Ministry of Justice

Overview of role

Prisons and Probation Ombudsman – HEO (Band C) Research Officer Job Description

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) is an Arm’s Length Body (ALB) of the Ministry of Justice. We have three key duties:

• to investigate complaints made by prisoners, young people in detention, offenders under probation supervision and immigration detainees; and 
• to investigate deaths of prisoners, young people in detention, approved premises’ residents and immigration detainees.
• to investigate deaths of recently released prisoners that occur within 14 days of release from prison (except homicide). 

The Research, Data and Analysis Team supports the Ombudsman to make a fairer and safer justice system by providing data summaries and insightful analysis. The team has been vital in moving the PPO beyond focusing on learning from individual cases to being able to identify themes and patterns across our evidence base. Our bulletins and thematic reports – our most ‘visible’ analytical output – are available to view on our website.  

The team is made up of one SEO (Band B) Head of Research, three HEO (Band C) Research Officers, four EO (Band D) Research Assistants and one EO (Band D) assistant to the research team. The Research Officers report to the Head of Research. Once established in post, you will be expected to support and eventually line-manage some of the EO (Band D) Research Assistants. 

This post offers an exciting opportunity to contribute towards and deliver the Ombudsman’s research and data strategy. It would suit someone with experience of survey research and of working with quantitative-focused statistical packages to undertake data analysis, though applicants with broader experience e.g. qualitative fieldwork, evaluation/ mixed methods researchers are welcome. Strong time management is important given the variety of work the post holder would need to do in our small but busy team. 

Previous experience of the Criminal Justice System is preferable but not essential (see below for more details of requirements on skills and experience). 

The PPO is based at the HM Government hub at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf.  Staff are expected to work at least three days of the week at the London office, with the rest of the time spent working at home or at commuter hubs.

While you will usually have some flexibility to decide which days of the week you work in the office to enable you to manage your office attendance around your personal circumstances, there will be occasions when you will be required to attend the office (for example, team meetings, office or function-wide meetings) or visit establishments belonging to our services in remit on particular days.

Please note that the PPO is unable to offer home working contracts or allow you to permanently work at any other location, other than 10 South Colonnade, for the required office attendance days.  

If you are successful, you may need to attend the office more frequently in your first six weeks, to undertake key training and induction activity.  

Interviews will be held virtually using Microsoft Teams.  

The salary range is £38,661 to £42,019. You will also receive a Data and Analysis allowance of £1,000.  

Successful candidates who are already at HEO will keep their base salary on transfer.  Allowances do not transfer.  Successful candidates joining on promotion will start on either the minimum of the salary range or receive a 10% increase to their current base salary, whichever is higher.

Job Description 

The post holder may be responsible for the following: 

Thematic reports

• Analyse PPO investigation evidence (case data) and research databases to produce learning and recommendations for services in remit.
• Write research reports and bulletins (lead author) including appropriate data visualisations. Supervising research assistants with some tasks.
• Help disseminate findings to staff and stakeholders (e.g. at seminars or conferences). 
• Help identify research topics and run deep-dive projects as part of our regular planning cycle.

Stakeholder feedback

• Manage PPO stakeholder feedback surveys (various recipients).
• Set up and analyse excel datasets of responses.
• Write reports of findings and comparison with previous years.
• Disseminate findings to internal stakeholders.

General analytical support

• Evaluate PPO pilot and business as usual projects.
• Produce management information for monthly performance management meetings.
• Contribute to the continued development of our data dashboards
• Provide analytical support for annual reporting cycle.
• Provide briefings and data for managers for liaison with stakeholders/ external presentations.
• Respond to Freedom of Information and other external data/ information requests.
• Contribute to other analytical work in the office as required.

The Application and Interview Process

The PPO is a Disability Confident Committed Employer, and we ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. Please complete the application information on reasonable adjustments and disabilities if relevant.  Further information on the types of reasonable adjustment that can be provided can be found at https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

Table 1: summary of post holder requirements

Experience

Essential
Desk based analysis of qualitative and quantitative data.

Desirable
Project management of research or analytical projects. 
Project or programme evaluation.
Survey research.
Qualitative fieldwork delivery.
Criminal justice sector research or analysis. 
Criminal justice sector – operational role/s. 

Technical and other skills

Essential
Experience of working with statistical packages.
Excel (intermediate skills minimum).
Report writing.
Data visualisation.

Desirable
Excellent R skills (or similar software where skills are transferrable).
Strong time management.
Data visualisation and dashboard skills (experience with software such as PowerBI or Tableau).

Other

Essential
Hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1, (or 2:2 with a postgraduate degree). The degree must contain substantial social research methods training (comprising around one third of modules taken on the course) including quantitative research methods and at least three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research. 

OR

Hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1, (or 2:2 with a postgraduate degree), in any subject, or a degree equivalent (e.g. an advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS), plus have at least 4 years’ social research practice experience. Social research practice experience consists of experience working in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team. To enter the GSR through this route you must make explicit the breadth and depth of your research experience and skills, which must include quantitative research methods and three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research.

