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PS Job Description (JD)
PS Band A
Directorate: Probation Service
Job Description: Head of Programmes
Document Ref.
PS-JES-0092 Head of Services v2.0
Document Type
Management
Version
2.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
04/10/2021
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
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PS-JES-0092 Head of Programmes v2.0
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PS Job Description
Job Title
Head of Programmes
Directorate
Probation Service
Band
PS Band A
Overview of the
Accountable for the management of public protection, risk of
job
harm and reducing re-offending, safeguarding adults and children
and responsibilities to victims by ensuring strategic oversight of
the delivery of appropriately targeted Accredited Programmes
and Structured Interventions to People of Probation subject to
community sentencing to comply with the requirements of the
courts.
This role will be regional based reporting directly to the Head of
Interventions for their region and will be a part of the Regional
Senior Management Team.
The Head of Programmes has direct line management
responsibility for Programme Managers and will provide
leadership and strategic direction to the wider staff group within
the function.
Summary
Provide leadership and be accountable for resources and the
strategic and operational direction for a suite of Accredited
Programmes and Structured Interventions within the region.
Developing service delivery through the use of evidence-based
practice to reduce re-offending and build confidence in public
protection and reducing the risk of harm.
They will lead, innovate, develop and be accountable for local
strategies in line with the national strategic framework, and
develop and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders
and partners to meet statutory responsibilities and to reduce
reoffending.
Responsibilities, The job holder will be required to carry out the following
Activities &
responsibilities, activities and duties:
Duties
• Overall responsibility for ensuring the effective operation of
interventions provided by the programmes team. These must
be provided in accordance with the Interventions Integrity
Framework and all relevant organisational policies and HMPPS
accreditation standards.
• Accountable for leading the implementation, delivery and
performance of local strategies which influence national
strategy and align with the wider HMPPS approach.
• Accountable for ensuring the defined work areas and
associated activities comply with Health and Safety legislation.
Ensure all risk assessments are undertaken and continuously
review internal and external operating environments, including
identifying and developing suitable partnerships to support
Accredited Programme and Structured Intervention delivery.
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PS-JES-0092 Head of Programmes v2.0
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• Leadership and accountability to influence the Courts,
Judiciaries, Parole Boards and the Head of PDU to ensure
correctly targeted interventions.
• Make decisions based on needs analysis around
commissioning and decommissioning of structured
interventions and accredited programmes on a continuous
basis to ensure service is responsive to the needs of People
on Probation and the reducing reoffending priorities.
• Work collaboratively with external stakeholders to oversee the
development of new and innovative ways of working, adapting
to meet the emerging demands, diversity of needs and the
criteria and quality requirements of the Effective Intervention
Panel in line with the PCC and local Criminal Justice Boards
delivery strategies.
• Have overall accountability of performance for Accredited
Programmes and Structured Interventions - ensuring resources
are utilised effectively and efficiently across the Region.
• Accountable for the leadership and strategic direction of staff
within the function including direct line management and
associated responsibilities including recruitment, attendance
and performance management, disciplinary and investigations
in line with HR Policies.
• Accountable for leading quality assurance of service delivery in
line with intervention integrity framework HMIP policies and
recommendations and the Operational and System Assurance
Group.
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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PS-JES-0092 Head of Programmes v2.0
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Civil Service Success Profile Criteria
Behaviours
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
Strengths
Note: we recommend you choose 4 to 8 strengths locally - select
from the list of Civil Service strength definitions on the intranet.
Ability
Experience
• Experience within Accredited Programme or Structured
Interventions delivery.
• Experience of planning and managing delivery over large
geographical areas.
• Experience of effectively and efficiently managing financial and
physical resources.
• Extensive experience of effectively leading, managing and
motivating staff.
• Experience of successfully building and managing strategic
and working relationships with internal and external
stakeholders and partners.
• Experience of successfully managing the performance of
teams and individuals to achieve high working standards.
• Experience of making complex risk management and public
protection decisions.
Technical
Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma/Honours
Degree in Community Justice integrated with Level 5 Diploma in
Probation Practice.
Or a qualification which was recognised at the time of
qualification by the Secretary of State for Justice as per Section
10 of the Offender Management Act 2007. The following
qualifications gained in England and Wales were previously
recognised as providing such eligibility:
• Diploma in Probation Studies
• Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option)
• CQSW (with Probation Option)
Minimum
• All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to
Eligibility
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.
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Hours of Work
Leave Blank
(Unsocial Hours) To be used by the JES Team only
Allowances
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PS-JES-0092 Head of Programmes v2.0