6152 - Assistant Inspector - 6152 - Ministry of Justice

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

HM Inspectorate of Probation

Advert and job description

Assistant Inspectors – (3 roles)

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 or a fixed term contract. When joining on a fixed term contract the salary will be £41,463.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspectorate of probation and youth justice services in England and Wales. We promote excellence in these services.

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.

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 probation officer, senior probation officer, YJS officer, YJS Team Manager or an operational manager (in a youth or adult setting)?
• are you looking for a role that is interesting, challenging and makes a difference?

Assistant Inspectors (AIs) play a key role in HM Inspectorate of Probation’s inspections of adult and youth justice work. During inspection visits they examine and assess the quality of practice carried out by frontline staff, against HMI Probation’s published inspection standards.
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

AIs must:

•    have experience of working within or close to probation or youth justice services (in a youth or adult setting)
•    have experience of assessing quality of performance against a specified set of standards
•    have the ability to communicate clearly and concisely and provide feedback to others in a sensitive and constructive manner.

The inspection programme for AIs is demanding yet rewarding and while we are delivering a hybrid model of inspection (with some inspection activity conducted remotely and some on-site) you may still need to work away from home for a significant amount of time. At times, this may involve being away from home up to three weeks out of four.
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).

AIs who have completed secondments with us have gone on to take middle manager and quality development roles in the criminal justice sector.

A current AI said:
“This is the only job I’ve done so far in my career where I’ve been afforded the opportunity to really reflect on how to actually improve practice…”

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 13 June 2025.

We will invite short-listed candidates to an assessment centre, which will be conducted remotely on Wednesday 23 or Thursday 24 July 2025. Candidates MUST be available to attend on one of 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 the week commencing 11 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.
We are particularly interested to hear from candidates who have experience in youth justice practice.

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 ‘AI 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 – AI”.
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 – AI”.
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

Work as part of HMI Probation’s team of inspection staff by undertaking assessments of front-line practice, including observation of interventions being delivered
Provide accurate and concise written feedback to lead inspectors on individual cases
Provide feedback to individual case managers/ responsible officers about their work
Lead and facilitate meetings of staff groups and service users
Contribute to HMI Probation’s work on policy areas, based on inspection findings
Undertake work on joint inspection programmes, working collaboratively with colleagues from other Inspectorates
Deliver training to probation and youth justice staff on how to assess practice, using HMI Probation’s inspection standards
Provide briefings to HMI Probation staff on specified subject areas
Represent the organisation at external meetings
Recognise and promote diversity issues in all aspects of work
Undertake other work as allocated by HM Chief Inspector

Person Specification - Success Profiles

Behaviours

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 challenge decisions and issues safely. Take managed risks by fully considering the varied impacts changes could have on the diverse range of end users.

Making Effective Decisions

Understand your own level of responsibility and empower others to make decisions where appropriate. Analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from internal and external sources to support decisions. Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making. Display confidence when making difficult decisions, even if they prove to be unpopular. Consult with others to ensure the potential impacts on end users have been considered. Present strong recommendations in a timely manner outlining the consideration of other options, costs, benefits and risks.

Communicating and Influencing

Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner - choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact. Encourage the use of different communication methods, including digital resources and highlight the benefits, including ensuring cost effectiveness. Ensure communication has a clear purpose and takes into account people’s individual needs. Share information as appropriate and check understanding. Show positivity and enthusiasm towards work, encouraging others to do the same. Ensure that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, taking into consideration the diversity of interests.

Working Together

Encourage joined up team work within your own team and across other groups. Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders. Collaborate with these to share information, resources and support. Invest time to develop a common focus and genuine positive team spirit where colleagues feel valued and respect one another. Put in place support for the wellbeing of individuals within the team, including consideration of your own needs. Make it clear to all team members that bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable. Actively seek and consider input of people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Delivering at Pace

Show a positive approach to keeping the whole team’s efforts focused on the top priorities. Promote a culture of following the appropriate procedures to ensure results are achieved on time whilst still enabling innovation. Ensure the most appropriate resources are available for colleagues to use to do their job effectively. Regularly monitor your own and team’s work against milestones ensuring individual needs are considered when setting tasks. Act promptly to reassess workloads and priorities when there are conflicting demands to maintain performance. Allow individuals the space and authority to meet objectives, providing additional support where necessary, whilst keeping overall responsibility.

Ability

IT Skills

You are confident and competent in the use of Information Technology (e.g. you have experience using Word, Excel, Outlook, a reasonable amount of case management software, etc.). Essential

Verbal and Written Communication Skills
You can communicate clearly and concisely both verbally and in written format in order to support others’ understanding. Provides feedback to others in a sensitive and constructive manner. Essential

Experience

Quality Assurance

You have experience of assessing quality of performance against a specified set of standards. Essential
Work Experience
You have experience of working within or close to probation (youth or adult). Essential

Technical

Professional Qualification

You have a professional qualification in Probation (adult or youth). You have a related professional qualification in a relevant occupational area e.g. social work Desirable

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). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

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 role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

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.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ 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 MoJ’s 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.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

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 employees.

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

To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

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.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

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.

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 6152

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 6152

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours

Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit

250

Changing and Improving

Making Effective Decisions

Communicating and Influencing

Working Together

Delivering at Pace

Experience

We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods

Statement of Suitability

Statement of Suitability

Guidance for the Statement of Suitability

Please provide evidence of how you meet the Essential Criteria for:
Ability
IT Skills
You are confident and competent in the use of Information Technology (e.g. you have experience using Word, Excel, Outlook, a reasonable amount of case management software, etc.).

Verbal and Written Communication Skills
You can communicate clearly and concisely both verbally and in written format in order to support others’ understanding. Provides feedback to others in a sensitive and constructive manner.

Experience:
Quality Assurance
You have experience of assessing quality of performance against a specified set of standards.

Work Experience
You have experience of working within or close to probation (youth or adult).

Evidence of Experience

Statement of Suitability

Ministry of Justice

6152 - Assistant Inspector

General Information

Descriptions & requirements

Job Description Attachment

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Application form stage assessments

Interview stage assessments

Other Assessments