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General Information

Salary
£71,027 - £78,129
Working Pattern
Full Time
Vacancy Approach
Internal
Location
Wakefield
Region
Yorkshire and the Humber
Closing Date
01-Dec-2025
Business Unit
Wakefield
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 7
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
11947

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Overview of the job

This is a senior management job in an establishment.

Summary

The job holder will lead on the daily operations of the establishment on behalf of the Governor.

The job holder will have responsibility for influencing and championing national policy and its direct delivery effecting prisoners and staff. This may include the Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) Model by taking responsibility on behalf of the Governor to deliver the custodial phase of the sentence including, where required line management of a Senior Probation Officer.

This is an operational job with line management responsibilities. This role is non-rotational.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

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

•             Provide leadership, direction and mentoring for managers and staff within the establishment through briefings, building formal and informal relationships, and effective communication on behalf of the Governor.

•             Promote Prison Service policy in all activities and behaviours by promoting diversity, decency, safety and reducing re- offending agendas.

•             Contribute to the preparation of the establishment contingency and emergency plans and ensure implementation when required.

•             Contribute to the strategic thinking, effective ways of working and finding solutions for failing Service Delivery indicators (SDIs).

•             Contribute to the development and delivery of the medium-to- long term strategic and business plan for the establishment.

•             Contribute to the continuous strategic development of the establishment through the SMT.

•             The Deputy Governor will be required to manage Heads of Function within the prison which if deemed a requirement may be delegated the SPO within the new OMiC process/model in conjunction with the Deputy Directors of the Local Divisional Units in probation services.

•             Responsible for ensuring that Heads of Functions adhere to action plans as a result of HM’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP), Standards Audit Unit (SAU) and Measuring the Quality of Prison Life (MQPL) findings/reports.

•             Undertake the appropriate job in the establishment during serious incidents when required.

•             Ensures that all managers and staff within the functions are held accountable for providing decent conditions and that a safe working environment is maintained for prisoners and staff.

•             Carry out Adjudications and monitors the fairness and consistency of those carried out by Head of Functions.

•             Responsible for chairing local grievance appeals and attendance support hearings appropriate to level.

•             Contribute to local employee relations maintaining and building relationships and partnerships where possible to facilitate negotiations with trade unions.

•             Oversee the Duty Governor rota for Heads of Functions.

•             Responsible for authorising actions required under Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) taking responsibility for the local corruption prevention contact.

•             Oversee the decisions made around Release on Temporary License (ROTL), Recategorisation and Home Detention Curfew (HDC) following appropriate risk assessments.

•             Chair and represent the establishment at internal and external stakeholder/ community meetings.

•             Respond to confidential access requests and complaints for the Governor.

•             Responsible for authorising the Use of Force and tornado team when required.

•             Manage devolved budgets in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation.

•             Contribute to the establishment’s overall achievement of (SDIs) and standards and lead on the performance and delivery of targets relating to the budget and People Plan.

•             Support the governor to develop and deliver their vision for the establishment taking into account national policy context as well as local circumstances.

•             Ensures the SMT are visible throughout the establishment and personally carries out regular visits to all areas.

•             Chair monthly security committee setting objectives direction of works and reviewing of any current threats.

•             Chair Category A reviews when required.

•             Chair Diversity Race, Equality Action Team meetings.

•             Responsible for authorising actions required under RIPA and managing the local corruption prevention contact.

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.

 Civil Service Success Profile Criteria

Behaviours

•             Delivering at Pace

•             Leadership

•             Communicating and Influencing

•             Working Together

•             Managing a Quality Service

•             Developing Self and Others

•             Making Effective Decisions

Technical requirements

•             The job holder must have either been successfully accredited at the Senior Operational Manager (SOM) assessment or been successfully accredited by passing both the Deputy Governor Assessment Centre (DGAC) and the Deputy Governor & Governor Incident Management Silver Command (IMSC) Assessment.

•             Successful completion of the workbook

Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances

37 hour working week

Required Hours Allowance

This role requires working regular unsocial hours and a payment at the current approved organisation rate will be made in addition to your basic pay to recognise this.

Unsocial hours are those hours outside 0700 - 1900hrs Monday to Friday and include working evenings, nights, weekends and Bank/Public Holidays.

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. 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
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 11947

Allowance

RHA

This role requires regularly working unpredictable and unsocial hours and be on call to attend their place of work at anytime. A  20% payment will be paid in addition to your basic pay to recognise this. Unsocial hours are those hours outside 0700 - 1900hrs Monday to Friday and include working evening, nights, weekends and Bank / Public holidays.

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Managing a Quality Service
Delivering at Pace
Leadership
Developing Self and Others
Communicating and Influencing
Making Effective Decisions
Working Together

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
To be confirmed
Behaviours
Managing a Quality Service
Delivering at Pace
Leadership
Developing Self and Others
Communicating and Influencing
Making Effective Decisions
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.
Level of security checks required
DBS Enhanced
Security Clearance (SC)

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.