Please see full eligibility information: 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/961188/GSR_Membership_Guidance_Jan_2021.pdf

Desirable
Member of a relevant professional body – e.g. Government Social Research Service (GSR) Alternatively, for external applicants – Social Research Association, UK Evaluation Society, or similar

Recruitment process:

The PPO is a Disability Confident Committed Employer, and we ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. Please complete the application information on reasonable adjustments and disabilities if relevant.  Further information on the types of reasonable adjustment that can be provided can be found at https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

This is a three-stage process.  

Stage 1: 

• Submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV). 
• Submit a statement of suitability (250 words) setting out how your skills and experience match the essential requirements for the role as stated above.
• Provide examples of where you have demonstrated the skills required for the Civil Service Behaviours ‘Changing and Improving’, ‘Managing a Quality Service’ and ‘Developing Self and Others’.  

If we receive a high number of applications for the post, we may complete an initial sift on the “Changing and Improving” behaviour.  We may not review the rest of the application for any candidate who does not meet the required mark for this behaviour, which we have set at four out of seven.  

Furthermore, to be considered for the next stage of the recruitment campaign, a candidate will need to score a minimum of four out of seven on each behaviour and two out of three on their statement of suitability.  If we receive a high number of high scoring applications, we reserve the right to increase this minimum benchmark.

The CV will not be scored but will be used to give context to the statement of suitability.  

Stage 2:

If you pass the written application sift, you will be invited to take part in a GSR knowledge test (assuming that you are not already a badged GSR member or that you cannot provide proof of having taken and passed another GSR test within the past 12 months).  If you pass the knowledge test, you will then be invited for interview.

Stage 3:

Those who meet the required level at the application stage and who have passed the GSR knowledge test will be invited to a short final interview.  During the interview, you will be assessed against competencies from the GSR Technical Framework, as well as Civil Service Behaviours and strength-based questions relating to the role.

Further details on these GSR Technical Framework competencies and Civil Service Behaviours are found below.  

To be considered appointable, you will need to score a minimum of 20 out of 35 for the GSR competency and behaviour questions, and a minimum of six out of 12 for the strength questions.  If we receive a high number of his scoring interviewees, we reserve the right to increase this minimum benchmark.  

Civil service behaviours 

As part of the recruitment process, you will be required to provide evidence of the following behaviours for sifting. The same behaviours will be tested at interview, along with some scenario questions and some strengths that are required for the role. Further details on Success Profiles recruitment can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles and the Government Social Research framework at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/951178/Government_Social_Research_Technical_Framework_v2_Nov_2020__2_.pdf

You might want to use the STAR approach to help you to present your evidence (behaviour) more successfully.  This approach provides structure and focus to your answers.

Situation – briefly describe the context and your role. 

Task – the specific challenge, task or job that you faced.

Action – what you did, how and why you did it.

Result – what you achieved through your actions.

You should keep the situation and task parts brief, concentrating on the actions you took and the result. If the result was not entirely successful describe what you learned from this and what you would do differently next time. STAR may help you to cover all the points you need to make. It may help you approach drafting your application in a positive way and ensure that you cover what you personally have done. Make sure you focus on your strengths. One example per behaviour would be best practice to use the full STAR explanation within the required word count.

Changing and Improving

Work with others to identify areas for improvement and simplify processes to use fewer resources. Use technology where possible to increase efficiency. Encourage ideas for change from a wide range of sources. Clearly explain the reasons for change to colleagues and how to implement them, supporting individuals with different needs to adapt to change. Encourage an environment where colleagues know that they can challenged decisions and issues safely. Take managed risks by fully considering the varies impacts changes could have on the diverse range of end users.

Managing a Quality Service

Develop, implement, maintain and review systems and services to ensure delivery of professional excellence. Work with stakeholders to set priorities, objectives and timescales. Successfully deliver high quality outcomes that meet the customers’ needs and gives value for money. Identify risks and resolve issues efficiently. Involve a diverse range of colleagues, stakeholders and delivery partners in developing suggestions for improvements. Establish ways to find and respond to feedback from customers about the services provided. 

Developing Self and Others

Identify capability gaps for self and team. Ensure development objectives are set and achieved to address any gaps and enable delivery of current and future work. Take time to coach, mentor and develop other colleagues to support succession planning.

Promote inclusiveness by respecting different personal needs in the team and use these to develop others. Reflect on own work, continuously seek and act on feedback to improve own and team’s performance.

GSR Technical Skills

• Has good knowledge of research methodology, methods, and the latest techniques (e.g. at degree level 2:1 or 1st) and ability to apply these in small scale research projects 
• Able to design small scale and less complex research projects, defining research questions and writing draft specifications 
• Able to summarise and interpret information accurately, making use of different sources and to conduct basic analyses of key data sets utilising a working knowledge of relevant data analysis packages
• Has good working knowledge of departmental procurement procedures, quality assurance processes, legal and ethical issues and principles relating to social research. 
• Uses ability to critically assess and evaluate information and evidence, to support team members in managing more complex external research projects (judging merits of research tenders, assessing research findings, evaluating new ideas or methodologies)

GSR Using and Promoting Social Research

• Persuades others to support the research process and works to increase awareness of cross cutting research possibilities 
• Uses understanding of policy context to deliver appropriate and timely analysis and clear reporting of research results, tailored to customer needs