Head of Quality Assurance and Learning, Home Office, London SW1P, UK

Posted on: Dec.24.2022

Head of Quality Assurance and Learning, Home Office, London SW1P, UK

Reference number: 258495
Salary: £65,500 - £77,550
National: £65,500 min-£72,050 max. London: £70,500 min-£77,550 max
Job grade: Grade 6
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: HO - Homeland Security - Prevent Intervention Programmes Team
Type of role: Operational Delivery
-Policy
-Quality
-Senior leadership
Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time, Compressed Hours
Number of jobs available: 1
Location:2 Marsham St, Westminster, London SW1P 4DF. Soapworks Colgate Ln, Salford M5 3LZ

The Home Office works to keep our citizens safe and our country secure. As well as working to reduce crime, enforce the law and protect our borders, we also work to protect the most vulnerable. 
We are recruiting for a key leadership post in the Prevent Intervention Programmes Team – Head of Channel Quality Assurance and Learning – to continue and build on our assurance capability to deliver critical operational improvements in Prevents flagship early intervention programme, Channel.  This is an exciting opportunity to work with operational partners and practitioners to ensure they have the tools they need to deliver Channel effectively through assurance and continuous learning.  This role is also key in providing advice and guidance on novel operational and case management issues.

We are looking for an experienced leader with relevant practitioner experience to lead a team operating across the country to support effective Channel delivery. This role offers the post-holder the opportunity to shape improvements in the delivery of this critical capability, working closely with the head of Channel policy to shape operational and strategic priorities. It will also provide the opportunity to engage with partners across all areas of delivery, representing Home Office and providing advice and guidance to senior stakeholders from delivery organisations through to Ministers. 
Prevent is one of four strands of the UK Government’s counter-terrorism CONTEST strategy. The Prevent programme is about safeguarding and supporting vulnerable individuals to stop them from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. The overarching objectives of Prevent are to: tackle the causes of radicalisation and respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism; safeguard and support those most at risk of radicalisation through early intervention, identifying them and offering support; and enable those who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate. 
The Prevent Intervention Programmes team sits within the Prevent Delivery Unit and is responsible for some of the most critical areas of prevent delivery, focussing on how the CT system can work and support individuals who need to be safeguarded from radicalisation, as well as rehabilitating those who have already engaged in terrorist related activity.  We work with a wide range of Government, operational and external partners to achieve this aim.
Working in Homeland Security Group:
Homeland Security Group is responsible for developing and coordinating HMG’s approach on a wide range of security issues, supporting the Home Secretary and other ministers in the development and implementation of the UK’s Counter-Terrorism strategy (CONTEST). 
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion at the Home Office. We are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.  
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates and people with disabilities, as they are currently under-represented within HSG at this grade level. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.
HSG provides people with the opportunity to work in challenging but interesting areas of work and deliver in stretching roles. We pride ourselves on being an open and supportive workplace.  We actively embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity, to enable us to reflect the communities that we serve.  We do not tolerate any form of discrimination.  
HSG is responsible for some of the most high-profile work across the Home Office.  Therefore, there may be occasions when people need to work longer hours to meet demand, but those occasions should be rare. We provide fully flexible working opportunities and are committed to making them work.

The Head of Channel Quality Assurance and Learning plays a central role in the team and the wider unit. Our focus and priority is to ensure that our partners on the ground have the tools and guidance they need to deliver Channel, and to continually improve both policy and practice. This is in the context of an ever-changing threat, meaning that delivery needs to constantly adapt and learn to ensure the participants engaged on Channel are supported as effectively as possible.
In this role, you will lead and direct a team of six regionally based Quality Assurance specialists, ensuring that messaging and guidance to frontline delivery is consistent, well-considered and accurate. You will need to mature the quality assurance framework and actively inform operational policy to drive improvements delivery and practice. You will also implement a new case learning review policy, working with delivery partners at the national, regional and local level to embed the capability, and you will lead the national level review process when individuals with a Prevent footprint have gone on to carry out a terrorist attack.
It will be vital to build effective relationships across the Prevent directorate in Homeland Security Group and with a range of operational and policy stakeholders. You will need excellent awareness of the wider Prevent system and operating context and be able to provide sound advice to your colleagues; your experience in the field will mean that you will be expected to contribute to the wider objectives of the Directorate.

