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General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £39,803 - £43,783, London salary range is £42,817 - £48,824. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Internal
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
21-Nov-2025
Business Unit
NPS South Central Public Protection (2021)
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
11508

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Overview of the job       

The HMPPS Victims Team, based in the Public Protection Group, has oversight of and responsibility for operational policy for the Probation Service Victim Contact Scheme. The Scheme is for victims of specified serious and sexual offences where the offender receives a prison sentence of 12 months or more, or a hospital order. This role directly represents the Secretary of State when supporting victims and dealing with the Parole Board on their behalf.  

This is an extremely high-profile role – victims’ issues, including individual victims, are frequently in the media, and victim issues are high on the Ministerial agenda. Many of the victims we support are high profile and household names and/or influential and campaigning individuals, making this an extremely sensitive post. 

The general purpose of this role is to support victims to read their Victim Personal Statement to the Parole Board, either remotely or in person at a prison, depending on how the Parole Board holds the hearing.  With a new right due to be introduced for victims, which will allow them to remain for the whole of the Parole Board hearing, the Representative will need to prepare the victim for the hearing, remain with them throughout to answer their questions/explain proceedings and remain with them for a time afterwards to support them and answer any further questions. This will make what is already an emotionally demanding job even more demanding. 

The post holder will be required to travel to prisons and other venues such as Probation Offices around the country (England and Wales), with the occasional need for an overnight stay, sometimes at short notice, to support victims to read their VPS or attend the whole of a Parole Board hearing.  

The post holder will report directly to the Head of the HMPPS Victims Team (Band 9) in the Public Protection Group of HMPPS.  This can be based in Croydon or nationally.  

There is no line management responsibility. 

Summary           

The main responsibilities are to support victims who attend a Parole Board hearing, which can be to read their VPS or to attend the whole hearing. This includes preparing victims for attending Parole Board hearings sympathetically and with empathy, by contacting them before a hearing, explaining what they can expect and providing reassurances.

The Representative will also need to ensure robust arrangements are made so the victim has the best possible experience of attending a Parole Board in person  – and this includes liaising with the prison, including escalating to senior staff as necessary, to ensure  that the victim will be well received and not encounter any issues at the prison – such as seeing the prisoner unexpectedly. 

The Representative will also need to support the victim after they have read their VPS and support them leaving the prison. If a victim is reading a VPS remotely, then they will support them remotely.  If a victim elects to remain for the whole Parole Board hearing, the Representative will be required to travel to be with the victim,  prepare the victim for the emotional impact of being present for the whole hearing, and support the victim throughout the hearing and afterwards, answering any follow up questions. The post holder will be expected to make the practical arrangements to support victims to attend the hearing, attend remotely, and/or read their VPS aloud. 

Travel to prisons and other venues such as probation offices will be required, sometimes at short notice, with the possible need for an occasional overnight stay. 

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties     

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

•            Contacting victims before Parole Board hearings to prepare them.

•            Making arrangements for victims to read their VPS remotely.

•            Making arrangements for the victim to read their VPS in person at the prison, should they so wish.

•            Making practical arrangements with the prison where the victim is attending in person to read the VPS.

•            Support the victim reading their VPS to the Parole Board remotely or in person, including escalating any issues or concerns about practical arrangements on the day to prison staff.

•            Contribute to the development of the pilot for victims to attend the whole of the Parole Board hearing, including contribution to the policy and helping to develop the process. 

•            Making practical arrangements for victims, including identifying a venue for the victim to attend the whole of the Parole Board hearing remotely.

•            Prepare the victim for attending the whole of the hearing, including explaining the Parole Board process and how the Board operates, and explain unfamiliar language they may hear/learn during the process.   

•            Support the victim in person when they attend the whole of the Parole Board hearing, including answering their questions and addressing their concerns. 

•            Answering any follow up questions the victim may have after the hearing.

The work of the Victims team including this post is subject to political, Ministerial and media scrutiny.

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.

Behaviours        

•            Seeing the Big Picture

•            Making Effective Decisions

•            Communicating and Influencing

•            Working Together

•            Managing a Quality Service

Experience        

•            Experience of working with victims of the most serious offences, for example as a trained and qualified Victim Liaison Officer in probation, or from supporting victims in some other capacity such as in court for example, as a trained Witness Care Officer. An understanding of the parole process would also be an advantage, such as having had experience as a Probation Officer for example, although training can be given.  

Ability  

•            Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to provide clear explanations


Additional Information

Experience

  • Candidates should be able to evidence experience of the the Parole Process.


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. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment

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
 HMPPS Victims Team:

If you have any questions about this vacancy please contact Tina Smith, Victim Representative Team Leader at Tina.Smith@justice.co.uk

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 11508

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing, 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
Communicating and Influencing
Seeing the Big Picture
Making Effective Decisions
Working Together
Managing a Quality Service
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Statement of Suitability
Evidence of Experience
Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Expected w/c 08/12/2025 & 15/12/2025
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Seeing the Big Picture
Making Effective Decisions
Working Together
Managing a Quality Service
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.
Level of security checks required
DBS Standard

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.