HM Inspectorate of Prisons - Inspection Team Leader (Ref: 15125)

Job summary

This position is based at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4BB, National

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.

Who we are – HM Inspectorate of Prisons

About the role

HM Inspectorate of Prisons is looking for an exceptional candidate to lead one of its inspection teams which leads on the inspection of adult male prisons. The successful candidate will be expected to take up post in Summer 2026. The exact date will be dependent on the timing of interviews and security clearance processes.

As Inspection Team Leader, you will have a key role within the Inspectorate, making a demonstrable difference to the conditions and treatment of those held in detention in England and Wales by reporting on what you inspect and helping to achieve positive outcomes.

You will be responsible for planning and carrying out inspections of prison establishments, managing a core team of inspectors, and the production of timely and accurate reports. You will also be part of the Inspectorate’s Delivery Board and will be responsible for helping to develop Inspectorate policy and inspection practice.

You will be required to use your skills, knowledge and experience to advise on and influence national and justice policy formation and promote the work of HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

Reporting to HM Deputy Chief Inspector of Prisons, you will head the team of inspectors, develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and provide expert advice to HM Chief Inspector.

Frequent travel within the UK (and possibly abroad) will be required, and you will spend at least one week in three away on inspection, as well as travelling for meetings and other events. You will also need to be available to come to London for internal and external meetings on a regular basis.

Responsibilities

You will:

• Lead and coordinate the inspection of prisons and other places of detention to assess outcomes for detainees against the Inspectorate’s inspection criteria known as Expectations.

• Mobilise and supervise an effective inspection team (which will include core team members, specialists, and colleagues from other inspectorates) and help them to gather, analyse and test out evidence

• Assess all relevant experiences and outcomes for prisoners in each establishment guided by the Inspectorates ‘healthy prison’ model (safety, respect, purposeful activity and rehabilitation and release planning) and presenting findings under each heading.

• Brief the governor or centre manager and senior managers during inspections, and in a formal debrief on the final day.

• Produce well written public reports within tight deadlines and present edited versions to the Deputy Chief Inspector and Chief Inspector.

• Work collaboratively as a member of multidisciplinary teams.

• Contribute, as required, to thematic inspection reports and reports produced jointly with other criminal justice inspectorates.

• Make sure inspectors assist with the development of Inspectorate criteria and guidelines relating to their team’s specialism.

Management and policy

You will:

• Lead on the Inspectorate response to relevant consultations and carry out relevant public speaking engagements on behalf of the Chief Inspector.

• Take appropriate action in response to concerns raised about those detained, including raising safeguarding alerts as required.

• Keep up to date with policy developments to advise HM Chief Inspector and ensure better outcomes for those in detention

• Manage an inspection team within the Inspectorate (including selection, induction, supervision, appraisal, quality assurance, training and development).

• Be an active member of the Inspectorate’s Delivery Board.

• Effectively project manage pieces of work and lead on meeting the objectives of the Inspectorate’s business and strategic plans.

• Advise on the development of internal Inspectorate policy, the continuing review and development of Inspectorate criteria and methodology, and the development of new inspection frameworks.

• Represent the Inspectorate externally: for example, in meetings and working parties with the Prison Service, Ministry of Justice, other inspectorates, other statutory and voluntary outside groups, and at conferences and seminars.

• Maintain effective partnership working with key stakeholders.

• Carry out inquiries as required, on behalf of the Chief Inspector.

Experience

Essential:

• Experience of strong leadership and communication and of demonstrating independence, objectivity and the ability to assimilate and analyse complex data and evidence.

• Senior management experience within, or directly relevant to, a custodial setting and/or experience developing or influencing policy in relation to the criminal justice system.

• Experience that demonstrates support for, and understanding of, the Inspectorate’s work and values

Desirable:

• Experience as the Governor or Director of one or more custodial establishments.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £71,381, Ministry of Justice contributes £20,679 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 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 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/15125?entityId=15125

Attachments

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