6673 – Activities Unit Manager(AUM)

General Information

Descriptions & requirements

Overview of the job

This is a management job in an establishment.

Summary

The job holder will be responsible for a range of activities within the Learning, Skills and Employment function. Staffing numbers will vary depending on the size of the establishment and the nature of work undertaken.

The job holder will be implementing national policies to suit local needs within the function and will contribute to revisions of local policies and procedures. The job holder will ensure that the establishment regime meets the needs of offenders and contributes to reducing the risk of re-offending.

The function provides a strategic focus on the learning, skills and qualifications in all areas of activities, with an emphasis on employability, education and training on release. The job supports both Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) and non-OLASS learning. 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:

• Responsible for ensuring all staff within Learning Skills and Employment provide a respectful, safe decent environment for all prisoners and staff.
• Responsible for managing Offenders Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) and nonOLASS including industries, gymnasium.
• Responsible for assisting in the planning and implementing of quality assurance frameworks within the establishment.
• Co-ordinate Self-Assessment Reports (SARs) for the establishment.
• Responsible for managing, promoting, developing and co-ordinating all 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 all prisoners.
• Assist in the planning and co-ordination of Offenders Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) and all other types of learning to form a learner journey from reception to release.
• Responsible for administration of distance learning, further education and Open University and monitoring the quality assurance of prisoners managing their own Individual Learning Plan (ILP).
• Work with other resettlement services, the risk management unit and other functions, to encourage offenders to continue their learning on release – ensuring that appropriate Offenders Pathways are arranged/notified prior to release.
• Responsible for monitoring the Service Level Agreements (SLA) for education, library services and training providers operating within the establishment, to ensure that quality standards are achieved.
• Responsible for the delivery of industries vocational training ensuring the screening assessment and referral processes that determine suitability of prisoners to access learning material and tutor to deliver required skills to achieve target qualification.

• Responsible for ensuring that the Service commissioned is agreed with SFA, Education provider and Advice and Guidance Agency.
• Responsible for chairing quarterly Quality Improvement Group/OLASS Partnership Meetings and attend meetings as required.
• Maintain good working relationship with groups that provide funding including the Learning and Skills council and Youth Justice Board (if in Young Offender Institution (YOI) or Juvenile in estates).
• Responsible for the accuracy of figures generated i.e. hours delivered, to enable the release of funding.
• Responsible for the preparation of material for internal and OFSTED audits and act as OFSTED nominee for the establishment.
• Contribute to prisoner reports including Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) reports and parole reports.

Undertake other management tasks including:

• Manage devolved budgets in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation.
• Responsible for the management of all staff within their area. This includes staff performance, development and annual appraisal through to sickness absence management.
• Ensure all HMPPS standards and Service Delivery Indicators (SDIs) are implemented and managed within the relevant work area.
• Ensure all national and local policies and procedures are implemented and compliant e.g. National Security Framework (NSF), Local Security Strategy (LSS), Finance Manual.
• Attend as directed any relevant boards/meetings and actively contribute, either as chair or team member.
• Provides leadership and direction to managers and staff within their defined work area through briefings, building informal and formal relationships and effective communication.
• Produce relevant reports as required and ensure all correspondence is replied to within agreed timescales.
• Liaise and form good relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage resources to deliver the activities within the defined work area, and contribute to the mid-to-long term business planning process.
• Ensure the defined work area 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 ensuring Health and Safety compliance.

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical Requirements

The job holder will have relevant qualifications in area of work, or be working/ studying towards, including recognised training qualifications/or be a NVQ assessor and have specialist knowledge/ experience in relevant Industry. Will need to keep up to date of knowledge/working practices in areas of expertise.

Internal applicants

All newly promoted staff to the following Band 6 first line manager roles (Activities Unit Manager, Facilities and Services Unit Manager, Facilities and Services Business Manager, Programme Manager, Specialist Treatment Manager or Equality Advisor) in Establishments will be expected to complete the New Manager Programme on Civil Service Learning within three years of promotion. Staff that have mapped or re-graded to Band 6 who have previously worked at an equivalent level will not be required to undertake the qualification.

External applicants

All external staff joining as a Band 6 Activities Unit Manager, Facilities and Services Unit Manager, Facilities and Services Business Manager, Programme Manager, Specialist Treatment Manager or Equality Advisor in an Establishment will be expected to complete the New Manager Programme on Civil Service Learning within three years.

Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances

37 hour working week

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Benefits

Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment

Pension

-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service  (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

Eligibility

-All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

-All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS

-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([email protected]); 
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
• 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]

Please quote the job reference 6673

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]

Please quote the job reference 6673

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