HQ Job Description (JD)
Band 4
Directorate: Transforming Delivery in Prisons
Job Description - Safer Custody Caseworker
Document Ref.
HQ-JES-0879 Safer Custody Caseworker v2.0
Document Type
Management
Version
2.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
5 January 2022
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
HQ-JES-0879 Safer Custody Caseworker v2.0
Job Description
Job Title
Safer Custody Caseworker
Directorate
Transforming Delivery in Prisons, Prison Safety & Drug Strategy Group
Band
4
Overview of the job
The Caseworker will report to the Deputy Head of Casework within the Prison
Safety & Drug Strategy Group of the Transforming Delivery in Prisons Directorate
(HMPPS). The post is based in HQ and located at Southern House.
HMPPS is committed to making prisons safer places for people to live and work in.
Learning from deaths in custody and serious incidents of self-harm and assaults and
reducing the costs of litigation are key activities.
The main functions of the Safer Custody Casework team are to deal with the
casework, litigation and correspondence relating to deaths and near deaths
(incidents of serious self-harm and assaults) and food refusal cases in custody. The
team also contribute to the learning from deaths and near deaths in custody.
Summary
The job holder will be responsible for a caseload of death in custody cases relating to
natural causes deaths. The job holder will assist Government Legal Department
Lawyers and prisons in preparing for the inquests, assist prisons in responding to
recommendations from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) and handle
the civil claims arising from these deaths in custody.
The job holder will liaise with prison and Government Legal Department Lawyers
(GLD) on a regular basis, and on occasion with MoJ lawyers.
This is a highly sensitive area of work, which attracts considerable Ministerial, media,
public and pressure group attention.
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities
Activities and Duties
and duties:
• Manage a caseload of natural causes death in custody cases, including
working with establishments to provide a response to the PPO initial
investigation reports. Provide instructions to GLD and liaise with the prison
where necessary, in order to prepare for the inquest. Where necessary
review and comment on Counsels’ submissions to the Coroner, consider
witness statements and legal arguments and provide comments after
seeking advice from Senior Caseworker and Deputy Head of Casework.
• Consider whether there are any conflict of interest issues and discuss with
the Deputy Head of Casework/ Senior Caseworker about the need to seek
advice from Counsel. If advice is received, consider it and make a
recommendation to the Deputy Head of Casework/Senior Caseworker as to
whether or not Counsel is able to represent the member of staff at the
inquest. When required make a proposal to the Head/Deputy Head of
Casework about whether representation and funding should be provided.
• Where necessary, consider the disclosure of security information including
CCTV footage and medical reports for inquests taking into account of DPA,
FOI and any other relevant obligations and determine what can be released.
• Consider Particulars of Claims and provide instructions to GLD/Counsel on
handling tactics, liability, and quantum, seeking advice from Deputy Head of
Casework/Senior Caseworker where necessary.
• Seek the relevant authority to settle civil claims on behalf of the Secretary
of State, providing the legal advice and sufficient detail about the case to
enable an informed decision to be made.
HQ-JES-0879 Safer Custody Caseworker v2.0
• Consider costs bills up to the value of £100K, reviewing GLD/Counsel’s
advice and agreeing Points of Dispute submissions before seeking the
relevant authority to settle the costs bill, seeking advice from the Deputy
Head of Casework where necessary.
• Prepare draft responses to Coroners Rule 43 letters and Treat Official
correspondence for the Deputy of Head of Casework’s consideration before
being signed off by the Head of the Casework Team.
• Follow up incidents of serious self-harm or assaults and share this
information with Deputy Head of Casework/Senior Caseworker for a
decision regarding whether an internal investigation is required.
• Attend Coroners’ inquests and case conferences, together with the Deputy
Head of Casework/Senior Caseworker or a Senior Manager, to assist in
providing instructions.
• Contribute to Casework Team meetings; help inform death in custody
casework and death on supervision practices and make a significant
contribution to the file and paper management organisation of the
casework team.
• Manage the Functional Mailbox in line with the agreed rota, commissioning
responses to PPO initial reports, and questionnaires to establishments
following a death in custody.
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
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8.
Experience
Technical
Requirements
Ability
Minimum Eligibility
Please do not alter this box
• 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 HMPPS consider to be racist.
HQ-JES-0879 Safer Custody Caseworker v2.0
Hours of Work
Leave Blank
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
To be used by the JES Team only
HQ-JES-0879 Safer Custody Caseworker v2.0
Success Profile
Strengths
Behaviours
It is advised strengths
Ability
Experience
Technical
are chosen locally,
recommended 4-8
Communicating and Influencing
Making Effective Decisions
Delivering at Pace
Seeing the Big Picture
Managing a Quality Service
HQ-JES-0879 Safer Custody Caseworker v2.0