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General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £75,185 - £82,703, London salary range is £78,082 - £87,550. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
10-Jun-2025
Business Unit
AGY - NOMS Agency
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 6
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
6281

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Questions in Advance 

This campaign is taking part in a research study testing feasibility of using Questions in Advance (QiA) to aid greater inclusivity of neurodiverse people.  We want to explore how receiving interview questions in advance may influence interview performance and perspectives of candidates and interviewers.

If invited to interview you will be sent lead questions for any Behaviours, Experience or Technical questions asked during the interview 5 calendar days in advance of interview. 

The interview panel may ask you other questions which will not be shared in advance, including strengths-based and follow-up questions. 

Further information on inclusive recruitment can be found in the Principles of Inclusive Recruitment Guide.

If you have any questions about the pilot process more generally, please contact moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

Specialist skills to be brought out in Statement of Suitability

Five-minute presentation at start of interview.      

Overview of the job

This HQ job reports directly to the Head of Evidence and Insights and leads a team of evidence specialists including chartered psychologists and colleagues with postgraduate research qualifications.   

The purpose of the job is to provide an evidence-based practice service to the whole HMPPS agency. The job holder must maintain established standards for acceptable evidence and keep the entire evidence base in relation to correctional practice under review in order to ensure that HMPPS policy and practice is defensible and effective. The job holder is responsible for effectively communicating the evidence base to others across the organisation and for developing the evidence base, involving both in-house resource and collaboration with research partners in the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and beyond the agency.   

Evidence Based Practice integrates scientific evidence with the operational perspective to design and provide high-quality services reflecting the goals of the organisation and the interests, values, needs, and choices of the individuals we serve.

The job holder needs to have an established track record in evidence-based research and practice, significant experience in conducting and reviewing high quality research and a professional qualification that reflects specialist skill in this area. 

Summary

This is a Senior Management role working directly to the Head of Evidence and Insights. This HQ role is a member of the Strategy, Evidence and Corporate Services Group SMT, and is accountable for building and evaluating the evidence base to inform and direct operational policy and practice. The post holder directly influences operational policy, strategy and practice through the generation of evidence summaries on topics relevant to staff working in prison, probation and youth custody, through original research to build the evidence on practice related issues and through providing evidence consultation to central and local teams. The post holder is also responsible for building links with national and international experts in correctional research. 

HMPPS aims to deliver safe, decent, fair and rehabilitative services to those in prison, in youth custody or on the probation caseload. The Evidence-Based Practice team contributes to these aims through the expert translation of evidence to shape everyday practice in prisons, probation and youth custody, delivering research to fill knowledge gaps and consulting into the strategic development of policies and practice to bring the best outcomes for the organisation, staff, the people in our care and the public. The team works alongside colleagues in Learning and Development, Human Resources, psychology and effective practice in each of our three sectors as well as central strategy and policy teams and operational staff and leadership. 

The post holder will have line management responsibility for senior professional advisors and overall responsibility for the team, most of whom are chartered psychologists or hold professional research qualifications.
 

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
  • Responsible for developing and maintaining an up to date knowledge of the international evidence base in relation to correctional practice, monitoring the academic literature and collecting information through professional links, discriminating between high and low quality evidence, being able to draw conclusions from contradictory literature, and ensuring that new and relevant research findings are quickly evaluated and integrated into the HMPPS knowledge base by being effectively communicated to those who need to know them.
  • Influence HMPPS directors’ understanding of the evidence base related to their spheres of responsibility and support them in using this strategically.
  • Accountable for the development, interpretation, translation and dissemination of research evidence to support and steer evidence-based practice at national and local levels. Produce formal and informal evidence-based guidance for Directors, central teams and practitioners across the organisation.
  • Strategically plan, organise and lead in-house research to develop the evidence base in relation to HMPPS priorities, identifying the key gaps in the evidence base, deciding when these gaps can best be filled by in-house staff or in partnerships with research colleagues both in and beyond the wider organisation, and leading on designing research projects to fill these gaps, ensuring that all in-house research meets high standards of evidence and delivers value for money.
  • Inspire public and professional confidence in HMPPS by achieving a reputation for HMPPS of excellence in evidence- based practice and through leadership and effective personal promotion of HMPPS work in relation to evidence-based practice.
  • Provide expertise on evidence and clear evidence-based recommendations across HMPPS, MoJ, provider organisations, other government departments, independent, private and voluntary and other organisations and agencies.
  • Represent Head of Group within HMPPS, provider organisations and MoJ, to Ministers, other organisations and agencies as required.
  • Provide line management and professional oversight of senior managers (research/evidence specialists) and their teams. Develop technical and professional skills of the team as well as other staff within the Group through direct skills transfer, arranging Continuous Professional Development activities and communicating new information quickly and clearly.
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

  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Working Together
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Leadership

Experience

  • A proven track record in applied research in the field of criminal justice or related fields demonstrated through peer reviewed publication of critical literature reviews or; quantitative and qualitative research studies
  • Extensive experience in working with Ministers and/or senior officials.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, in particular the ability to translate complex research information into plain English and give high impact presentations. Strong drafting skills and proven ability to produce finished written products. Ability to describe and debate complex information in pressured environments, including international forums with academic experts and senior leaders in the field of corrections.
  • A competent and proven leader and senior manager, able to manage a specialist team which is geographically dispersed.
  • High level understanding of the role played by HMPPS in the criminal justice sector.
  • Experience of working at a strategic level across stakeholder and provider groups.
  • Advanced understanding and experience of correctional services, reducing reoffending/rehabilitation and public protection.
  • Experience of managing high level organisational change at a senior leader level.
  • Experience of business planning, project leadership and budget management 

Technical Requirements

  • A high-level academic qualification that certifies advanced knowledge and skills in reviewing, interpreting and conducting research, such as a research doctorate or equivalent PhD.
Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances

37 hour working week
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.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Benefits

Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays.

Pension

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

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service  (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

Eligibility

-All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

-All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS

-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist

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
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: 6281

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: 6281

First contact point karen.payne@justice.gov.uk and second point of contact nicola.bellamy@justice.gov.uk (available 29th & 30th May and 3rd June as Karen on A/L)

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Seeing the Big Picture
Working Together
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Statement of Suitability
Evidence of Experience
Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
TBC
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Seeing the Big Picture
Working Together
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.

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation
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
DBS Standard