working environment where all opinions and challenges are taken into account and bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable. Remain available and approachable to all colleagues and be receptive to new ideas. 

Delivering at Pace

Ensure everyone clearly understands and owns their roles, responsibilities and business priorities. Give honest, motivating and enthusiastic messages about priorities, objectives and expectations to get the best out of people. Comply with legal, regulatory and security requirements in service delivery. Set out clear processes and standards for managing performance at all levels. Ensure delivery of timely quality outcomes, through providing the right resources to do the job, reviewing and adjusting performance expectations and rewarding success. Maintain your own levels of performance in challenging circumstances and encourage others to do the same. 

Making Effective Decisions

Clarify your own understanding and stakeholder needs and expectations, before making decisions. Ensure decision making happens at the right level, not allowing unnecessary bureaucracy to hinder delivery. Encourage both innovative suggestions and challenge from others, to inform decision making. Analyse and accurately interpret data from various sources to support decisions. Find the best option by identifying positives, negatives, risks and implications. Present reasonable conclusions from a wide range of complex and sometimes incomplete evidence. Make decisions confidently even when details are unclear or if they prove to be unpopular. 

Changing and Improving

Encourage, recognise and share innovative ideas from a diverse range of colleagues and stakeholders. Give people space to take initiative and praise them for their creativity. Create an environment where people feel safe to challenge and know their voice will be heard. Make changes which add value and clearly articulate how changes will benefit the business. Understand and identify the role of technology in public service delivery and policy implementation. Consider the full impact of implementing changes on culture, structure, morale and the impacts on the diverse range of end users, including accessibility needs. Identify early signs that things are going wrong and respond promptly. Provide constructive challenge to senior management on change proposals.