Head of Secretariat

Salary
- £70,303 - £80,370

Number of jobs available
- 1

Detail of reserve list
- 12 Months

Region
- London

City/Town
- London

Building/Site
- 10 SOUTH COLONNADE LONDON, E14 4PU

Grade
- Grade 6

Organisation Grade for MoJ
- Grade 6

Post Type
- Permanent

Working Pattern
- Full Time

Role Type
- Finance, Governance, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Knowledge & Information Management, Other, Policy, Programme and Project Management, Risk Management, Senior Leadership

Will the successful applicant have line manager responsibilities?
- Yes

Job description

HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMI Prisons) for England and Wales is an independent inspectorate which reports on the treatment of, and conditions for, those in prison, young offender institutions and court custody suites in England and Wales, and immigration detention facilities in the United Kingdom. HMI Prisons also inspects Border Force customs custody (jointly with HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services) and secure training centres (jointly with Ofsted). By invitation, HMI Prisons inspects some military detention facilities, as well as prisons in Northern Ireland and in other jurisdictions with links to the UK, such as the Isle of Man.

The role of HM Inspectorate of Prisons is to provide independent scrutiny of the conditions for and treatment of prisoners and other detainees, promoting the concept of ‘healthy establishments’ in which staff work effectively to achieve positive outcomes for those detained and for the public.

The Inspectorate’s work constitutes an important part of the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment. This Protocol requires signatory states to have in place regular independent inspection of places of detention.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an Arm’s Length Body (ALB) of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The Chief Inspector of Prisons is a Crown Appointee, while the staff of the Inspectorate are civil servants employed by the MoJ. The established values of the Inspectorate are:

- Independence, impartiality and integrity are the foundations of our work.
- The experience of the detainee is at the heart of our inspections.
- Respect for human rights underpins our Expectations.
- We embrace diversity and are committed to pursuing equality of outcomes for all.
- We believe in the capacity of both individuals and organisations to change and improve, and that we have a part to play in initiating and encouraging change.

**Head of Secretariat - HM Inspectorate of Prisons**

The Head of Secretariat is a pivotal role, supporting the Chief Inspector and Deputy Chief Inspector to drive forward their strategic agenda and to ensure the Inspectorate adheres to the highest standards of corporate good-governance.

The Head of Secretariat must have a strong grasp of the issues across the organisation - including policy, key stakeholder relationships, corporate risks, human resources and finance - to deliver complex project work to a high standard and under pressure. They play a lead role in setting the culture of the organisation and in driving change and improvement, and they advise the Chief Inspector and Deputy Chief Inspector on a range of matters across the work of the Inspectorate.

The Head of Secretariat must be a high performing manager and experienced team leader, with the ability to coach and support direct reports, to provide inspirational leadership for the Secretariat team of 15 people, and to help set strategic direction for the Inspectorate as a whole. They must have the confidence, gravitas and expertise to represent and speak on behalf of the Chief Inspector and Deputy Chief Inspector, and to be influential among senior stakeholders.

While the role is office-based (minimum of three days a week), there are also frequent opportunities to visit prisons and other establishments and to support the inspection process, including through direct engagement with those detained in custody.

**Responsibilities**

The Head of Secretariat has the following responsibilities:
**Governance**
- Ensure that HMIP adheres to the highest standards of corporate good governance and meets its legal, financial and other responsibilities to the Ministry of Justice and other key stakeholders.
- Maintain oversight of HMIP’s governance structures, including through the Corporate Governance Board and Delivery Board, and by establishing long
- term structures and processes to ensure appropriate oversight of all aspects of HMIP’s work. Serve as an active member of both Boards.
- Maintain oversight of HMIP’s Health and Safety and risk management. Identify areas of potential operational, financial and reputational risk within the Inspectorate; implement strategies and solutions to manage or mitigate these
- Oversee drafting and implementation of Equality and Diversity action plan, fostering a c