Permanent General VisitorMinistry of Justice

Role: Permanent General Visitor

Business: Office of Public Guardian (OPG)

Location: Each candidate will be appointed to a specified core region and will be expected to undertake frequent travel throughout the region. We are recruiting for the following regions:

North East Region to cover: Newcastle, Durham, Sunderland, Darlington, Cleveland

Yorkshire Region to cover: York, Hull, Harrogate, Leeds, Wakefield

East Anglia Region to cover: Peterborough, Norwich, Cambridge, Ipswich

South West Region to cover: Bristol, Bath, Dorset, Bournemouth, Taunton

South Wales Region to cover: Swansea, Cardiff, Newport

Mid/North Wales Region to cover: Llandrindod, Llandudno, Shrewsbury

Grade: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Salary:  National minimum starting salary: £35,335 London minimum starting salary: £40,014

Contract Type: Permanent

Minimum Hours: 24 hours per week

Organisational Overview

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) protects people in England and Wales who may not have the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves, such as about their health and finance. We are an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), set up in 2007 following the introduction of the Mental Capacity Act of 2005.

OPG is responsible for registering lasting powers of attorney (LPA) and enduring powers of attorney (EPA) and supervising deputies who are appointed by the Court of Protection.

OPG is a fantastic place to work offering a range of development opportunities.  The OPG is a disability confident employer and is committed to developing a supportive and inclusive environment that reflects the diverse community we serve.

OPG is currently delivering an ambitious transformation programme. This will change the way we provide services and help us meet the growing needs of our users, partners and our stakeholders. It will make sure our users experience a better level of support and will help us to respond to the changing needs of society. Transformation will ensure we can better support adults at risk and create high-quality services that are accessible and affordable.

Team Overview

Supervision and Investigation Services (SIS) sits within the Operations Directorate and supports the Public Guardian in carrying out their statutory functions. This includes supervising deputies and guardians to ensure they carry out legal duties, and investigating concerns about deputies, guardians and attorneys.

Visitors play a vital role in this work by carrying out visits to clients, deputies, donors and attorneys, and other relevant parties. Visitors gather and assess information and provide clear, evidence-based reports containing their observations, findings and recommendations.

As a Permanent General Visitor employed by OPG, you will undertake urgent, complex, high-priority and assurance work, often at short notice. You will also support quality and consistency across the wider visitor service through mentoring, knowledge sharing, peer support and service improvement activity.

Are you passionate about supporting some of society’s most vulnerable people, including individuals who may lack mental capacity?

Do you enjoy working independently in a varied and fast-paced environment, managing complex work and collaborating with others to achieve positive outcomes?

Are you looking for an opportunity to share your expertise, influence positive change, and help shape the delivery of a high-quality visitor service?

Duties and Responsibilities

Independently organise and manage a varied caseload of visits to clients, donors, deputies, attorneys and other relevant people on behalf of OPG.

Undertake urgent, complex, high-priority and assurance visits, including work allocated at short notice, in line with operational priorities.

Plan visits efficiently across the geographical region, making effective use of available time and resources while meeting agreed performance expectations.

Gather, assess and analyse information and evidence through interviews, observation records and consultation with relevant professionals and other parties.

Prepare and submit timely, concise, evidence-based reports, ensuring that relevant issues are addressed and findings, observations and recommendations are presented accurately and objectively.

Identify and promptly escalate safeguarding concerns, immediate risks and other matters requiring urgent action in accordance with OPG procedures.

Liaise with deputies, attorneys, carers, family members, legal representatives, health and social care professionals, local authorities and other external organisations when gathering evidence and making recommendations.

Work collaboratively with the Visits Team, case managers, investigators and other colleagues to support effective case progression and the efficient delivery of the visitor service.

Maintain regular contact with independent visitors within the allocated region and contribute to mentoring, peer support, knowledge sharing and the promotion of consistent standards.

Contribute to quality assurance activity, including reviewing work and providing constructive feedback where required.

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, its Code of Practice, relevant safeguarding requirements and other legislative, policy or operational developments affecting the role.

Contribute to service improvement, working groups, training and relevant operational forums, sharing professional knowledge and identifying opportunities to improve quality, efficiency and consistency.

Undertake other duties commensurate with the responsibilities and grade of the post.

Agreed Expectations

This is a home-based role. Each successful candidate will be appointed to a specified core geographical region and will be expected to undertake frequent travel throughout that region. Travel outside of the region and to OPG office locations may also be required to meet business needs.

Candidates must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle that can be used for business purposes.

Successful candidates will be expected to attend OPG offices, including Nottingham and Birmingham, for initial training and subsequently as required. This may involve overnight stays.

Skills & Qualifications

Essential Skills

Experience gained in a relevant field such as health, social care, law, finance, investigation, safeguarding or regulatory compliance.

Knowledge and understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, it’s principles and the supporting Code of Practice, or the ability to develop and apply this knowledge quickly.

Experience of interviewing, gathering information and assessing evidence in sensitive, complex or challenging circumstances.

Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with people who may lack capacity, and with their families, representatives and professionals.

Experience of producing concise, accurate, objective and evidence-based reports within agreed timescales.

Ability to analyse information from a variety of sources, identify relevant risks and issues, and make clear, evidence-based recommendations.

Ability to work independently, use sound judgement and manage a complex and varied caseload with competing priorities.

Proficient in the use of standard Microsoft Office products.

A full UK driving licence.

Desirable Skills

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates.

Experience of conducting Mental Capacity Assessments.

A relevant professional qualification or degree in an area such as law, social work, health, finance or regulatory practice.

Application process

This recruitment will follow the Civil Service Success Profile process. Candidates will be expected to complete the following as part of the application:

A CV detailing your career history. CV’s will be assessed against the essential skills above.

Statement of Suitability of no more than 1000 words, to demonstrate your experience against the essential skills required for this role.

Interview Process

If you are successful at sift, you will be invited to an interview which will use the Civil Service Success Profiles. At interview, candidates should expect questions on:

Strengths relevant to the role

The following Behaviours at Level HEO:

Communicating and Influencing

Making Effective Decisions

Your Experience of interviewing and gathering evidence, and writing reports.

All interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Reasonable Adjustments

At OPG we consider all applications on the basis of merit and want you to feel able to demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any reasonable adjustments for any aspect of the selection process, do not hesitate to get in contact with us.

As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. If you are applying for a role within OPG and would like to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the selection process.

For further information on benefits of working for OPG, such as our Flexible Working Policy and a FAQ, please check the candidate information pack attached to this advert.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, we may offer you an alternative role at the same or lower grade should one be available.