-    Leading a team, most of whom will operate in different regions, ensuring that the team operates coherently and building a team spirit despite not being routinely based in the same office.
-    Lead and oversee Quality Assurance for Channel, which involves maturing the QA framework, achieving buy-in from delivery partners and finding opportunities to effectively and efficiently link assurance processes across the Prevent system, including with partners like CT Policing.
-    Lead the refresh of the Channel Duty Guidance, which will involve drafting updated guidance taking into account the policy changes and delivery learning that has taken place over the past two years.
-    Implement a case review policy at national, regional and local level. You will need to work with Local Authorities, stakeholders in CT policing, wider Home Office teams and other government departments to ensure that lessons are identified from cases where risk has significantly escalated.
-    Work with Channel policy team to identify operational policy that needs to be reviewed or developed as a result of assurance activity
-    Be an active leader, and as a subject matter expert act as a senior adviser in the Prevent directorate on issues related to delivery of Channel at all stages of the process, and wider case management. Be a key stakeholder for senior stakeholders in Local Authorities and CT Policing.

You should have relevant senior experience in a delivery setting. You will need to be an experienced leader and be able to navigate a range of delivery partners and organisations to deliver your objectives.  You will need to demonstrate that you are proactive and able to deliver ambitious projects through a team and set of stakeholders. You must be able to translate complex policy problems into digestible and meaningful guidance that works for practitioners on the ground. 
For this role, it is essential that you have:
•    Senior management experience in a relevant delivery organisation
•    Experience in developing and delivering quality assurance or experience working in case management delivery.
•    Excellent written and oral communication skills, and the ability to influence and support stakeholders to enable high quality delivery 
•    Experience of operating in uncertainty, setting your team’s direction to shape activity and outcomes 
•    Strong operational and policy judgement, including the ability to build awareness of wider context, relationships, and strategic priorities.

•    Experience or understanding of the CT system.
•    Experience or understanding of Prevent and the Prevent Duty.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Changing and Improving
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
Changing and Improving

Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and Statement of Suitability (Max Limit: 1000 words).
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 
Please note your Statement of Suitability should be aligned to the Essential Criteria as set out in the job advertisement.
In addition, candidates will be required to provide evidence of the lead behaviour - Changing and Improving.
The sift will be held on the Statement of Suitability and Behaviour example.
CV's will not be scored.
In an event where a high volume of applications are received, an initial sift will take place using the Statement of Suitability. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be either progressed to a full sift or straight to interview.
Successful candidates shortlisted for interview will be tested on experience and all behaviours outlined in the job advertisement.
In addition, candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation to be delivered at interview (details to be disclosed closer to the interviews).

The sift will take place week commencing 9th January 2023.
Interviews will take place week commencing 6th February 2023.
Due to the current COVID-19 situation, Interviews will take place remotely. Further details and instructions will be provided closer to the scheduled interview.

For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.  A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
The successful candidates will be required to hold or be willing to secure Security Check clearance.
DV clearance or a willingness to undergo DV clearance is an essential requirement for this role. Successful candidates will be permitted to start with SC whilst they undergo the DV clearance processes.
A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.
We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need for them to go through a further selection process.
Hybrid working enables employees to work partly in their workplace(s) and partly at home.  A hybrid working pattern may be available, where business needs allow.  Applicants can discuss what this means with the vacancy holder if they have specific questions.
Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.
We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.
Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.
Transfer Terms: Voluntary.
If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.
Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.
Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.