Deputy Head of Casework - IRRISMinistry of Justice

24219

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

HMPPS Band 9

HMPPS’s Review of Professional Standards and Behaviour (Rademaker Review) was published on 6 May 2025, marking a pivotal moment for HMPPS. The review makes clear that more must be done to uphold the high professional standards our vital work demands.

In response to the recommendations, HMPPS established an independent channel (IRRIS), outside of the line management structure, for reporting, investigating and making decisions about Bullying, Harassment, Discrimination and Victimisation (BHDV) complaints. IRRIS includes a dedicated team of qualified investigators with expertise in matters relating to BHDV. In addition, IRRIS provides investigation services, a confidential staff helpline, mediation services and climate assessments for HMPPS.

This is a challenging role which requires the successful candidate to provide leadership through change, delivering through others to maintain high quality services. The successful candidate will have experience of managing and supporting teams to deliver under pressure, ensuring compliance with policy and legislation. They will have extensive experience of undertaking investigations and making decisions about complex cases and will demonstrate adaptability and resilience.

The Deputy Heads of Casework will be responsible for leading casework teams with alongside portfolio responsibilities which may include:

Early Resolution, including Helpline and Mediation Services

Case Work Systems and Triage

Quality Assurance

Interface with the Business

Continuous Improvement

In addition, responsibilities will include:

Line Management and management of teams

Playing an active role in IRRIS’s governance structures

Being Lead or Assist Investigator and Decision Manager in C&D investigations and Grievances

Supporting casework teams in their role in investigating and making decisions about BHDV cases (Conduct & Discipline Investigations and Grievances) and have active involvement in cases as required, escalating when necessary

Supporting continued development of IRRIS, including the systems and processes to enable smooth and effective service

Supporting staff in IRRIS and those in the business into new ways of working whilst maintaining high quality BAU

Working with MoJ and other stakeholders to develop and maintain systems and ways of working to deliver core services

Developing and maintaining systems for data collection and reporting

Ensuring consistency of approach to delivery and quality assurance across casework in IRRIS to enable high quality output

Achieving business and service delivery targets

Supporting the recruitment and training of new members of staff to IRRIS

Supporting the development of national Comms and awareness products in relation to the services delivery by IRRIS

Experience

Delivering change at pace

Identifying and implementing continuous improvement in relevant practices

Managing and supporting teams to delivery under pressure

Ensuring compliance with policy and legislation

Undertaking Investigations and making decisions about complex cases

Technical

Must hold the ILM National Certificate in Workplace Investigations or must attend training and achieve accreditation within six months of appointment.

MoJ is a values driven organisation, and our recruitment process reflects our ambition to reinforce these to enable you to understand our work, and be sure this is the place for you to work at your best for the people we serve.

Verbal presentation at interview (10 minutes), the title and behaviours tested will be given to candidates 1 hour prior to their interview.

National role - The post is based nationally and will require travel to HQ offices as well as travel to prisons, probation regions and/or locations in England and Wales.

Non-operational- prisoner contact, this would not be regular but there may be a requirement to interview prisoners as witness in a case.

Not a public facing role, however the nature of the work may require engagement with members of the public if required as a witness to a case.