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6514 - Chief Operating Officer, HM Inspectorate of Probation
| Posting date: | 30 May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £76,000 to £117,800 per year |
| Additional salary information: | External candidates should expect their salary upon appointment to be £76,000 per annum, though a higher starting salary could be considered for an exceptional candidate. Existing Civil Servants will be appointed in line with the Civil Service pay rules in place on the date of their appointment. |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 15 June 2025 |
| Location: | UK |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Ministry of Justice |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 6514 |
Summary
The Chief Operating Officer is accountable for the delivery of a wide range of programmes of inspection and rating of providers, across the probation and youth justice sectors, ensuring that inspection ratings and reports are based on consistent, defensible judgements. They will also have a significant internal focus providing day to day leadership to the organisation.
The role requires leadership, relationship building and an ability to instil and deliver change programmes in a constantly shifting environment, for example the modernisation of the Inspectorate’s infrastructure and programmes.
The purpose of the role is to oversee all day-to-day operations of the Inspectorate, while offering a 1–3-year oversight into planning and delivery. They will hold heads of functions and individuals to account for the continuing development and introduction of improved ways of working, including new inspection methodology, standards and policies for inspection staff, inspection IT and digital systems, quality management systems, training and talent management. They will also drive improvements in the quality of reports and the efficiency of inspection and operational support.
Key to this is that the inspectorate is seen to be, and is, independent and not afraid to report on disappointing or inadequate performance and also highlight effective practice where it emerges. HM Inspectorate of Probation provides the primary qualitative measure of these services for ministers and the general public, with yearly consolidated reports as well as individual inspection reports.
They are directly responsible for managing a number of senior managers including Heads of Inspection Programmes, Research, Operations Management and Standards and Methodology.
Responsible to the Chief Inspector for the day to day running of the organisation and ensuring that the inspectorate continues to deliver in a way that ensures its integrity and independence to provide trusted scrutiny across probation and youth justice sectors.
• Ensure that the inspectorate have sufficient resources to deliver its inspection programmes over a reasonable timeframe and that changes to the probation landscape are reflected in our inspection approaches.
• Hold the leadership team to account for delivery of their agreed programmes of work against the organisational priorities and KPI’s.
• Provide support to all HM Inspectorate of Probation teams to maximise delivery against their key responsibilities and accountabilities.
• Sponsor projects designed to improve how we deliver our objectives, including leadership of digital change programmes
• Chair the probation ratings panel and Inspection of Youth Justice Service ratings panels and undertake assurance activity for the Approved Premises validation panels. Hold Heads of Programme to account for submissions to the ratings panel, in particular ensuring there is consistent application of both the standards and ratings being proposed.
• Ensure staff across the organisation are trained, supported and held to account through appropriate performance management and development processes.
• Ensure an effective quality management system is in place including quality assuring our published core inspection reports.
• Chair regular team meetings with the leadership team focused on delivering the objectives of the Inspectorate.
• Deputise for the Chief Inspector with external stakeholders, stand in at the most senior level with Ministers, stakeholders and the public as needed.
• Work with key groups within the organisation such as the People and Culture Group, and the Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Group to ensure collaborative working and to address immediate concerns. Chair the probation and youth justice Programme Boards and together with the Chief Inspector chair the majority of probation and approved premises ratings panels.
• Is the Senior Information Responsible Owner for the organisation – senior decision maker supported by the manager, information management
• Programme sponsor for new ways of working including inspection standards and methodology, and the development of policy which maximises HM Inspectorate of Probation’s impact on the quality of probation and youth justice services.
• Drive improvements in the quality of reports, the supply and use of management information and the efficiency of both the inspection process and the underpinning logistics.
• Contribute to maximising the impact of inspection through communication of inspection findings and good practice, policy positioning and follow-up activity.
• Develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with stakeholders and act as an ambassador for the organisation. Ensure effective intelligence gathering and information sharing with relevant stakeholders.
