HQ Job Description (JD)
Band 8
Directorate: Rehabilitation and Assurance
Job Description - National Specialist Lead
Document Ref.
HQ-JES-2429 National Specialist Lead v3.0
Document Type
Management
Version
3.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
24 November 2020
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
HQ-JES-2429 National Specialist Lead v3.0
Job Description
Job Title
National Specialist Lead
Directorate
Rehabilitation and Assurance Directorate
Band
Band 8
Overview of the job
This is a Management Post, within HMPPS Headquarters. As a National Specialist
Lead the Post holder will be responsible for developing, training, implementing,
supporting and maintaining interventions within a team of highly experienced and
specialist staff.
The National Specialist Leads are responsible for the design and maintenance of
accredited and non-accredited programmes for individuals who have convictions for
different types of offences and responsivity needs.
As a national specialist, they are in charge of ensuring the quality of the provision of
interventions. This includes providing expert advice internally and externally to a
range of stakeholders; training design; training provision and product design so that
HMPPS’ reputation is maintained and programmes have maximum effect in reducing
reoffending.
Intervention Services continues to operate within a public sector environment of
significant reform and financial restraint. This is the backdrop within which the post
holder will be responsible for developing new, and maintaining existing products,
whilst ensuring all Intervention Services products achieve high levels of clinical
integrity and are evidence based.
The jobholder will play a key role, with responsibility to support the on-going
development and implementation of programmes targeting multiple offender
cohorts (including those convicted of violent and sexual offences) with complex
responsivity needs. They will be required to develop, manage, deliver, monitor and
evaluate training of staff delivering these programme, in both prisons and in the
community.
HQ-JES-2429 National Specialist Lead v3.0
Summary
Reducing reoffending is a key priority for HMPPS and in order to address offending
behaviour HMPPS has developed a range of treatment approaches known collectively
as accredited treatment programmes. This suite of treatment approaches is available
throughout prison establishments and in the community, and is also available to
external stakeholders. The programmes are held in high regard internationally, and
are often quoted within academic literature as examples of excellence.
The national specialist lead delivers a key element in HMPPS’ contribution to
rehabilitation by providing evidence based solutions to assessing and working with
multiple high risk offender cohorts (including those convicted of violent and sexual
offences) with complex responsivity needs, (including those with deviant sexual
interests, personality disorder and learning disability).
The post holder provides strategic and clinical leadership including:
• The design, development, accreditation, training, implementation, support
and maintenance of specialist assessments and interventions targeted at
offenders housed in custody and in the community, based on a detailed and
robust understanding of offender need and evidence based practice.
• Providing specialist clinical and operational advice to senior commissioners,
other senior managers, and commercial partners on the development of
provision for working with offenders, in line with HMPPS objectives and
priorities and the delivery of evidence based practice.
• Providing specialist clinical advice, guidance and support to prisons and
community delivery teams.
• Promoting an understanding of the nature of offending, with reference to
research and evidence based practice within HMPPS, across government and
in forums nationally and internationally.
• The design and delivery of specialist staff training, for the delivery of high
quality interventions.
• Involvement in and leading on innovative projects to design new
programmes and assessment tools for use in HMPPS. Seek opportunities to
provide support by keeping abreast of gaps in provision, the evolving
evidence base, international practice, change in ministerial or departmental
priorities, funding and partnership opportunities and relevant development
in other professional settings.
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities
Activities and Duties
and duties:
All interventions must take into account how HMPPS can deliver better outcomes and
achieve greater cost effectiveness in reducing reoffending to enable offenders to lead
a satisfying, hopeful and contributory life through changing attitudes, values, feelings,
goals, skills and roles.
• To be accountable for the design, development, maintenance, delivery and
evaluation of one or more HMPPS accredited programme(s) in an area of
relevant specialism and risk assessment systems that deliver reducing
offending outcomes in line with HMPPS overall strategy: To integrate,
interpret and apply the international evidence base to the development of
highly effective programmes that deliver measurable reductions in
reoffending on behalf of HMPPS. To be responsive to the overarching
commissioning strategy in relation to reducing reoffending outcomes by
holding responsibility for the provision of one (or more) products including
risk assessment tools, accredited and non-accredited interventions.
Awareness of changes in political priorities, sentencing and service provision,
offender needs and population and HMPPS priorities. Accountable for
products that are fit for purpose, evidence based, delivered to time,
defensible, and developed in careful consultation with internal and external
stakeholders. Produces high quality products for accreditation by the
Correctional Services Accreditation and Advice Panel. Responsible for
HQ-JES-2429 National Specialist Lead v3.0
undertaking strategic and developmental work to foster effective working
relations and ensure that the development of programmes, clinical advice
and training all take into account QA and research.
• Accountable for the provision of expert clinical advice and subject matter
expertise in consultancy capacity on all aspects of specified offending
behaviour programme(s) development and delivery to other professionals.
Advice ranges from troubleshooting and supporting HMPPS sites, to the
development of policy and strategy. Responsible for advice to internal
stakeholders e.g. HMPPS treatment sites in custodial establishments and the
community, JSI, HMPPS Lead Psychologist and regional psychology leads, and
external
stakeholders
e.g.
other
Government
Departments,
agencies/organisations with whom we have an interest. Responsible for
providing information for briefings, parliamentary questions, and
correspondence concerning the assessment and treatment of offenders in
the applicable specialist area. Contributes to an international/ national
professional community through participation at conferences.
