Data Warden Support Officers in the Prison Data Assurance team

Overview

Do you have the passion, values, and ability to help us solve the biggest problems of the justice system?

We have an exciting opportunity for an Executive Officer Data Warden Support, to join our amazing team in the Prison Data Assurance team, Analysis Directorate, Ministry of Justice. Any merit list from this campaign may be used to fill other similar vacancies

The post is open on level transfer to existing Civil Servants at EO (or equivalent) and to other eligible Civil Service staff on promotion. Additionally, individuals may apply as external candidates.

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 July 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.

About the Team

The Prison Data Assurance team supports MoJ and HMPPS (and wider Civil Service) to understand, use and improve the quality of custodial data reported on the HMPPS Performance Hub. The HMPPS Performance Hub is a web‐based reporting service that provides users with the tools to collect, validate, collate and report data. We assist customers, stakeholders, and colleagues in understanding, reporting, interpreting, and utilising Prison data.

We provide guidance, overviews, and support packages, represent the frontline at meetings, produce guidance, and develop metrics and management information.

We are a highly engaged team, investing in ourselves through learning and development, promoting health and wellbeing, and putting the individual first. Everything we do is underpinned by an open and inclusive culture, within which staff feel confident in bringing their whole selves to work.

We encourage continuous improvement, innovation, and constructive challenge. We are looking for an enthusiastic person who is willing to learn and develop in this exciting role, you will receive all the help, advice, and training necessary to succeed.

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 650 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.
  
  

What you’ll do

Data Warden Support Officers in the Prison Data Assurance team provide expertise and support to the Ministry of Justice to support:

• Data governance: That data is appropriately defined and there are wider governance processes in place to handle issues and changes.

• Data quality: That the quality of data provided is proof sufficient standards against defined definitions.

• Data architecture: That the flow of data around the business is doing in an effective way, with an overall aim to reduce the burden on frontline staff.

• Data management: That data is presented to those that need the same in an understandable way and they understand any risk of key caveats with the same.
  
  

Data Warden Support Officers deal with a range of prison data that is collected, managed or reported on the HMPPS Performance Hub. The HMPPS Performance Hub is a web‐based reporting service that provides users with the tools to collect, validate, collate and report data.

The post does not have any line management responsibility and will report to the Data Warden in the Prison Data Assurance team.

Key responsibilities of the role:

• Collecting, processing, quality assuring and uploading prison data to the HMPPS Performance Hub by agreed deadlines

• Responding to enquiries about prison data by email, telephone and other routes as required

• Reviewing data and investigating anomalies to ensure that accurate and timely responses are provided to customers.

• Providing support, advice, and guidance with regards to a wide range of custodial datasets.

• Providing progress updates on data collection and/or validation issues and escalating any concerns

• Providing accurate and relevant data in response to ad hoc information requests

• Drafting and improving process guidance

• Delivering national and bespoke upskilling sessions to customers.

• Conducting quality checks on prison incident reports and informing prisons of necessary amendments, with a minimum commitment of 7 hours per week.

The following experience and skills are essential:

• Meticulous attention to detail to ensure data accuracy and integrity.

• Commitment to high-quality standards in data management and reporting.

• Collaborative teamwork skills to effectively coordinate with colleagues and stakeholders.

• Proficiency in using and maintaining workbooks and databases, ensuring data is up-to-date and well-organised.

• Expertise in data handling tools such as Microsoft Excel to efficiently collate, organise, and analyse large datasets.

• Proficient use of Microsoft Office packages, including Microsoft Outlook, for effective communication and documentation.

The following experience and skills are desirable:

• Experience of quality management

• Experience of delivering presentations

• Experience of prisons and/or custodial data

• Experience of applying data management standards

• Knowledge of requirements of Government Information Assurance

• Using Microsoft Office packages such as Microsoft Teams.

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.

How to apply

You’ll need to submit a Statement of Suitability and evidence against the Civil Service success profiles behaviour Managing a Quality Service.

You will not be considered if you do not provide a Statement of Suitability and behaviour example.

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. 

Should a large number of applications be received, a pre-sift may be undertaken using the Civil Service behaviour, Managing a Quality Service (max 500 words). Candidates who pass the pre-sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

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.

Behaviours

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework at interview stage:

• Managing a Quality Service

• Making Effective Decisions

• Working Together

• Delivering at Pace

Please 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 

Further Information 

If you require any additional information about the role, please contact: Amreeta Ladha (Amreeta.ladha@justice.gov.uk) ; Cheryl Wright (Cheryl.Wright1@justice.gov.uk)