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General Information

Salary
£55,457 - £61,003
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
Doncaster, Wetherby
Region
Yorkshire and the Humber
Closing Date
29-Jul-2025
Business Unit
DDC Yorkshire and Humberside
Post Type
Loan
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
7732

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

This role is open to applications on temporary promotion or level transfer on a 12 month loan basis. If temporary promotion you will return to your home location at your substantive grade.

Overview of the job

The job holder will be responsible for providing regional drug and alcohol strategy advice to establishments within their Prison Group. Providing assurance to the Prison Group Director (PGD), Area Executive Director (AED) and delivering work aligned to the strategic direction set out by HQ. The post will provide direct support to establishments to deliver a comprehensive prison drug and alcohol strategy. They will be the integral link for establishments, the PGD and HQ in all matters associated with this essential work.

In the interests of promoting drug and alcohol strategy outcomes for all, support from this role should also be made available to privately managed prisons.

This is a non-operational role, open to both operational and non-operational staff. There is no line management responsibility.

Summary

The role is responsible for leading the development and management of the regional drug and alcohol strategy, ensuring alignment with national policies and HMPPS objectives. This includes supporting establishments in reducing drug and alcohol supply and demand, overseeing provider contracts and fostering recovery environments like Incentivised Substance Free Living Units (ISFLs) and Drug Recovery Wings (DRWs). The post holder will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring integrated service delivery and effective joint working across the region.

Additionally, the role involves monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of drug strategies, conducting assurance visits, and identifying areas for improvement. The post holder will disseminate best practices, support the annual needs analysis process, and provide responsive support during drug-related incidents. They will also ensure compliance with national drug policies and drive improvements in service delivery and outcomes within the region.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

  • Lead the development, implementation and ongoing management of the regional drug and alcohol strategy, ensuring alignment with national policies, strategic goals and HMPPS objectives, including the development of recovery environments (ISFLs, DRWs) across the assigned establishments.
  • Provide detailed management information to the Area Executive Director, Prison Group Director and HQ, offering insight into performance, governance and practices within each establishment.
  • Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., safer custody, security, healthcare providers and drug and alcohol services) to reduce drug and alcohol supply and demand, supporting the development and implementation of relevant policies and strategies.
  • Support establishments in reducing drug and alcohol supply and demand, offering direct support to Governors, conducting assurance visits and providing advice on improving drug strategy outcomes.
  • Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of drug and alcohol strategies within establishments, using established tools to assess outcomes against local action plans, identifying areas for improvement and providing ongoing support.
  • Oversee and manage provider contracts for services related to drug and alcohol, ensuring services meet outcomes and are aligned with national standards and regional needs.
  • Support an annual needs analysis process to ensure that drug-related needs are identified and addressed appropriately within each establishment.
  • Drive improvements in service delivery and compliance with national drug and alcohol strategies and policies, fostering a whole-prison approach to rehabilitation and recovery.
  • Identify, capture and disseminate good practices and lessons learned across establishments and the wider Prisons Directorate to promote consistency and enhance service delivery.
  • Respond to drug and alcohol- related incidents (including deaths in custody) and support HMIP outcomes related to drug strategies, ensuring timely action, reporting and improvements.
  • Collaborate with Health and Justice Partnership Coordinators (H&JPC), local Criminal Justice Partnerships (LCJP), Lived Experience Recovery Organisations (LEROs) to strengthen external partnerships, continuity of care, and enhance service delivery.

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.

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

Behaviours

  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Leadership
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Working Together
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Delivering at Pace

Experience

  • Knowledge or experience of drug strategy delivery in prisons or in the community.
  • Working in partnership with a range of internal and external stakeholders
  • High level written and oral communication skills.
  • Good data analysis and analytical skills.
  • IT literacy.

Hours of Work

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). 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 roles: 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.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

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.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

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.

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:

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 7732

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 7732

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Seeing the Big Picture, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Seeing the Big Picture
Communicating and Influencing
Managing a Quality Service
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
To be confirmed
Behaviours
Seeing the Big Picture
Communicating and Influencing
Managing a Quality Service
Leadership
Working Together
Delivering at Pace
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
Enhanced Baseline Standard (EBS)