• Manage the relationship with the Arm’s Length Bodies Centre of Excellence
• Own the HM Inspectorate of Probation governance processes including the organisation structure and design
• Line management of leadership team direct reports.
• Lead and develop capability in the directorate encouraging a culture that values openness, honesty, support and challenge. Translate strategy into practice, providing clear communication and ensuring staff are clear on expectations, roles and responsibilities.
The role requires leadership, relationship building and an ability to instil and deliver change programmes in a constantly shifting environment, for example the modernisation of the Inspectorate’s infrastructure and programmes.
The purpose of the role is to oversee all day-to-day operations of the Inspectorate, while offering a 1–3-year oversight into planning and delivery. They will hold heads of functions and individuals to account for the continuing development and introduction of improved ways of working, including new inspection methodology, standards and policies for inspection staff, inspection IT and digital systems, quality management systems, training and talent management. They will also drive improvements in the quality of reports and the efficiency of inspection and operational support.
Key to this is that the inspectorate is seen to be, and is, independent and not afraid to report on disappointing or inadequate performance and also highlight effective practice where it emerges. HM Inspectorate of Probation provides the primary qualitative measure of these services for ministers and the general public, with yearly consolidated reports as well as individual inspection reports.
They are directly responsible for managing a number of senior managers including Heads of Inspection Programmes, Research, Operations Management and Standards and Methodology.
Responsible to the Chief Inspector for the day to day running of the organisation and ensuring that the inspectorate continues to deliver in a way that ensures its integrity and independence to provide trusted scrutiny across probation and youth justice sectors.
• Ensure that the inspectorate have sufficient resources to deliver its inspection programmes over a reasonable timeframe and that changes to the probation landscape are reflected in our inspection approaches.
• Hold the leadership team to account for delivery of their agreed programmes of work against the organisational priorities and KPI’s.
• Provide support to all HM Inspectorate of Probation teams to maximise delivery against their key responsibilities and accountabilities.
• Sponsor projects designed to improve how we deliver our objectives, including leadership of digital change programmes
• Chair the probation ratings panel and Inspection of Youth Justice Service ratings panels and undertake assurance activity for the Approved Premises validation panels. Hold Heads of Programme to account for submissions to the ratings panel, in particular ensuring there is consistent application of both the standards and ratings being proposed.
• Ensure staff across the organisation are trained, supported and held to account through appropriate performance management and development processes.
• Ensure an effective quality management system is in place including quality assuring our published core inspection reports.
• Chair regular team meetings with the leadership team focused on delivering the objectives of the Inspectorate.
• Deputise for the Chief Inspector with external stakeholders, stand in at the most senior level with Ministers, stakeholders and the public as needed.
• Work with key groups within the organisation such as the People and Culture Group, and the Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Group to ensure collaborative working and to address immediate concerns. Chair the probation and youth justice Programme Boards and together with the Chief Inspector chair the majority of probation and approved premises ratings panels.
• Is the Senior Information Responsible Owner for the organisation – senior decision maker supported by the manager, information management
• Programme sponsor for new ways of working including inspection standards and methodology, and the development of policy which maximises HM Inspectorate of Probation’s impact on the quality of probation and youth justice services.
• Drive improvements in the quality of reports, the supply and use of management information and the efficiency of both the inspection process and the underpinning logistics.
• Contribute to maximising the impact of inspection through communication of inspection findings and good practice, policy positioning and follow-up activity.
• Develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with stakeholders and act as an ambassador for the organisation. Ensure effective intelligence gathering and information sharing with relevant stakeholders.
• Manage the relationship with the Arm’s Length Bodies Centre of Excellence
• Own the HM Inspectorate of Probation governance processes including the organisation structure and design
• Line management of leadership team direct reports.
• Lead and develop capability in the directorate encouraging a culture that values openness, honesty, support and challenge. Translate strategy into practice, providing clear communication and ensuring staff are clear on expectations, roles and responsibilities.