Job Summary
This position is based Nationally
Job Description
Regional Prison Resourcing Internal Communications Officer (HEO) x 2
Job Grade: HEO – Information Officer
Contract Type: 18 month Year fixed term contract
- This role is being offered on a fixed term contract interim basis for 18 months or on loan.
- If applying on loan from within the Civil Service, there is an expectation that you will return to your substantive post on completion of this role. Applicants should discuss this with their line manager before applying.
Number of roles: Two regional roles – one covering the South-West and the West Midlands and one covering the North of England (covering prisons in the Northeast and Northwest).
National – South West/West Midlands and the North
Job Description
The Recruitment and Retention Communications (RRC) team sits within the Ministry of Justice’s award-winning communications team. We pride ourselves on having an excellent and supportive team culture, a focus on innovation and making a difference to people’s lives.
We are looking for two passionate, internal communications professionals to work in the Prison Resourcing Communications team . You will help us to deliver an impactful, local communications strategy, to achieve our ambition of improving our local prison communications channels, drive up staff engagement, improve staff retention and strengthen the relationships between people working across HMPPS ( His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service) .
We have one role based in the Southwest and West Midlands area of England and another in the North (to cover prisons in the Northeast and Northwest). Your own car and a full driving license are essential to enable you to travel to prisons for face-to-face meetings with prison staff and Governors. The successful candidate will join us at an exciting time and will help us to revolutionise the way we communicate to the staff working in our prison community.
For too long prisons have been overlooked, there is not enough recognition of the extraordinary jobs our staff do - incredible stories of compassion, progress against extraordinary odds, and rehabilitation.
The role has a strong focus on internal communications and staff engagement but also encompasses campaigns. With your line manager you will be helping to develop an impactful insight based local prisons communications strategy that will improve our local channels and drive-up staff engagement.
Working as part of a team of central and regional communications experts, the successful applicant will be a natural relationship builder and will be able to work collaboratively and with impact across a range of teams including those inside prisons, senior leaders in HMPPS and other communication functions. In addition, you will be a creative thinker, able to come up with new innovative solutions to old problems and remain positive in the face of adversity.
You will ensure all of your work is executed to brilliant standards, within an existing culture of continuous improvement and innovation, and evaluating the impact of your work on an ongoing basis. You will also be expected to develop strong networks.
Your interpersonal skills will be first rate and you will be at ease engaging with senior internal and external stakeholders for example policy teams and prison governors.
Person specification:
The role has several key requirements including:
- Expertise in delivering creative internal communications and excellent writing skills
You will think creatively to evolve and develop our local communications channels, celebrating the great work the prison service does to keep the public safe and rehabilitate offenders. You will help deliver an insight-based and impactful local prison internal communications strategy. You will also be able to write clear and compelling content for audiences.
- Solution-focussed, self-motivated and innovative
You will be experienced in developing and delivering effective, relevant and timely communications that help support staff engagement. You are solution-focussed, proactive and resilient. You are able to come up with new, innovative and creative ideas to extend the reach of our corporate communications and improve communications locally.
- Using insight and evaluating the impact of your work.
You will work to ensure that your work aligns with the MOJ annual communications strategy and to Departmental and cross-government priorities. Your work should be based on relevant audience insight, set outcomes, have an implementation plan, and include evaluation metrics to measure the impact of communications.
You are expected to build effective working and collaborative relationships internally and externally. You will be able to use these relationships to unblock issues, manage risks, and deliver more effective communications.
These regional roles will involve extensive travel to visit prisons in the North, South West and West Midlands region, expected to be on average at least two days per week. A driving license and own car is essential. Mileage will be paid as expenses. The other days of the week when not in prisons will be home working based.
Application process
We will be using success profiles to assess your communication and delivery abilities.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and provide examples of Civil Service behaviours (PDF) and technical behaviours based on the Government Communication Professional Competency Framework (PDF).
Civil Service Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Communicating and Influencing
Communicate with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
Working together
Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
Changing and improving
Understand Seeks out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback
Government communication service technical behaviours
- Ideas – Support the development of proactive communications. Work constructively with other communications, policy colleagues and partners to gain expert advice and opinions.
- Implementation – Deliver communications plans in an efficient and timely manner to deadline.
- Impact – Analyse and evaluate communications to assess the effectiveness and inform future activity.
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement.
Your personal statement should demonstrate your suitability in no more than 1000 words that highlights the reason you are interested in the role and how your experience makes you the best candidate for the role requirements.
In your statement you should also make particular reference to the Civil Service behaviours and Government Communication Service technical skills set out above.
Please note that that feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Security clearance and residency
If you are successful at interview, we will work with you to acquire SC security clearance. This is a straightforward process for most people but does, generally, require you to have been resident in the UK for at least the last five years.
Benefits
Alongside your salary, Ministry of Justice contribute towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Access to learning and development
- A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- Annual Leave
- Public Holidays
- Season Ticket Advance
For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Strengths and Experience.
https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window) .
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window) .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality Requirements
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)
- 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)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and 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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .
Apply and further information
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Charlotte Skidmore, Head of Internal Communications – Prison Resourcing Communications team
- Email : skidmore@justice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email :Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. I you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL ( Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com ) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/
Person specification
Please Refer To Job Description
Licences
A driving license and owning a car is essential. Mileage will be paid as expenses.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Technical Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Ideas – Support the development of proactive communications. Work constructively with other communications, policy colleagues and partners to gain expert advice and opinions
- Implementation – Deliver communications plans in an efficient and timely manner to deadline
- Impact – Analyse and evaluate communications to assess the effectiveness and inform future activity
Alongside your salary of £34,140, Ministry of Justice contributes £9,890 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Access to learning and development
- A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- Annual Leave
- Public Holidays
- Season Ticket Advance
For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window) . See our vetting charter (opens in a new window) .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality Requirements
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)
- 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)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window) .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and 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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
- Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
- Telephone : 0845 241 5359
Recruitment team
- Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. I you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/
https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/appcentre-1/brand-2/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/3/opp/92135-92135-Regional-Prison-Resourcing-Internal-Communications-Officer/en-GB
