13975 - Head of Function
| Posting date: | 20 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £52,317 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 09 February 2026 |
| Location: | TF9 2JL |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Ministry of Justice |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 13975 |
Summary
Please only apply for this role if you have an in date HFAC accreditation, you will be required to provide proof of this at interview.
Overview
Job holders within this Group Profile will report to the Deputy Governor and be responsible for managing a function within an establishment which has been defined as standard complexity, including management of all staff within the function.
The job holder will need to ensure that they implement robust systems to manage the function, as they will often be distanced from front-line duties and will need to delegate appropriately.
They will be required to robustly apply national policies in their area and draft local policies accordingly
These are operational prisoner facing roles.
Characteristics
Typical tasks associated with this Group Profile include:
• Accountable for the performance of the Function and the staff within it. Manage the achievement of qualitative and quantitative standards including Service Delivery Indicators (SDIs) within the Function, verifying and signing off documentation as appropriate. Analyse and act upon data which is relevant to their Function
• Act as the Governor's representative by chairing adjudications and taking charge of day-to-day establishment operations as Duty Governor
• Promote Prison Service policy in all activities and behaviours
e.g. promote diversity, decency, safety and reducing re- offending agendas
• Review open Assessment Care in Custody teamwork (ACCT) as and when required in line with audit baselines
• Provide leadership and management of the Function. Will have the skills to apply all Human Resources (HR) related policies and practices and be able to carry out all aspects of people management such as Attendance Management, Disciplinary Investigations, Performance Management and Staff Appraisals
• Manage Prisoners Complaints Process within the Function
• Responsible for ensuring all litigation claims relevant to the area have been dealt with in accordance with policy
• Oversee the compilation and regular progress reporting of performance improvement programmes
• Manage the appropriate authorisation of Financial Compliance Statements
• Manage devolved budgets in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation
• Ensure that the Function produces and analyses audit and establishment performance management information identifying variances and areas requiring improvements
• Contribute to the establishment’s overall achievement of (SDIs) and standards and be accountable for the performance and delivery of targets relating to the budget; People Plan for the Function.
• Accountable for all local and national policies relating to the Function, and ensure procedures implemented are compliant, including the development of new policies
• Contribute to the development and delivery of the medium-to- long term strategic and business plan for the establishment, with overall responsibility for implementation within their Function
• Attend relevant boards/meetings and actively contribute either as chair or team member
• Responsible for ensuring the defined work areas 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 Health and Safety compliance
• Work collaboratively and provide constructive challenge to colleagues to ensure that their own and other Functions are joined up and together contribute towards the overall delivery of the establishment’s performance
• Contribute to the preparation of the establishment contingency and emergency plans and ensure implementation when required.
• Ensure the effective use of staff resources and the provision of training and annual leave opportunities
• Produce relevant reports as required and ensure that the responses to all correspondence are within agreed timescales
• Carry out investigations and administration in relation to incidents of potential discrimination and report on findings
• Accountable for ensuring actions arising from Standard Audit, His Majesty Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) Action Plans and Managing Quality of Prison Life (MQPL) surveys, including local self audit action plans and Resettlement strategies, are delivered
• Deliver and implement projects as directed by the Governor
• Actively encourage staff engagement within the Function to ensure objectives are met.
Overview
Job holders within this Group Profile will report to the Deputy Governor and be responsible for managing a function within an establishment which has been defined as standard complexity, including management of all staff within the function.
The job holder will need to ensure that they implement robust systems to manage the function, as they will often be distanced from front-line duties and will need to delegate appropriately.
They will be required to robustly apply national policies in their area and draft local policies accordingly
These are operational prisoner facing roles.
Characteristics
Typical tasks associated with this Group Profile include:
• Accountable for the performance of the Function and the staff within it. Manage the achievement of qualitative and quantitative standards including Service Delivery Indicators (SDIs) within the Function, verifying and signing off documentation as appropriate. Analyse and act upon data which is relevant to their Function
• Act as the Governor's representative by chairing adjudications and taking charge of day-to-day establishment operations as Duty Governor
• Promote Prison Service policy in all activities and behaviours
e.g. promote diversity, decency, safety and reducing re- offending agendas
• Review open Assessment Care in Custody teamwork (ACCT) as and when required in line with audit baselines
• Provide leadership and management of the Function. Will have the skills to apply all Human Resources (HR) related policies and practices and be able to carry out all aspects of people management such as Attendance Management, Disciplinary Investigations, Performance Management and Staff Appraisals
• Manage Prisoners Complaints Process within the Function
• Responsible for ensuring all litigation claims relevant to the area have been dealt with in accordance with policy
• Oversee the compilation and regular progress reporting of performance improvement programmes
• Manage the appropriate authorisation of Financial Compliance Statements
• Manage devolved budgets in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation
• Ensure that the Function produces and analyses audit and establishment performance management information identifying variances and areas requiring improvements
• Contribute to the establishment’s overall achievement of (SDIs) and standards and be accountable for the performance and delivery of targets relating to the budget; People Plan for the Function.
• Accountable for all local and national policies relating to the Function, and ensure procedures implemented are compliant, including the development of new policies
• Contribute to the development and delivery of the medium-to- long term strategic and business plan for the establishment, with overall responsibility for implementation within their Function
• Attend relevant boards/meetings and actively contribute either as chair or team member
• Responsible for ensuring the defined work areas 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 Health and Safety compliance
• Work collaboratively and provide constructive challenge to colleagues to ensure that their own and other Functions are joined up and together contribute towards the overall delivery of the establishment’s performance
• Contribute to the preparation of the establishment contingency and emergency plans and ensure implementation when required.
• Ensure the effective use of staff resources and the provision of training and annual leave opportunities
• Produce relevant reports as required and ensure that the responses to all correspondence are within agreed timescales
• Carry out investigations and administration in relation to incidents of potential discrimination and report on findings
• Accountable for ensuring actions arising from Standard Audit, His Majesty Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) Action Plans and Managing Quality of Prison Life (MQPL) surveys, including local self audit action plans and Resettlement strategies, are delivered
• Deliver and implement projects as directed by the Governor
• Actively encourage staff engagement within the Function to ensure objectives are met.