Prisoner Casework Specialist Caseworker (PPCS) (Ref: 15428)

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

The Prisoner Casework team sits within the Public Protection Casework Section (PPCS) in the Public Protection Group (PPG) of His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The remit of Prisoner Casework involves drafting high quality replies to a broad range of correspondence (Ministerial, CEO and Treat Official) regarding prisoner-specific issues. The team also reviews appeals to governor adjudications from prisoners and the penalties awarded. In addition, Prisoner Casework facilitates investigations by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman in relation to escalated complaints from prisoners. The team may also respond to requests for prisoner information from other governmental departments under the Data Protection Act. The team handles over 4000 cases each year.

Overview of the job

The Public Protection Casework Section (PPCS) is placed within the Public Protection Group (PPG) of the Community Interventions Directorate. The post of Prisoner Casework – Casework Specialist in Prisoner Casework within PPCS is not operational, although the business objectives of PPCS are focused on delivering frontline public protection and prisoner casework on behalf of the Prison’s Minister and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The Prisoner Casework – Casework Specialist role involves drafting a wide range of correspondence within a team that handles approximately 4,500 pieces of correspondence and casework each year from across the whole prison estate. This includes:

• A broad range of general correspondence (Ministerial, CEO and Treat Official) in respect of determinate and indeterminate sentence prisoners.

• Reviewing governor adjudications and the penalties awarded in respect of determinate and indeterminate sentence prisoners.

• Investigating and responding to queries from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, ensuring that recommendations are implemented within the specified timescale.

• Responding under the Data Protection Act to requests for information from other governmental departments, such as the Home Office and the Department for Work and Pensions.

• Responding to correspondence from Inside Times, including drafting responses for publication.

The job holder will report directly to the Team Leader (Band 5), who in turn reports to the Deputy Head of Prisoner Casework (Band 7).

Summary

There are no line management responsibilities with this post.

The job holder’s responsibilities involve managing a correspondence caseload on a day-to-day basis. The job holder is expected to have or develop strong generic casework skills and a good understanding of how establishments function. Given that they often need to draw upon the support and input of policy colleagues across HMPPS HQ, they need to develop an excellent knowledge of the work of HMPPS HQ and policy groups and be able to network effectively.

The work involves liaison with a number of stakeholders, including prisons and the Prison and Probation Ombudsman, to solicit information that will ultimately be used to draft replies to correspondence. All of the work requires the ability to meet tight deadlines, organise and prioritise casework, and strong drafting skills.

Responsibilities include the drafting of precise and accurate advice/correspondence to Ministers and senior officials on a wide range of matters relating to individual prisoners in public and private sector prisons. Subject matter includes, but is not exhaustive to, security categorisation and transfer, visits, access to education and offending behaviour programmes, regimes, lost property, safer custody and health care issues.

The post holder is also responsible for caseworking around 2,500 adjudication reviews in accordance with Prison Service Instructions, ensuring that there are systems in place to monitor performance and ensure that business targets are met.

The post holder will deal with sometimes complex and sensitive cases relating to individual prisoners. They will draft articles for publication in Inside Times.

There are challenging targets to ensure that casework is completed within the deadline (which will vary depending on both the type of correspondence and work).

The job holder will be expected to build and sustain relationships with other agencies and stakeholders and will liaise, on a regular basis, with a range of prison staff, Deputy Directors of Custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman’s office, Inside Times’ Editors, the police, Government Legal Department, Government Legal Advisors, Probation Services, the Parole Board and other senior officials.

The job holder will be expected to accurately and completely update their work on the Section’s IT system (PPUD) and to suggest any development requirements that may be pertinent.

The job holder is also expected to take their turn, on a rota basis, to manage the team inbox and allocate work to their colleagues in a timely manner.

They are also expected to take their turn, on a rota basis, processing recalls to custody of offenders who have breached their licence conditions. This duty will take place on a Friday, every other week, and may require the post-holder to work up to 7pm on those days.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Providing urgent, concise and accurate briefing for Minsters, Private Office, Press Office and other senior officials.

• Providing draft responses for Minsters, the CEO and other senior officials.

• The preparation of a first draft of submissions, advice and draft letters on incidents, contentious issues and Ministerial enquiries.

• Monitoring the review of adjudication appeals from prisoners in respect of determinate and indeterminate sentence prisoners ensuring that thorough reviews have been carried out in accordance with the PSI.

• Overseeing the acceptance of PPO’s recommendations, and the draft response to the PPO, referring to the Band 5 where appropriate.

• Producing responses to Treat Official cases.

• Producing a first draft of articles for Inside Times.

• Reviewing and monitoring their own caseload, identifying pressure points and finding ways to manage the pressures to ensure that business targets are met.

• Initial involvement with complex and high profile cases flagging up to senior managers where Press Office and Private Office need to be informed of any cases that are likely to attract media attention.

• Providing Private Office, via their line manager, with urgent advice on sensitive or critical cases.

• Instructing colleagues as to the acceptance or rejection of Ministerial and CEO correspondence within 24 hours of receipt.

• Managing the team inbox to ensure that all correspondence is correctly allocated in a timely fashion.

• Building and sustaining effective working relationships with policy holders and other agencies including the PPO, Police, Government Legal Department, Legal Advisors and prisons etc.

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

• Communicating and Influencing

• Delivering at Pace

• Working Together

• Managing a Quality Service

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,590, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £10,600 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 Strengths.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.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 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/15428?entityId=15428