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We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Overview of role

Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) Investigators (HEO)

An exciting opportunity has come up to join the PPO, as an investigator, leading case work into complaints and fatal incidents that come under the PPO’s remit.

The PPO is an independent Arms-Length Body (ALB) of the Ministry of Justice which investigates:

• complaints made by prisoners, young people in detention, offenders under probation supervision and individuals detained under immigration powers
• deaths of prisoners, young people in detention, residents in approved premises and individuals detained under immigration powers
• deaths of recently released prisoners that occur within 14 days of release from prison (except homicide)

The Ombudsman receives around 4,500 new complaints a year, of which around half are assessed as eligible for investigation. The number of deaths in custody requiring investigation is generally between 300 and 350 per year.

We are looking for various HEO investigators to join the PPO, to investigate either complaints or deaths that are referred to the Ombudsman.

While you will be employed to work in either the fatal incidents or complaints team, you will be expected to be flexible and contribute to cross-office working if the needs of the business require it. You can state a preference for deaths or complaints work if invited for interview, but you should be prepared to work in either field. The PPO will make the final decision depending on previous experience and vacancies available

You will investigate the individual circumstances relating to each unique case within an agreed framework, providing quality assessments within agreed timescales. You will reflect your findings and any recommendations for addressing learning in written format.

We are a small and friendly organisation of about 105 staff. You will be part of a team of six to eight investigators, reporting to a Grade 7 Assistant Ombudsman, who is responsible for ensuring the quality and timeliness of the investigation process and resulting investigation products.

These are busy but very interesting posts, which will suit someone who likes variety, is able to deal with the unexpected and who can engage with and analyse a range of different information sources to reach sound, evidence-based conclusions.

You will need to be self-motivated, well organised, with strong written communication and analytical skills. Previous knowledge or experience of the Criminal Justice System, investigatory or casework would be useful but is not essential. Investigation training will be provided, and a rolling programme of enrichment workshops and development forums will be available.

In order to undertake this unique role effectively, investigators will need to be able to work flexibly. You will be required from time to time be able to visit establishments in the PPO’s remit to support investigation activities such as interviews and engagement with prisoners and prison staff. This will entail some travel around England and Wales and occasional overnight stays. Our fatal incident investigators generally travel more than our complaint investigators, though you would be responsible for deciding when and how to travel to establishments so can manage your travel around your personal circumstances. However, on limited occasions, you may need to start early, finish late or stay overnight near an establishment.

The PPO is based at the HM Government hub at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London. Currently, staff are expected to attend the office two days a week (based on full time hours), with the rest of the time spent working at home, on investigation visits or in commuter hubs. You will usually have flexibility to decide which days of the week you work in the office to enable you to manage your office attendance around your personal circumstances. There will be occasions when you will be required to attend the office (for example, office or function-wide meetings).

If you are successful, you may need to attend the office more frequently in your first six weeks, to undertake key training and induction activity.

The salary range is £35,405- £39,000

External candidates joining the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum salary for the band. Successful candidates who are already at HEO will keep their base salary on transfer. Allowances do not transfer. Successful candidates joining on promotion will start on either the minimum of the salary range or receive a 10% increase to their current base salary, whichever is higher.

Job Description

The post holder will be responsible for the following;

• Investigating cases in line with specified casework timeframes and quality objectives.
• Drafting high quality investigation reports and other investigation products concisely and in plain English, setting out the facts clearly and comprehensively, as well as the analysis and considerations that have led to evidence-based conclusions. This will include making recommendations, if required, and identifying areas of good practice.
• Arranging factual accuracy checking/ advance disclosure of draft reports, where necessary, and considering any comments received.
• Occasional travel to establishments across England and Wales to conduct investigations and interviews and to undertake other related tasks. To facilitate these visits, you may need to start early, finish late or stay overnight near an establishment.
• Liaising with stakeholders and partner agencies as necessary throughout investigations.
• Supporting the wider work of the office through cross-office projects, mentoring, and other ad hoc activities.
• Any other appropriate tasks as required.

This role involves exposure to emotive and complex information, issues, and personal stories about some of the most vulnerable people in society. This includes offence information, trauma, substance misuse, mental ill-health, suicide and self-harm. It involves spending time in prisons and other establishments. You will have access to various support systems, but you will need to demonstrate emotional resilience.

Essential requirements

• Strong organisation and prioritisation skills to ensure that casework timeframes and objectives are met
• The ability to identify the appropriate information sources, including policy documents and operational protocols and visual evidence, required for an investigation and analyse these in order to make evidence-based judgements and conclusions
• The ability to make sound judgements on complex and sometimes ambiguous and conflicting evidence
• The ability to draft high quality investigation products clearly and concisely, using Plain English, to ensure that learning can be implemented by stakeholders
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills to ensure investigations and their outcomes are appropriately informed
• An ability to consider the wider criminal justice landscape and where necessary, identify and comment on emerging themes clearly and constructively

The Application and Interview Process

The PPO is a Disability Confident Committed Employer, and we ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. Please complete the application information on reasonable adjustments and disabilities if relevant. Further information on the types of reasonable adjustment that can be provided can be found at https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

This is a two-stage process.

Stage 1:

• Submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV).

• Submit a statement of suitability (250 words) setting out how your skills and experience match the essential requirements for the role as stated above.

To pass stage 1, a candidate will need to score a minimum of two out of three on their statement of suitability. If we receive a high number of high scoring applications, we reserve the right to increase this minimum benchmark.

The CV will not be scored but will be used to give context to the statement of suitability.

Stage 2:

Those who meet the required level at the application stage will be invited to a short final interview. During the interview, you will be asked questions about the Civil Service Behaviours ‘Making Effective Decisions’, as well as strength-based questions relating to the role.

You will also be required to complete a written test, in the hour before your interview, to demonstrate your ability to write investigation reports.

To be considered appointable, you will need to score a minimum of four out of seven for the behaviour question and written test, and a minimum of two out of four for each strength question. If we receive a high number of his scoring interviewees, we reserve the right to increase this minimum benchmark.

Recruitment across the Civil Service changed from July 2019 with the introduction of Success Profiles. Further guidance can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles.

Making Effective Decisions

Understand own level of responsibility and empower others to make decisions where appropriate. Analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from internal and external sources to support decisions. Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making. Display confidence when making difficult decisions, even if they prove to be unpopular. Consult with others to ensure the potential impacts on end users have been considered. Present strong recommendations in a timely manner outlining the consideration of other options, costs, benefits and risks.

When answering questions about the behaviours, you might want to use the STAR approach to help you to present your evidence more successfully. This approach provides structure and focus to your answers.

The STAR approach stands for:

Situation – briefly describe the context and your role.
Task – the specific challenge, task or job that you faced.
Action – what you did, how and why you did it.
Result – what you achieved through your actions.

You should keep the situation and task parts brief, concentrating on the actions you took and the result. If the result was not entirely successful describe what you learned from this and what you would do differently next time. STAR may help you to cover all the points you need to make.

When using STAR, you should use one specific example per behaviour and you should explain what you did rather than others.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made should further vacancies become available. There is the possibility that the PPO may have fixed term investigator vacancies coming up in the future. If these vacancies become available, they may be offered to those on the reserve list.

Salary

£35,405 - £39,000

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.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.

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.

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 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

• To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail [email protected]);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([email protected]);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. 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 SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.