Role Profile

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HQ Job Description (JD)
Band 4
Directorate: Prison Operations
Job Description - Bail Information Officer

Document Ref.
HQ-JES-3118 Bail Information Officer
Document Type
Management
Version
2.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
28 October 2024
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence

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HQ-JES-3118 Bail Information Officer v2.0

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Job Description
Job Title
Bail Information Officer
Directorate
Prison Operations, Bail Information Service
Band
4

Overview of the
The National HMPPS Bail Information Service (BIS) is part of the
job
Prisons Operations Directorate. The work of a Bail Information
Officer (BIO) is varied, diverse, time critical and demand led. The
job holder will undertake a full range of work with defendants and
stakeholders supporting BIS processes and information
gathering in prisons and produce factual and objective reports in
preparation for court hearings (Magistrate and Crown Courts)
where release on bail is being considered.

The job holder will work in a prison establishment within a
designated BIS region and duties will be identified locally or
centrally allocated. Reports will be  prepared and written in
advance of hearings.

The job holder will undergo additional specialised training to
deliver the role.

This is a non-operational role with no line management
responsibilities. Reporting to a designated manager within a BIS
Regional Hub.

The job holder will have regular interaction, both in person and
virtually, with defendants.
Summary
Contribute towards the provision of the National HMPPS Bail
Information Service by providing a Bail Information Report to
Magistrate and Crown Courts across England and Wales at
hearings where release on bail is being considered.

Gather all required and available information and prepare factual
and objective reports to be delivered to the judiciary in written
format prior to hearings taking place.
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following
Activities and
responsibilities, activities and duties:
Duties

•  Responsible for preparing written, BIRs concerning
defendants appearing at second and subsequent bail
hearings in Magistrate and Crown Courts following an
initial period of remand into prison custody.
•  Interview defendants held in prison establishments, either
in person or via Video Link, to gather information relevant
to bail applications. Verifying information provided
wherever possible.
•  Ensure proposed accommodation availability checks are
completed in a timely and efficient manner.
•  Extract and interpret information relating to defendants
from available systems and databases. Including where
available NDelius, the Digital Prison System (DPS) and
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HQ-JES-3118 Bail Information Officer v2.0

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the Offender Assessment System (OASys). Identify
previous offending behaviour and instances of non-
compliance as well as previous engagement with
Probation supervision. Liaising with Community Offender
Managers where applicable.
•  Establish and maintain effective relationships with internal
and external stakeholders involved with BIS. Obtaining
information relevant to the defendant and their application
for release on bail. This will include, but is not limited to,
solicitors, Probation Service, mental health teams,
substance misuse services, and court staff.
•  Ensure referrals to community organisations for
defendants are completed to assist in addressing any
identified support needs and to access ongoing support if
released on bail.
•  Analyse and accurately interpret complex Police records
to identify any public protection or safeguarding concerns
and submit necessary referrals/requests for information to
Probation, Local Authorities, Police Forces and any other
appropriate agencies.
•  Liaise with Local Authorities, and where identified, share
Safeguarding concerns and relevant information.
•  Provide ongoing support and through-care to defendants
remanded into custody in preparation for subsequent
hearings at which release on bail is to be considered.
•  Where there is an identified need for accommodation
support, ensure referrals to Community Accommodation
Services (Level 2) are completed and contribute towards
referrals to Community Accommodation Services (Level
1) in line with National HMPPS Policy.
•  Liaise with Immigration Teams or Home Office to gather
information on defendants identified as Foreign Nationals.
•  Contribute to the support of defendants identified as
potential victims of modern-day slavery through liaison
with the National Referral Mechanism Team.
•  Ensure all relevant IT systems are updated to fully reflect
the end-end process of BIS.
•  Responsible for working collaboratively with colleagues
across BIS to ensure it meets its aims and objectives.
Supporting peers and maintaining effective and productive
team relationships.

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.

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Civil Service Success Profile Criteria

Behaviours
•  Making Effective Decisions
•  Working Together
•  Communicating and Influencing
•  Delivering at Pace
•  Managing a Quality Service
Strengths
Note: we recommend you choose 4 to 8 strengths locally - select
from the list of Civil Service strength definitions on the intranet.

Ability
•  The ability to analyse and interpret complex information from
professional systems and databases.
•  The ability to prepare high quality written reports.
•  The ability to communicate effectively and build constructive
relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
Experience
•  The job holder will need to demonstrate an understanding of
prison and/or community-based Offender Management
processes; have experience working in the criminal justice
system or a similar community-based setting.
•  Working with a diverse range of individuals in a prison or
community setting.
•  Establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with
a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
•  Planning, coordinating and prioritising work.
•  Knowledge and understanding of the work of the criminal
justice system.
•  Experience of accurately recording data and resource
outcomes.
Technical
•  Completion of Prison Offender Manager training is desirable
but not essential.
Minimum
Please do not alter this box
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 HMPPS consider to be racist.

Hours of Work
Leave Blank
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
To be used by the JES Team only

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HQ-JES-3118 Bail Information Officer v2.0