HM Inspectorate of Prisons (ALB of MoJ) - Research Officer (Ref: 16758)

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

Who we are:

We are an independent inspectorate led by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons. We scrutinise the conditions and treatment of prisoners and other detainees and report on our findings.

We help to make sure that detention is humane, safe, respectful and helps to prepare people for release ahead of their return to the community. We do that by carrying out independent inspections of prisons, young offender institutions, secure training centres and courts in England and Wales and places of immigration detention across the UK.

Find out about our expectations for different types of detention.

We publish reports to let people know about our findings and hold the government, and those running places of detention, to account. We also identify and share examples of good practice to support leaders in learning from other, comparable institutions.

Our role is to shine a light on what needs to change, but we cannot enforce it. It is up to prison leaders to consider the best way to respond to our concerns and use their resources and expertise to find solutions. HM Prison and Probation Service or the Home Office should work with the establishment to support this progress.

Find out more about our mandate.

HMI Prisons has established a number of advisory and executive groups to ensure the organisation discharges its responsibilities effectively.

About the role

This post offers the opportunity for the successful candidate to utilise their existing research and analytical expertise and develop and put into practice their people and project management skills. Much of the day-to-day work of the 12-strong Research, Data & Thematics (RDT) team involves conducting surveys in places of detention and analysing the results for use by inspectors. Reporting to one of our Senior Research Officers, the post holder will also conduct fieldwork, provide analysis for thematic and other reports, help to maintain HMIP’s databases, and act as an ambassador for the Inspectorate while on inspections. The job involves regular travel and time away from home carrying out surveys in places of detention (including transporting questionnaires) - on average one or two nights per fortnight.

Responsibilities:

• Organising and attending visits to custodial establishments on a regular basis to conduct detainee surveys.

• Processing and analysing survey data, including for detainee and staff surveys, and checking survey findings for publication in inspection reports.

• Contributing research expertise to thematic reviews and other HMIP publications. This could involve conducting literature reviews, developing research methodology (including cognitive testing), carrying out fieldwork, interviews, data analysis and contributing to the drafting of published reports.

• Acting as research lead for a specific policy area. This includes keeping up to date with relevant research, statistics and policy developments and providing ad hoc support to inspection and policy colleagues.

• Managing and supporting research assistants.

• Supporting the work of the team in ensuring data and our research findings are utilised and presented in the most impactful and inclusive way.

• Updating and maintaining HMI Prisons’ databases and providing analysis for governance meetings and annual report.

Contact: For further information about the role, please contact Helen Ranns on Helen.Ranns@hmiprisons.gov.uk.

Candidates

Successful candidates must meet the following essential criteria and physical requirements of the role:

Essential criteria:

• Ability to prioritise and deliver work on time.

• A member of the Government Social Research Group (GSR) profession, or meet the criteria for that profession (see below under professional requirements).

• You must meet the following GSR technical skills:

o Has good knowledge of research methodology, methods, and the latest techniques (i.e. demonstrated through qualifications and/or experience) and ability to apply these in small scale research projects.

o Able to design small scale and less complex research projects, defining research questions and writing draft specifications.

o Able to summarise and interpret information accurately, making use of different sources and to conduct basic analyses of key data sets utilising a working knowledge of relevant data analysis packages.

o Has good working knowledge of departmental procurement procedures, quality assurance processes, legal and ethical issues and principles relating to social research. Uses ability to critically assess and evaluate information and evidence, to support team members in managing more complex external research projects (judging merits of research tenders, assessing research findings, evaluating new ideas or methodologies).

Professional requirements:

• Profession criteria: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-government-social-research-profession-membership
• Candidates will need to have passed the GSR test prior to being considered for interview. If you are already a member of GSR, or have already passed this test, please provide details. If you have not already passed this test there will be the opportunity to take the test as part of the recruitment process.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience in questionnaire and survey design

• Experience of using IBM SPSS or R or other statistical analysis package

• Experience in analysing performance data

• Experience of working as part of a team

• Experience of using MS Office applications, specifically Word, PowerBI, Excel, OneNote and Outlook

• Interest in the criminal justice system

• Commitment to the values of HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

Physical requirements of the role: The role of a Research Officer at HMI Prisons can be physically demanding. While undertaking detainee surveys researchers are required to spend a lot of time on their feet, which will include ascending and descending multiple sets of stairs, crouching down to post questionnaires under doors if required, and carrying upwards of 70 paper questionnaires. Research Officers also need to be able to respond quickly if necessary, for example exiting a wing if there is an emergency.

Online assessment: Candidates successful at the application stage will be invited to complete an online assessment which will test analytical skills and knowledge of research methodologies relevant to the role. No special preparation is required.

Interview: Candidates who are successful at the online assessment stage will be invited to the interview stage in June, which will take place at 10 South Colonnade, E14 4PU. You will be tested against the GSR technical framework and the Success Profiles used across the Civil Service, including these behaviours:

• Delivering at pace

• Communicating and influencing

• Developing self and others.

Probation: If you are already an established civil servant who has satisfactorily completed a probationary period, you will not have any probation period. However, the normal probation period is six months and can be extended if required.

Annual leave: There are generous allowances for paid holiday starting at 25 days per year (for a full-time role), which rise as your service increases. There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. There is additional paid time off for public holidays and one privilege day.

Training: We are committed to staff development and offer a range of training and development opportunities.

Contact: If you require further information around the application process, please contact Umar Farooq on Umar.Farooq@hmiprisons.gov.uk

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Qualifications

• Relevant Qualification route: Hold an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2 The degree must contain substantial social research methods training (comprising around one third of modules taken on the course) including quantitative research methods and at least three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research.

OR:

• Professional Experience route: Hold an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2, in any subject, or a degree equivalent (e.g. an advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS), plus have at least 4 years’ social research practice experience. Social research practice experience consists of experience working in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team. To enter the GSR through this route you must make explicit the breadth and depth of your research experience and skills, which must include quantitative research methods and three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• The Government Social Research Technical Framework

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,014, Ministry of Justice contributes £11,592 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

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, 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 counter-terrorist 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 theCivil 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

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@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
• Telephone : 0345 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If 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-recruitm…

https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/16758?entityId=16758