Regional Corruption Pursue Officer

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Overview of the job

HMPPS’s efforts to tackle corruption are integral to delivering safe and secure prisons and probations. HMPPS has worked with MoJ to identify that a new approach is needed to ensure we remain resilient to this key operational threat.

HMPPS has developed a future strategy for tackling corruption in HMPPS based on four key objectives:

- “Protect” against corruption by building an open and resilient organisation;

- “Prevent” people from engaging in corruption, strengthen professional integrity;

- “Pursue” and punish those who are corrupt; and

- “Prepare” for corruption, reducing its impacts on our teams.

These objectives will need to be delivered at every level through prisons and probation, in particular, strengthening our resilience on the front line. Security, Order and Counter Terrorism (SOCT) Directorate is taking forward improvements, including restricting the Counter Corruption Unit, to provide senior operational leaders, prisons and probation teams with an improved counter-corruption service.

Summary

The role sits in the newly restructured Counter-Corruption Unit (CCU). Its objectives are to support prisons and probation to manage corruption threats, in particular supporting “pursue” activity on corruption cases.

The core service to be provided by the regional CCU is to support prisons and probation to effectively pursue corruption reports to clear, proportionate and timely outcomes. The level of service is to be assessed and prioritised according to policy and guidance, but may include providing prisons and probation with enhanced analytical support, expert advice on how to progress cases, logistical and coordination support. The team will also be responsible for supporting prisons and probation on the effective management of known corruptor prisoners in custody and under supervision in the community to prevent them from corrupting staff.

In line with HMPPS policy, the post holder will be responsible for supporting the relevant Regional Corruption Purse Lead and Regional Corruption Pursue Manager to deliver a high-quality counter-corruption service to prisons and probation in their SOCT region. The RCPO will also be responsible for working in partnership with other regional teams in the Security, Order and Counter Terrorism (SOCT) Directorate, HR services and law enforcement.

The job holder will report directly to the Regional Corruption Purse Manager, who in turn reports to the Regional Corruption Pursue Lead.

The post holder will not have management responsibilities.

This is a regional post and will be based in a regional SOCT hub. Frequent travel to prison and probation establishments, regional offices and law enforcement partners’ offices will be required. Occasional travel outside the region (e.g. to London) will be required.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

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

· Having a contemporaneous understanding of the operational context in prisons and probation, including pressures, priorities, risks and opportunities to better tackle corruption.

· Having an understanding of the relevant legal and policy frameworks relating to corruption, security and HR, and making sure these are followed when providing services to prisons and probation, and that these are shared with and championed when working with delivery partners.

· Support the RCPL and RCPM to support prisons and probation to progress corruption cases in line with policy. The RCPO may lead work for lower risk cases under the supervision of the RCPM.

· Being the first point of contact for prisons and probation to signpost policies, procedures and key contacts to support counter corruption work.

· Coordinating CCU attendance/cover and regional and local tasking, attend some local tasking.

· Identify and signpost and, in some cases, arrange and coordinate other support services to progress cases, e.g. HR caseworkers, Serious Organised Crime Units, Dedicated Search Teams.

· Facilitate effective working with law enforcement partners (police and ROCUs), setting up meetings, following up actions, sharing contacts with the right people.

· Identify blockages to progress and take action and escalate to the RCPM and RCPL as appropriate.

· Monitoring and reviewing the relative priority of corruption reports and cases, escalating to the RCPM/RCPL if there are concerns.

· Entering data onto case management and intel systems, ensuring information is captured accurately and is easy to understand.

· Understanding the team’s corruption caseload, including working with analysts to report on management information and data on volumes, timeliness and outcomes of cases across the region.

· On the direction of the RCPL and RCPM, the post holder may also be asked to work with prisons and probation to understand capability gaps and signpost wider capability opportunities, best practice and guidance and support light touch research to inform our evidence base on corruption.

· Develop effective working relationships with key stakeholders, in particular with Security Mangers, Divisional Managers, HR Business Partners and HR Caseworkers.

· Develop and maintain a wider network of stakeholders, including in other SOCT regional teams (e.g. NIU, SOCU, JEXU), law enforcement (local forces and ROCUs), contract managers and contracted providers.

· Ensure individual activity is in line with direction set by RCPL and RCPM and focus on delivering a high quality service to prisons and probation.

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

Experience

· Good understanding of corruption, security and HR policy and legal frameworks.

· Good understanding of the operational context of prisons and probation.

Ability

· Good communication (written and verbal), leadership and partnership working skills.

· Problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to drive resolution.