Head of Function Learning & Skills

Details

Reference number

287602

Salary

£39,674 - £45,625

Job grade

Senior Executive Officer

Band 7

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Education and Training

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

Location

About the job

Benefits

Things you need to know

Apply and further information

Location

This position is based at HM PRISON CARDIFF CARDIFF, CF24 0UG

About the job

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Rydym yn croesawu ac yn annog ceisiadau gan bawb, yn cynnwys grwpiau sydd wedi’u tangynrychioli yn ein gweithlu ar hyn o bryd, ac rydym yn ymfalchïo mewn bod yn gyflogwr o safon uchel sy’n denu llawer o ymgeiswyr. Ewch i https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

gael rhagor o wybodaeth am sut rydym yn hyrwyddo amrywiaeth a chynhwysiant yn y gweithle.

Overview of the job

This is a functional management job in an establishment.

Summary

The job holder will be fully accountable for the delivery, quality and performance of the Learning, Skills and Employment Function in Welsh establishments where education provision is provided in house. As a senior management team (SMT) member, will contribute to the strategic planning and implementation of corporate activities.

This is a non-operational job with line management responsibilities.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

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

• Ensure managers and staff within the Function provide a respectful, safe, decent environment for prisoners and staff.
• Accountable for the performance of the Function and the staff within it.

Manage the achievement of qualitative and quantative standards including Service Delivery Indicators (SDIs) within the Function, verifying and signing off documentation as appropriate. Analyse and act upon data which is relevant to your Function.

• Accountable for undertaking strategic planning of curriculum to meet learner

and employer needs.

• Accountable for leading on the curriculum development and external quality review for the establishment.
• Responsible for ensuring that the delivery of activities and learning is in

accordance with Welsh Government standards, and that qualifications fit with the Qualification Credit Framework (QCF).

• Responsible for contributing to reducing reoffending by maximising

opportunities for prisoners to access education whilst in custody and find sustainable employment on release.

• Accountable for managing, promoting, developing and co-ordination of learning and skills activity, (including education, vocational training, physical education,

library provision) in order to provide a comprehensive and coherent learning and skills programme for prisoners.

• Responsible for ensuring that the defined protocols for the management of

Open University, distance learning, and Higher Education and Further Education opportunities, both internally and externally, are in line with national policy.

• Manage the annual re-evaluation of the full curriculum offered within the establishment i.e. reviews courses, providers, delivery methods and the provision of ongoing support for education within the establishment.
• Act as nominee for OFSTED (The Office for Standards in Education) inspections for educational delivery and be part of the assessment team.
• Accountable for planning and coordinating the Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) and all other types of learning to form a learner journey from reception to release.

• Responsible for managing the administration of distance learning, further education and Open University and monitoring the quality assurance of prisoners managing their own Individual Learning Plan (ILP).
• Accountable for implementing effective teaching strategies on a variety of

courses and programmes.

• Deliver teaching strategies using a variety of teaching methodologies to

accommodate different levels of ability and the demands of different curricular areas and activities.

• Responsible for preparing and updating course content and materials and assignments to ensure relevance in the learning situation and curriculum initiatives.
• Assess and evaluate learner progress and course work and provide constructive

feedback and guidance to encourage learning and improve the quality of the learning experience for learners.

Undertake other management tasks including:

• Promote Prison Service policy in all activities and behaviours e.g. promote diversity, decency, safety and reducing re-offending agendas.
• Review open Assessment Care in Custody teamwork (ACCT) as and when required in line with audit baselines.
• Provide leadership and management of the Function. Will have the skills to apply

all Human Resources (HR) related policies and practices and be able to carry out all aspects of people management such as Attendance Management, Disciplinary Investigations, Performance Management and Staff Appraisals.

• Manage Prisoners Complaints Process within the Function.
• Responsible for ensuring all litigation claims relevant to the area have been dealt with in accordance with policy.
• Oversee the compilation and regular progress reporting of performance

improvement programmes.

• Manage the appropriate authorisation of Financial Compliance Statements .
• Manage devolved budgets in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation.
• Ensure that the Function produces and analyses audit and establishment performance management information identifying variances and areas requiring improvements.
• Contribute to the establishment’s overall achievement of (SDIs) and standards

and be accountable for the performance and delivery of targets relating to the budget; People Plan for the Function.

• Accountable for all local and national policies relating to the Function, and ensure procedures implemented are compliant, including the development of new

policies.

• Contribute to the development and delivery of the medium-to-long term

strategic and business plan for the establishment, with overall responsibility for implementation within their Function.

• Attend relevant boards/meetings and actively contribute either as chair or team member.
• Responsible for ensuring the defined work areas and associated activities comply

with Health and Safety legislation. Ensure all risk assessments are undertaken and staff are made aware of their personal responsibility towards Health and Safety compliance.

• Work collaboratively and provide constructive challenge to colleagues to ensure

that their own and other Functions are joined up and together contribute towards the overall delivery of the establishment’s performance.

• Contribute to the preparation of the establishment contingency and emergency plans and ensure implementation when required.
• Ensure the effective use of staff resources and the provision of training and annual leave opportunities.
• Produce relevant reports as required and ensure that the response to all

correspondence are within agreed timescales.

• Carry out investigations and administration in relation to incidents of potential discrimination and report on findings .

• Accountable for ensuring actions arising from Standard Audit, Her Majesty

Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) Action Plans and Managing Quality of Prison Life (MQPL) surveys, including local Self Audit action plans and Resettlement
strategies, are delivered.

• Deliver and implement projects as directed by the Governor.
• Actively encourage staff engagement within the Function to ensure objectives are met.

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.

An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

• 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.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.

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 Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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.

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@gov.sscl.com

Telephone :

0845 241 5358

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-13/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/3/opp/74574-74574-Head-of-Function-Learning-Skills/en-GB