12262 - Deputy Head - East and West Lincolnshire

Senior Operational Support Manager

Salary : 48,305 - 52,935

Working Pattern : Full Time

Location : Boston, Grantham, Lincoln, Skegness

Region : East Midlands

Closing Date : 12-Dec-2025

Job Type : Permanent

Civil Service Grade : Other

Number of jobs available : 1

Reserve List : 12 Months

Job ID : 12262

Overview of the job

Working at the direction of the Head of Operational Function the post holder will be deployed to a variety of roles in order to provide strategic support.

Summary

To support the Head of LDU Cluster providing management and leadership within the National Probation Service (NPS) Local Delivery Unit (LDU).

To represent the Head of LDU Cluster with external agencies / stakeholders and staff as appropriate.

The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive / confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.

May be required to participate in out of hours on call rota.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

Senior Operational Support Manager may be required to undertake any combination, or all, of the duties and responsibilities as directed by the Head of Operational Function as set out below.

Cluster operational lead on caseload segmentation issues such as Child Sexual Exploitation, Guns and Gangs, Integrated Offender Management etc.

Operational support to the Head of Cluster within relevant Probation Instruction criteria and rules such as Recall, High Risk of Serious Harm Case Transfers, etc.

Providing support to the Head of Cluster within the relevant Probation Instruction criteria and rules such as, grievance, discipline, capability, complaints, etc.

Responsible for the professional development of cluster staff

Responsible for developing and deploying the Cluster Training Needs Analysis

Ensure effective cluster employee recruitment and induction

Act as cluster lead for performance & quality

Act as cluster lead for audits and inspections

Operational support to the Head of Cluster in completing reviews and delivery of action plans such as Domestic Homicides, Serious Further Reviews, Serious Case Reviews, etc.

Responsible for the management of the Business Manager and the administrative support functions within the cluster

Under the guidance of the Head of LDU Cluster; represent the NPS in local strategic partnerships and ensure appropriate representation within wider partnership frameworks in line with statutory responsibilities and operational policy

Participate in the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) locally in conjunction with other responsible authorities including the chairing of MAPPA level 3 meetings

In the absence of the Head of LDU Cluster to make decisions and provide advice on the management of offenders where senior management authorisation or involvement is necessary e.g. authorising the recall of offenders to prison

Operational support to the Head of cluster in the management of complaints within the cluster and direct involvement in complaint resolution where necessary

Under the guidance of the Head of LDU Cluster to take the lead on specific divisional or cluster projects / portfolios including Equality and Diversity, Reward and Recognition, etc.

Operational support to the Head of cluster in cluster compliance with Health and Safety legislation.

Senior Management responsibility for estates, buildings and maintenance activities within the cluster

Demonstrate pro-social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro-social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes

Carry out safeguarding children and safeguarding adult duties in accordance with the NPS statutory responsibilities and agency policies

Work within the aims and values of NPS and HMPPS

The duties / responsibilities listed above describe the post at present and are not exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under job evaluation and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Behaviours

Leadership

Making Effective Decisions

Working Together

Delivering at Pace

Communicating and Influencing

Managing a Quality Service

Changing and Improving

Essential Experience

Significant experience at middle manager level, including the management of staff

Experience of monitoring performance in area of responsibility against predetermined targets, setting local targets and effecting necessary improvements

Experience of budgetary control incl. procurement

Experience of managing relationships incl. working with key local agencies and stakeholders

Evidence of preparing high level written reports to a good standard

Technical requirements

A qualification in one of the following areas :

Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma / Honours Degree in Community Justice integrated with Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice.

Or, a qualification which was recognised at the time of qualification by the Secretary of State for Justice as per Section 10 of the Offender Management Act 2007. The following qualifications gained in England and Wales were previously recognised as providing such eligibility :

o Diploma in Probation Studies

o Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option)

o CQSW (with Probation Option)

Knowledge of the wider criminal justice system

Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances

37 hours a week

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ's terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS' Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits :

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years' service, plus public holidays. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis

Pension

The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). Please visit www.gmpf.org.uk for further information.

Please note : Any current Civil Servant who is a member of the PCSPS, by accepting an offer of employment to the National Probation Services will be opted out of the PCSPS and auto enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to