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General Information

Salary
£28,122 - £29,611
Working Pattern
Full Time
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Jarrow
Region
North East
Closing Date
15-Sep-2025
Business Unit
Security Group
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
AO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
9492

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Overview of the job        

The post sits within the National Counter Terrorism (CT) Communication Controls Centre (NCTCCC) which is a team within the National Operations and Assurance Team (NOAT) within the Joint Extremism Unit (JEXU). Based in the North-East of England, the Centre is a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for the management of authorised prisoner communications (i.e., visits, telephone calls, email) relating to terrorist prisoners, providing specialist advice and guidance to staff involved in this work across the wider sector.

The post holder will report to the NCTCCC Manager.

The post holder will support the deployment of authorised communication monitoring and communication controls for terrorist prisoners.

It is expected the post holder will thrive in a challenging and varied role, has good attention to detail, is capable of utilising analytical skills and proficient in the use of IT.

This role is based at a site in the North of England where the post-holder will be required to work on a daily basis.

This is a non-operational role.

Summary           

The post holder will be responsible for gathering intelligence through the application of covert monitoring techniques, analysing a range of content to ensure correct and timely dissemination.

This will include working with and supporting colleagues in HMPPS and partner agencies working in the prison sector in relation to sensitive intelligence operations. 

The post holder will collate and assess information from a range of sources to evidence recommendations for the restriction of contact between terrorist prisoners and the public - ensuring legal and procedural compliance.

The post holder will need to build the confidence of internal customers and partners as they play a key role in developing new capabilities to enhance the gathering of information through monitoring.

This post will require sound planning and administrative skills, with an eye for detail and an understanding of the lawful collection and management of information, and communications restrictions.

The post holder will not have any line management responsibility

but will be expected to work effectively as part of a team.  They will be line managed by the JEXU NCTCCC Manager

This is a complex, high-risk area of work, and the post holder must act with the very highest levels of personal and professional integrity and champion these qualities in others, whilst managing potentially sensitive information. They must be security cleared to (SC) level in order to commence the post and may be required to obtain Developed Vetting (DV) level vetting. 

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties  

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

•             Coordinating the application for and deployment of communication controls of terrorist prisoners.

•             Monitoring terrorist prisoners’ telephone calls, email and other forms of authorised communications. 

•             Assessment of monitoring content, including the live review of content to ensure timely creation, submission and dissemination of intelligence to support the decision making within the NCTCCC, prisons and wider CT sector partners.

•             Supporting the identity verification of the external contacts of terrorist prisoners.

•             Working with cross-government agencies with a CT Sector interest to assess the suitability of contact between terrorist prisoners and people or organisations in the community.

•             Maintaining accurate and detailed logs to ensure consistent application of powers available to HMPPS under the Prison Act and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

•             Coordinating the translation of non-English language content through daily liaison with commercial providers.

•             Creating, saving and storing written records using appropriate documentation in line with policy guidance and retention.

•             Prepare and undertake operational briefings and debriefings.

•             Provide advice, guidance and support to prisons, the JEXU operational network, CT Policing and other CT partners, including during and in response to live operational incidents.

•             Monitor the functional mailbox responding to queries, accurately updating a number of spreadsheets and conducting administration tasks across NOAT operations functions.

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 in English.

Civil Service Success Profile Criteria

Behaviours        

•             Communicating and Influencing

•             Working Together

•             Managing a Quality Service

•             Changing and Improving

•             Delivering at Pace

Ability  

•             An understanding of Intelligence and intelligence gathering activities.

•             IT proficiency across a range of applications.

Experience       

•             The job holder must obtain security clearance at SC level before taking up the post.

Technical           

•             Understanding of intelligence and the HMPPS intelligence model and capabilities.

•             Understanding of the operation of the Security function within a prison.

•             Understanding of covert intelligence capabilities as per the Investigatory Powers Act (and RIPA) as pertains to covert surveillance.


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

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 9492

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service, 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
Changing and Improving
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Managing a Quality Service
Working Together

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
To be confirmed
Behaviours
Changing and Improving
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Managing a Quality Service
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.
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
Security Clearance (SC)