6983 - Research Assistant - Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
| Posting date: | 18 June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £32,416 to £34,361 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 04 July 2025 |
| Location: | E14 4BB |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Ministry of Justice |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 6983 |
Summary
Overview of role
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman – EO (Band D) Research Assistant Job Description
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) is an Arm’s Length Body (ALB) of the Ministry of Justice. We have three key duties:
• to investigate complaints made by prisoners, young people in detention, offenders under probation supervision and immigration detainees; and
• to investigate deaths of prisoners, young people in detention, approved premises’ residents and immigration detainees.
• to investigate deaths of recently released prisoners that occur within 14 days of release from prison (except homicide).
The Ombudsman receives around 4,000 new complaints a year, of which around half are assessed as eligible for investigation. The number of deaths in custody requiring investigation is generally between 300 and 350 per year.
The PPO’s ‘Research, Data and Analysis Team’ was set up to undertake collective analysis of PPO investigation evidence. The team has been vital in moving the PPO beyond focusing on learning from individual cases to being able to identify wider themes and patterns in our evidence base. This analytical work has enabled the PPO to quantify its work and contribute to the conversation on a wide range of issues affecting the services in our remit. Our annual report, learning lessons bulletins, and thematic reports are our most ‘visible’ analytical output – and are available to view on our website.
The team will be made up of an SEO (Band B) Head of Research, three HEO (Band C) Research Officers and three or four, EO (Band D) Research Assistants, plus an EO (Band D) assistant to the research team. Research Assistants will report to one of our Research Officers and to the Head of Research.
This post offers an exciting opportunity to contribute towards and deliver the Ombudsman’s research and data strategy and represents a great entry point to the civil service. It would suit someone who is looking to develop practical social-research skills experience including survey research and of working with large datasets and using quantitative-focused statistical packages to undertake data analysis, though applicants with some existing experience e.g. survey methodology, qualitative fieldwork, evaluation/ mixed methods researchers are welcomed. Strong time management is important given the regular turnover of our reports and the variety of work the post holder would need to do in our small but busy team.
A demonstrable interest in the Criminal Justice System is preferable (see below for details of requirements on skills and experience).
The PPO is based at the HM Government hub at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf. Staff are expected to work at least three days of the week at the London office (based on full time hours), with the rest of the time spent working at home or at commuter hubs.
While you will usually have some flexibility to decide which days of the week you work in the office to enable you to manage your office attendance around your personal circumstances, there will be occasions when you will be required to attend the office (for example, team meetings, office or function-wide meetings) or visit establishments belonging to our services in remit on particular days.
Please note that the PPO is unable to offer home working contracts or allow you to permanently work at any other location, other than 10 South Colonnade, for the required office attendance days.
If you are successful, you may need to attend the office more frequently in your first six weeks, to undertake key training and induction activity.
Interviews will be held virtually using Microsoft Teams.
The salary range is £32,416 to £34,361.
Successful candidates who are already at EO will keep their base salary on transfer. Allowances do not transfer. Successful candidates joining on promotion will start on either the minimum of the salary range or receive a 10% increase to their current base salary, whichever is higher.
Job Description
The post holder may be responsible for the following:
General analytical support
• Analyse PPO investigation evidence (case files) and research databases to produce learning and recommendations for services in remit.
• Produce management information summaries for monthly performance management meetings (includes collating, checking and cleaning data, preparing tables).
• Provide analytical support for the annual reporting cycle.
• Give analytical support for Freedom of Information and other external data/ information requests.
• Other tasks requiring analytical skill set as required.
Stakeholder feedback
• Manage PPO stakeholder feedback surveys (various recipients).
• Set up & analyse datasets of responses.
• Write reports of findings and comparison with previous years.
• Disseminate findings to internal stakeholders.
Essential Requirements
• Ability to analyse data carefully and methodically.
• Having a good eye for detail.
• Ability to working well as part of a team.
• Ability to recover and learn from setbacks.
