National Specialist Lead x2 (One of which is HSP specific) (Ref: 20804)

Job summary

This role is based Nationally.

Job description

Interventions Services National Specialist Lead PERMANENT

Directorate: Rehabilitation & Change

Job Title: Interventions Services National Specialist Lead

Grade: HMPPS Band 8

Job description

The National Specialist Lead (NSL) within HMPPS Headquarters is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and maintenance of specialist interventions aimed at reducing reoffending. The role ensures that accredited and nonaccredited programmes are evidence based, clinically robust, and aligned with organisational priorities. NSLs design and oversee interventions and related products for complex groups, including those convicted of violent and sexual offences, and ensure programmes respond to evolving research, policy, and population needs.

NSLs provide expert clinical and operational advice across HMPPS and to external partners. They offer strategic guidance to senior managers, commissioners, psychologists, and practitioners, supporting high quality intervention delivery in prisons and the community. This includes advising on programme development, policy, training requirements, and emerging practice, ensuring HMPPS maintains a strong national and international reputation for effective rehabilitation.

A core part of the role is delivering high quality national training for staff who facilitate offending behaviour programmes. NSLs design and update training materials, deliver training and ensure that staff are prepared to deliver effective, evidence-based interventions. They also lead innovation, developing new interventions and assessment tools to respond to gaps in provision, changes in needs, commissioning priorities, and wider political or strategic shifts.

Overall, the NSL plays a crucial leadership role in ensuring HMPPS offers effective, evidence-based interventions that support rehabilitation and public protection, while also maintaining their own specialist expertise through ongoing professional development to retain credibility with commissioners, practitioners, and external stakeholders.

Candidates should note that one of the roles is National Specialist Lead for Healthy Sex Programme (HSP). For this role the successful candidate must be HCPC Registered and/or chartered registered psychologist.

This campaign is to recruit 2 permanent B8 National Specialist Leads. Applicants should note there is also a temporary NSL campaign that's running Simultaneously. Applicants should apply to all campaigns they are interested in.

Key responsibilities

Designing and Developing Interventions

Leading the design, development, accreditation, training, implementation, support, and maintenance of both accredited and non‑accredited offending behaviour programmes (including specialist assessments).

Ensuring Clinical Integrity and Evidence-Based Practice

Ensuring all interventions are clinically robust, grounded in international evidence, fit for purpose, defensible, and developed through consultation with stakeholders. Aligning all products with HMPPS’ strategic priorities for reducing reoffending.

Providing Expert Clinical and Operational Advice

Offering advice to senior commissioners, HMPPS delivery sites, other government departments, and external partners. Contributing to briefings, parliamentary responses, policy development, and strategic decision‑making.

Supporting Stakeholders and Building Partnerships

Working collaboratively across HMPPS and with external agencies to share expertise, ensure programmes meet local needs, contribute to cross‑government groups, and respond to changes in populations and commissioning requirements.

Leading and Delivering Specialist Training

Designing, updating, and delivering national specialist training to ensure staff are equipped to deliver high quality, evidence-based intervention

Innovation and Product Development

Leading the development of new interventions and assessment tools, identifying gaps in provision, ensuring products are contemporary, evidence‑informed, and delivered on time. Considering political change, population needs, and emerging evidence.

Maintaining Professional Competence

Staying current in understanding and applying the evidence base on effective rehabilitation, and in relation to specific cohorts.

Additional Duties

Undertaking other tasks appropriate to the grade when required, with any significant changes discussed in line with job evaluation processes.

Technical Requirements

• Registered Psychologist or Qualified Probation Officer.

Essential Skills

• Specialist skills and expertise relating to the assessment and treatment of individuals in prison or in the community.
• A minimum of five years’ experience of working with people who have offended 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 behaviour programme.
• Experience of delivering, supervising and managing accredited 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.

Further information

If you would like further information about the role you should reach out to either cara.cunningham@justice.gov.uk or Aubrey.vanzyl@justice.gov.uk

Applicants can also see more details about the role here: [https://sway.cloud.microsoft/PHHugKEGuaxqrE2B?ref=email]

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Qualifications

Registered Psychologist or Qualified Probation Officer.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,398, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £16,628 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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 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 standard (or equivalent) criminal record check.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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 5358

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/20804?entityId=20804