National Security Division - Specialist Probation Practitioner - Midlands

The NSD Specialist Probation Practitioner is required to manage people on probation (PoP) who are Terrorism ACT convicted, Terrorism ACT risk, Critical Public Protection Cases or Serious Organised Crime and pose serious and widespread risk. Management of this cohort is subject to enhanced national standards and intensive co-working with external agencies.

The NSD Specialist Probation Practitioner is required to provide specialist additional monitoring and contact to those assessed as posing a specific risk of further extreme offending which would cause serious and widespread harm. The NSD Specialist Probation Practitioner is required to do this through liaison with specialist external agencies and have oversight of targeted risk reduction work and intervention. The case load managed by the NSD Specialist Probation Practitioner poses a national security threat and high media profile.

The NSD Specialist Probation Practitioner reports to the NSD Senior Operational Lead., The job holder will be expected to be a subject matter expert, directly managing counter terrorism, SOC and CPPC cases. The case load will be made specifically of cases who fall within this remit.

This work will take place in custody and community settings, as well as in multi- agency environments. The postholder will need to undertake additional specialist training to undertake certain roles, and be security cleared to SC level.

The postholder is required to cover a caseload across the entire divisional area, this will involve travel by car or public transport. Managing cases of high and very high risk of serious harm which fall under the categories mentioned above. This cohort will be supervised to enhanced national standards, meaning twice weekly contact and additional monitoring alongside regular liaison with external agencies and interested parties.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

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

• Release planning for TACT, TACT connected/risk, complex cases, critical public protection and Serious Organised Crime cases using enhanced national standards.


• Specialist case management including completion of OASys, response plans, trigger plans, EMS protocols, sentence planning and parole preparation and attendance as well as MAPPA referrals and attendance.


• Appropriate and effective sharing of information and risk and specific briefings, including briefing approved premises staff, DDP mentors, Police, Prison and CTSPP staff to ensure all professionals are aware of risk levels and relevant information. Ensuring sensitive information is shared handled and stored appropriately.


• Building and maintaining multi agency working relationships with external agencies and partners, crucial to appropriate and effective management of this cohort. Agencies will include but are not limited to DDP mentors, CTP, AP staff, children's services, Local Policing. Job holders are required to have an awareness of these agencies' cultures and processes and be adept at working with people on probation who have a history of splitting professionals.


• Specialist support, advice and guidance to staff on all aspects of TACT/TACT connected and Terrorist risk offender management within APs and staff working in other settings and agencies e.g. mental health, children's services.


• Provide professional advice and assessment, including written reports to courts, the Parole Board, other criminal justice agencies and partner organisations.


• Undertake prison, home or other alternate location visits as required. This involves travel by car or public transport across the whole allocated division. There will also be the need to cover other divisions during significant events or staffing issues.


• Carry out safeguarding children and vulnerable person duties in accordance with the PS statutory responsibilities and agency policies.


• Demonstrate pro-social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing prosocial behaviour and attitudes, and challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes where people on probation may hold and share significant exclusionary and discriminatory views and can potentially pose an increased risk to the PP.


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 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.


• Working Together


• Developing Self and Others


• Managing a Quality Service


• Making Effective Decisions


• Communicating and Influencing


• Seeing the Bigger Picture


• Delivering at Pace


Ability


• Ability to achieve a Level 7 Advanced Certificate in Counter Terrorism. This can be completed in post and will be supported by the National Security Division., Experience of working with a wide variety of people who have experienced a range of social/personal difficulties, both individuals and groups, in order to motivate and change offending behaviour.


• Substantial direct experience of working with people who have committed offences and are viewed to pose a high or very high risk of serious harm to others.


• Substantial experience with a proven record of good practice in a variety of settings (including offender risk assessment and management) as a Probation Officer.


• Understanding of the role of the Probation Service in the Criminal Justice System and in a multi-disciplinary setting.


• Experience of risk management and assessment, understanding of multi-agency risk assessment and management procedures.


• Experience of creating and submitting high level risk management and parole reports.


• Experience of proactively championing diversity and inclusiveness both internally and externally.


• Demonstrable achievements in managing/supporting change and effecting improvements in quality and efficiency.


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)

The job holder must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English or (when specified in Wales) Welsh.
Mandatory Eligibility Requirements, 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:
PS JES 0113 National Security Division Specialist Probation Practitioner v1.0

• Diploma in Probation Studies,


• Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option)


• CQSW (with Probation Option), Working Together - 250 word limit

Managing a Quality Service - 250 word limit
Making Effective Decisions - 250 word limit
Communicating and Influencing - 250 word limit
Delivering at Pace - 250 word limit
Technical Skills
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:
PS JES 0113 National Security Division Specialist Probation Practitioner v1.0

• Diploma in Probation Studies,


• Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option)


• CQSW (with Probation Option) - 250 word limit
  
  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, plus public holidays. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis

Pension

The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). Please visit www.gmpf.org.uk for further information.

Please note: Any current Civil Servant who is a member of the PCSPS, by accepting an offer of employment to the National Probation Services will be opted out of the PCSPS and auto enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme.

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.

Eligibility

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

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 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);


• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);


• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)


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.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please see our Disability Confident Scheme Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

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.
Interview dates
Interviews expected to be held Early-Mid October
Closing Date, Behaviours
Working Together
Managing a Quality Service
Making Effective Decisions
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.
Any candidate who has been assessed as being appointable to the role they applied for may be offered a similar, lower grade role, if one is available. Furthermore, any candidate who has just missed meeting the criteria for a particular role, may be appointed to a similar role at a lower grade if such a role is available, and if they have been assessed as meeting the criteria for the lower grade role. These appointments will also be made in merit order.

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 are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.