Table 1: summary of post holder requirements
Experience
Essential - A first or upper-second class Honours degree or post-graduate qualification in a relevant social science (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Criminology or similar) with a substantial social research methods component.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman – EO (Band D) Research Assistant Job Description
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) is an Arm’s Length Body (ALB) of the Ministry of Justice. We have three key duties:
• to investigate complaints made by prisoners, young people in detention, offenders under probation supervision and immigration detainees; and
• to investigate deaths of prisoners, young people in detention, approved premises’ residents and immigration detainees.
• to investigate deaths of recently released prisoners that occur within 14 days of release from prison (except homicide).
The Ombudsman receives around 4,000 new complaints a year, of which around half are assessed as eligible for investigation. The number of deaths in custody requiring investigation is generally between 300 and 350 per year.
The PPO’s ‘Research, Data and Analysis Team’ was set up to undertake collective analysis of PPO investigation evidence. The team has been vital in moving the PPO beyond focusing on learning from individual cases to being able to identify wider themes and patterns in our evidence base. This analytical work has enabled the PPO to quantify its work and contribute to the conversation on a wide range of issues affecting the services in our remit. Our annual report, learning lessons bulletins, and thematic reports are our most ‘visible’ analytical output – and are available to view on our website.
The team will be made up of an SEO (Band B) Head of Research, three HEO (Band C) Research Officers and three or four, EO (Band D) Research Assistants, plus an EO (Band D) assistant to the research team. Research Assistants will report to one of our Research Officers and to the Head of Research.
This post offers an exciting opportunity to contribute towards and deliver the Ombudsman’s research and data strategy and represents a great entry point to the civil service. It would suit someone who is looking to develop practical social-research skills experience including survey research and of working with large datasets and using quantitative-focused statistical packages to undertake data analysis, though applicants with some existing experience e.g. survey methodology, qualitative fieldwork, evaluation/ mixed methods researchers are welcomed. Strong time management is important given the regular turnover of our reports and the variety of work the post holder would need to do in our small but busy team.
A demonstrable interest in the Criminal Justice System is preferable (see below for details of requirements on skills and experience).
The PPO is based at the HM Government hub at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf. Staff are expected to work at least three days of the week at the London office (based on full time hours), with the rest of the time spent working at home or at commuter hubs.
While you will usually have some flexibility to decide which days of the week you work in the office to enable you to manage your office attendance around your personal circumstances, there will be occasions when you will be required to attend the office (for example, team meetings, office or function-wide meetings) or visit establishments belonging to our services in remit on particular days.
Please note that the PPO is unable to offer home working contracts or allow you to permanently work at any other location, other than 10 South Colonnade, for the required office attendance days.
If you are successful, you may need to attend the office more frequently in your first six weeks, to undertake key training and induction activity.
Interviews will be held virtually using Microsoft Teams.
The salary range is £32,416 to £34,361.
Successful candidates who are already at EO will keep their base salary on transfer. Allowances do not transfer. Successful candidates joining on promotion will start on either the minimum of the salary range or receive a 10% increase to their current base salary, whichever is higher.
Job Description
The post holder may be responsible for the following:
General analytical support
• Analyse PPO investigation evidence (case files) and research databases to produce learning and recommendations for services in remit.
• Produce management information summaries for monthly performance management meetings (includes collating, checking and cleaning data, preparing tables).
• Provide analytical support for the annual reporting cycle.
• Give analytical support for Freedom of Information and other external data/ information requests.
• Other tasks requiring analytical skill set as required.
Stakeholder feedback
• Manage PPO stakeholder feedback surveys (various recipients).
• Set up & analyse datasets of responses.
• Write reports of findings and comparison with previous years.
• Disseminate findings to internal stakeholders.
Essential Requirements
• Ability to analyse data carefully and methodically.
• Having a good eye for detail.
• Ability to working well as part of a team.
• Ability to recover and learn from setbacks.
Table 1: summary of post holder requirements
Experience
Essential - A first or upper-second class Honours degree or post-graduate qualification in a relevant social science (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Criminology or similar) with a substantial social research methods component.