HQ Job Description (JD)
Band 7
Directorate: Security Order & Counter Terrorism
Job Description - Specialist Interventions Probation Lead
Document Ref.
HQ-JES-2929 Specialist Interventions Probation Lead v1.0
Document Type
Management
Version
1.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
25 November 2021
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
HQ-JES-2929 Specialist Interventions Probation Lead v1.0
Job Description
Job Title
Specialist Interventions Probation Lead
Directorate
Security Order & Counter Terrorism
Band
Band 7
Overview of the job
The Joint Extremism Unit is jointly run by HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS)
and the Home Office, Office of Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT) and is the
strategic centre for all counter-terrorism and counter-extremism work in HMPPS. It
has oversight of delivery across the end-to-end offender management process,
including probation. The unit drives closer working with strategic policy and law
enforcement partners, with HMPPS retaining its responsibility for operational
management decisions, and Home Office for counter-terrorism and counter-
extremism policy across government.
The Unit encompasses the entire policy making process, from strategy to operational
delivery and consists of a mix of policy officials and operational staff across England
and Wales.
The National Operational Assurance Team (NOAT) was created in 2019 to provide
national coordination of key CT specialist activity and to deliver CT operational
assurance across prisons and probation. On the National Operations side, the team
oversees the application of specialist controls and interventions, including
coordinating delivery of the Home Office led Desistance and Disengagement
Programme (DDP). On the National Operational Assurance side, the team delivers a
programme of risk management and assurance activity to ensure the quality and
effectiveness of operational delivery across the CT specialist network in prisons and
probation. The team is also responsible for coordinating operational briefings to
seniors/Ministers across HMG.
The DDP Programme is aimed at changing the behaviour (desistance) and beliefs
(disengagement, or ‘de-radicalisation’) of people who are vulnerable to being drawn
into terrorism either because they have already engaged in terrorist-related activity
or because their views are more firmly entrenched.
The job holder will work within NOAT National Operations, reporting to the
Desistance & Disengagement Programme (DDP) & Specialist Interventions Lead,
acting as the Probation Subject Matter Expert.
This post is based at HQ and does not hold any direct line management
responsibilities.
This is a Non-Operational role.
Summary
The job holder will provide specialist probation advice and support, jointly leading
and coordinating the evaluation of the programme, as well as overseeing ongoing
compliance with related policy.
They will lead on the ongoing management of all referrals to the programme
including making decisions on complex cases requiring a range of intervention types
including but not limited to Theological & Ideological support (TII), psychological
support and practical mentoring.
This support will also include taking the lead in consultation for progress against the
interventions being provided and supporting the exit process including managing
transitions between strands involving a wide range of partner agencies.
HQ-JES-2929 Specialist Interventions Probation Lead v1.0
They will directly guide and support Home Office Intervention Providers (IPs)
working within the operational line in the community and in custody as required,
providing regular feedback to Home Office colleagues to jointly coordinate their
ongoing learning and development.
They will play a key role in the quality assurance and continuous improvement of the
DDP leading the probation strand element.
They will lead on further development of the programme in the Probation
environment whilst remaining mindful of the impact of any changes to the other
strands i.e., Prisons.
The job holder will also lead associated projects and initiatives associated with
Interventions and the wider CT Network considering how those may affect the
network and those working with high risk and complex individuals.
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities
Activities and Duties
and duties:
• Lead as the operational subject matter expert in respect of the Probation strand
of the DDP, providing expert advice and influencing the decision making of
senior managers and other specialist staff nationally, regionally and locally. This
will also include a diverse and wide range of external stakeholders and partners
nationally.
• Jointly responsible for designing and delivering a rolling national programme of
quality assurance activity in respect of the work carried out by Home Office IPs
and the wider DDP across prison and probation.
• Work collaboratively and lead on providing constructive challenge to IPs to
ensure that their own priorities are joined up with other functions and
contribute to the overall delivery of DDP.
• Supporting The Home Office and JEXU Projects Team by taking a lead role in the
probation elements of evaluation and ongoing development of the programme
and associated policy development.
• Ensure that nationally located staff have an in-depth package of ongoing
learning and development in respect of the DDP.
• Providing national specialist advice in the assessment of complex cases,
providing expert guidance to the operational network and acting as the conduit
between the operational line and the Home Office.
• Jointly lead the development and delivery of a national engagement strategy,
including coordinating and chairing seminars, workshops and national training
for those working in the operational line.
• Lead and coordinate regular national communications across HMPPS and the
Home Office in respect of DDP Interventions.
• Provide expert probation advice where required to HQ, Regional and Local
colleagues.
• Responsible for ensuring wider national policies and procedures are developed
in line with the programme and that this reflects organisational expectations.
• Responsible for ensuring the implementation of national policy relating to the
DDP in the probation environment.
• Support in developing wider Policy, procedures and practice across JEXU on an
ad-hoc basis.
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.
HQ-JES-2929 Specialist Interventions Probation Lead v1.0
Behaviours
• Communicating & Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8.
Ability
Experience
• The proven ability to be a good team player, be committed to an inclusive,
approach between own team and key stakeholders both internally and
externally.
• Excellent interpersonal skills - to be able to work effectively with wide range
of personnel and colleagues from different backgrounds, to be able to deal
sensitively with issues.
• Good communication skills -to give effective presentations, to influence, to
be sensitive to the audience, to write fluently.
• Sound judgement - be sensitive to the subtleties and complexities of issues.
• Awareness of broader issues - e.g. linkages to race and gender equality,
Human Rights Act, Prison Act.
Technical
Minimum Eligibility
Please do not alter this box
• 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 HMPPS consider to be racist.
Hours of Work
Leave Blank
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
To be used by the JES Team only
HQ-JES-2929 Specialist Interventions Probation Lead v1.0
Success Profile
Strengths
Behaviours
It is advised strengths
Ability
Experience
Technical
are chosen locally,
recommended 4-8
Communicating and Influencing
The proven ability to be a good
team player, be committed to an
inclusive, approach between own
team and key stakeholders both
internally and externally.
Managing a Quality Service
Excellent interpersonal skills - to
be able to work effectively with
wide range of personnel and
colleagues from different
backgrounds, to be able to deal
sensitively with issues.
Making Effective Decisions
Good communication skills -to give
effective presentations, to
influence, to be sensitive to the
audience, to write fluently.
Seeing the Big Picture
Sound judgement - be sensitive to
the subtleties and complexities of
issues.
Working Together
Awareness of broader issues - e.g.
linkages to race and gender
equality, Human Rights Act, Prison
Act.
HQ-JES-2929 Specialist Interventions Probation Lead v1.0