• Responsive to stakeholders by holding accountability for actively seeking to
share subject matter expertise, knowledge and products with external
partners. Responsible for working collaboratively with others and actively
fostering effective networks and communication channels with colleagues
within HMPPS and other stakeholders. This will involve supporting the
development and maintenance of professional working relationships with
HMPPS commissioners and external partners to ensure they have access to
evidence based products that are responsive to the needs of local
populations. Contributes to the work of other internal and cross-government
groups, projects and working groups to support an integrated approach to
rehabilitation and the management of offenders in custody and the
community. Responsive to changes to prisoner populations and subsequent
demand through identification of stakeholder and organisational needs and
developing strategic options. Accountable for interpreting and applying
emerging evidence, practice development and changes in political and policy
direction in a robust, defensible and pragmatic way to produce products that
will help stakeholders deliver better outcomes and achieve greater cost
effectiveness in reducing reoffending, Accountable for supporting
stakeholders to implement these products (including assessment guidance
and interventions, appropriate to identified offender need) as well as
supporting the delivery of effective practice. Delivers an internal and external
communications strategy that promotes the implementation and
development of evidence based practice in working with offenders.
• Training - responsible for the delivery of offence specialist national training
across HMPPS. Holds accountability for the provision of advice and guidance
to HMPPS sites and external markets on training requirements, issues and
queries. Accountable for the preparation, design, update and delivery of
interventions training to ensure training prepares treatment providers to run
effective treatment that delivers outcomes. The post holder will prepare,
review and report on an annual training plan to take into account priorities
identified through the HMPPS commissioning intentions process.
• Innovation - This includes renewing, changing and creating more effective
processes, products or improving existing services. To lead on and
contribute to the design, implementation and delivery of new, dynamic
products, which address gaps in provision, and high priority or sensitive
areas. These will change over time as a result of events and changing political
requirements. Responsible for innovative activity covering a wide range of
correctional practises and ensuring a wide range of criminal justice outcomes
are met such as new offender assessment tools, interventions addressing
diverse need including high risk and dangerous offenders, and short
sentenced and acquisitive offenders etc. It is important that the products are
fit for purpose, evidence informed based on the most effective and
contemporary methods and are delivered on time, defensible, responsive to
HQ-JES-2429 National Specialist Lead v3.0
the market and developed in careful consultation with internal and external
stakeholders. This will require innovative thinking and an awareness of
cutting edge and evolving practice. Maintaining an awareness of changes in
political priorities, sentencing and service provision, offender needs and
population and HMPPS priorities is critical. To identify needs and
requirements for research activity, leading to innovation. To explore the
application of products to other offenders and clients in treatment outside
of HMPPS, and develop pilot programmes. This involves identifying and being
responsive to innovative opportunities to create products that fit with the
customers’ requirements, delivery context, cultural considerations and
resources to sustain and maintain effective delivery, whilst promoting
effective working of the offence specialism team.
• Maintaining own professional competence - This role requires the job
holder having credibility with HMPPS commissioners and providers, as well
as external stakeholders across Government Departments. This is in addition
to knowledge and experience in effecting change with the most complex and
diverse offenders. It is crucial that the job holder takes responsibility for their
own professional development and maintaining specialist knowledge in their
area of expertise. The job holder will be responsible for maintaining their
own CPD requirements.
• From time to time, the post holder may be required to undertake additional
activities which are appropriate to the level of your Group Profile (GP).
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
• Changing and improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8.
Experience
Essential Skills:
• The post holder must have specialist skills and expertise relating to the
assessment and treatment of individuals in prison or in the community.
• The post holder must have a minimum of five years’ experience of working
with offenders in a community or custody setting.
• Proven experience of providing training to multi-disciplinary staff.
Desirable skills:
• Experience of working with individuals who have specific responsively needs
e.g. learning disability.
• Experience of delivering and supervising an accredited offending treatment
programme.
• Experience of delivering, supervising and managing accredited offender
treatment programmes in custody or in the community.
• Proven training/experience of providing clinical supervision to facilitators
who deliver treatment.
• Chartered and / or Registered with HCPC.
HQ-JES-2429 National Specialist Lead v3.0
Technical
• Registered Psychologist or Qualified Probation Officer.
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.
Hours of Work
Leave Blank
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
To be used by the JES Team only
HQ-JES-2429 National Specialist Lead v3.0
Success Profile
Strengths
Behaviours
It is advised strengths
Ability
Experience
Technical
are chosen locally,
recommended 4-8
Changing and Improving
The post holder must have Registered Psychologist or Qualified
specialist skills and expertise Probation Officer.
relating to the assessment and
treatment of individuals in prison or
in the community.
Making Effective Decisions
The post holder must have a
minimum of five years’ experience
of working with offenders in a
community or custody setting.
Working Together
Proven experience of providing
training to multi-disciplinary staff.
Delivering at Pace
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HQ-JES-2429 National Specialist Lead v3.0