Deputy Head of Bedfordshire Probation Delivery Unit

**General Information**:

- Salary
- £48,305 - £52,935
- Working Pattern
- Full Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
- Vacancy Approach
- External
- Location
- Bedford, Luton
- Region
- East of England
- Closing Date
- 24-Oct-2025
- Business Unit
- PDU Bedfordshire (2021)
- Post Type
- Permanent
- Civil Service Grade
- Other
- Number of jobs available
- 1
- Reserve List
- 12 Months
- Job ID
- 10503

**Descriptions & requirements**:

- Job description

**Overview of the job**

Working at the direction of the Head of Operational Function the post holder will be deployed to a variety of roles in order to provide strategic support.

**Summary**

To support the Head of LDU Cluster providing management and leadership within the National Probation Service (NPS) Local Delivery Unit (LDU).

To represent the Head of LDU Cluster with external agencies/stakeholders and staff as appropriate.

The post holder must ad to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.

May be required to participate in out of hours on call rota.

**Responsibilities, Activities & Duties**

Senior Operational Support Manager may be required to undertake any combination, or all, of the duties and responsibilities as directed by the Head of Operational Function as set out below..
- Cluster operational lead on caseload segmentation issues such as Child Sexual Exploitation, Guns and Gangs, Integrated Offender Management etc.
- Operational support to the Head of Cluster within relevant Probation Instruction criteria and rules such as Recall, High Risk of Serious Harm Case Transfers, etc.
- Providing support to the Head of Cluster within the relevant Probation Instruction criteria and rules such as, grievance, discipline, capability, complaints, etc.
- Responsible for the professional development of cluster staff
- Responsible for developing and deploying the Cluster Training Needs Analysis
- Ensure effective cluster employee recruitment and induction
- Act as cluster lead for performance & quality
- Act as cluster lead for audits and inspections
- Operational support to the Head of Cluster in completing reviews and delivery of action plans such as Domestic Homicides, Serious Further Reviews, Serious Case Reviews, etc.
- Responsible for the management of the Business Manager and the administrative support functions within the cluster
- Under the guidance of the Head of LDU Cluster; represent the NPS in local strategic partnerships and ensure appropriate representation within wider partnership frameworks in line with statutory responsibilities and operational policy
- Participate in the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) locally in conjunction with other responsible authorities including the chairing of MAPPA level 3 meetings
- In the absence of the Head of LDU Cluster to make decisions and provide advice on the management of offenders w senior management authorisation or involvement is necessary e.g. authorising the recall of offenders to prison
- Operational support to the Head of cluster in the management of complaints within the cluster and direct involvement in complaint resolution w necessary
- Under the guidance of the Head of LDU Cluster to take the lead on specific divisional or cluster projects/portfolios including Equality and Diversity, Reward and Recognition, etc.
- Operational support to the Head of cluster in cluster compliance with Health and Safety legislation.
- Senior Management responsibility for estates, buildings and maintenance activities within the cluster
- Demonstrate pro-social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro-social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes
- Carry out safeguarding children and safeguarding adult duties in accordance with the NPS statutory responsibilities and agency policies
- Work within the aims and values of NPS and HMPPS

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post at present and are not exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alteration sand additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under job evaluation and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

**Behaviours**
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Changing and Improving

**Essential Experience**
- Significant experience at middle manager level, including the management of staff
- Experience of monitoring performance in area of responsibility against predetermined targets, setting local targets and effecting necessary improvements
- Experience of budgetary control incl. procurement
- Experience of managing relationships incl. working with key local agencies and stakeholders
- Evidence of preparing high level written reports to a good standard

**Technical requirements**

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