Case Manager

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The Public Protection Casework Section (PPCS), within HMPPS, is responsible for the management of the parole process and the recall of offenders to custody. Casework Managers in PPCS handle the preparation and management of parole eligible cases referred to the Parole Board, taking decisions and providing relevant documents for requests to recall offenders released on licenced supervision & under Home Detention Curfew supervision and reviewing the ongoing detention of recalled offenders, referring cases to the Parole Board in line with the statutory requirement and considering the use of the Secretary of State executive release power. The work is demand led and required to be completed in line with relevant statutes.

Overview of the job

The Public Protection Casework Section (PPCS) is placed within the Public Protection Group (PPG) within the Directorate of Wales and Public Protection. The posts are based in HQ and currently located in Southern House in Croydon and are not operational.

The main function of PPCS is to ensure the oversight of the Generic Parole Process (GPP) for indeterminate sentenced prisoners and to ensure the timely processing of recalls to custody of licensed determinate and indeterminate sentenced prisoners from the community and processing requests for licence variations. It also reviews cases referred by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO); reviews appeals against adjudications; and assists with Royal Prerogative of Mercy cases.

The job holder will report to a Team Leader and will not have managerial responsibilities for administrative staff.

Summary

The job holder’s responsibilities involve managing a caseload, preparing parole review dossiers, managing recall dossiers and case managing the parole review process. Work involves liaison with prisons, probation, Parole Board, Treasury Solicitors and other stakeholders as well as dealing with prisoners, solicitors and other interested parties. All of the work requires the ability to meet tight deadlines, organise and prioritise casework, offer advice to senior managers and take a range of routine operational decisions. They manage the delivery of casework to targets, monitor performance of and establish good working relationships with other agencies involved in the recall and parole process.

There is a considerable amount of correspondence, often complex, from prisons, probation trusts, prisoners and their solicitors. The work involves indeterminate sentenced prisoners and some of the material handled is of a disturbing and sensitive nature. Case Managers require sound judgment, accuracy and an ability to analyse detailed information quickly. They are expected to work with a reasonable degree of autonomy and acquire a reasonable awareness of wider parole and recall issues/constraints/practices.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

Responsible for preparing dossiers as required for disclosure to prison, Parole Board and offender.Responsible for overseeing directions from the Parole Board.Responsible for scrutinising and assisting colleagues with the submission of non-disclosure requests to the Parole Board.Act on release directions from the Parole Board. Responsible for setting appropriate review dates in knock back/no recommendation cases.Responsible for considering and deciding on legitimacy of recall requests from Probation Trusts.Ensure that PPUD/case tracking system is accurately updated; milestones are completed; and documents and minutes are uploaded.Responsible for compiling first draft replies to Ministerial and nonministerial correspondence including: prisoner correspondence; adjudication reviews; PPO cases; letters before action; and Royal Prerogative of Mercy cases.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be 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 the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions

• Communicating and Influencing

• Working Together

• Managing a Quality Service

• Delivering at Pace

Minimum Eligibility

• All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post.

• All external candidates are subject to 6 months’ probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS.

• All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which HMPPS consider to be racist.