National Counter Terrorism Lead (Custody) (Ref: 75940)

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Overview of the job

The Joint Extremism Unit (JEXU) is jointly run by HMPPS and Homeland Security Group (HSG) and is the strategic centre for all counter-terrorism work with offenders in England and Wales. It has oversight of delivery across the end-to-end offender management process, including probation. The unit drives closer working with strategic policy and law enforcement partners, with HMPPS retaining its responsibility for operational management decisions, and HSG for counter-terrorism policy across government. The unit encompasses the entire policy making process, from strategy to operational delivery and consists of a mix of policy officials and operational staff across England and Wales.

This is a significant leadership post in an expanding capability which is growing in influence within HMPPS, MOJ, Homeland Security and the wider law enforcement community. Terrorism is a significant national security threat and can have significant, detrimental impact on HMPPS. The JEXU Operational Delivery Network of expert consultants help change that – they strengthen our capability and capacity to tackle terrorism and terrorist threat in prisons and probation.

The role has a dual function, firstly to develop operational policy, guidance and best practice in relation to the management of offenders charged under Counter Terrorism legislation as well as offenders that exhibit extremist behaviours during their time in custody. Secondly, it supports the Head of CT Operational Delivery on advising Ministers on matters of operational policy and informing responses to Parliamentary Questions, FOIs etc.

The role requires a significant element of cross agency negotiation and working to ensure that a balanced multi agency response is delivered to address the Counter Terrorism and extremist threat emanating from offenders being managed by HMPPS in prisons. Of particular importance is the working relationship with the equivalent grade within Probation, to ensure the continued development of a ‘One HMPPS’ ethos and the creation of policies and process that consider the potential impact on the management of nominals both in custody and community.

The job holder will report to the Head of Counter Terrorism Operational Delivery and will directly line manage the following posts (Operational Network):
• 12 Regional Counter Terrorism Leads
 
 The job holder will also take manager’s manager responsibility for the following posts:
• 12 Regional Counter Terrorism  Business Administrators
• 1 National Administrative Support

The Operational Delivery Networks provide CT specific operational and tactical advice to HMPPS, Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA), MOJ policy/strategy and partners on how to target terrorist risk behaviour in custodial settings, to inform decisions on managing and mitigating associated risks and threats.

The post is based at HMPPS Headquarters. Regular travel to establishments, prison regional offices and Probation Service offices as well as law enforcement partners’ offices will be required.

The post has no operational requirement. However, an in-depth and strategic understanding of prison security, probation processes and wider intelligence analysis would be an advantage.

Summary

The post holder’s responsibilities involve providing upwards support to the Head of CT Operational Delivery (accountable lead) on strategic policy and operational delivery direction in the business critical and potentially reputationally damaging areas of:
• Management of Terrorism Act offenders
• Identification and management of offenders who exhibit extremist behaviours whilst in custody

The post holder will influence policy and strategy creation for the ongoing management of a growing and extremely complex and challenging section of the offender population, namely those being held under Counter Terrorism Legislation.

The post holder will ensure support is provided for the development of operational policy and guidance and expertise to deliver key agency workstreams in order to assist the frontline in assessing and managing the risks presented by Terrorism Act offenders, managed by HMPPS in custody. An ability, therefore, to hold a significant degree of complexity and ambiguity will be required as JEXU’s and the wider CT sector operating models continue to develop.

The post holder, through Regional Counter Terrorism Teams (Prisons) will influence and shape the operational response and delivery to issues regarding the management of Terrorism Act offenders and other offenders that exhibit extremist behaviours that would suggest that they have accepted an extremist identity whilst in custody. 

The post holder will have a key strategic role in taking forward HMPPS contribution to the Government’s CONTEST strategy centred on the PREVENT and PURSUE strands which seek to manage and disrupt those involved in extremism or terrorist activity.

The post holder must act with the highest levels of personal and professional integrity and champion these qualities in others.
They must be vetted to Developed Vetting (DV) standards with a further STRAP accreditation.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

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

• Management responsibility for the tactical oversight of the HMPPS Counter Terrorism operational delivery network: Lead the delivery of the Pathfinder process across prisons, ensuring CT and extremism are accounted for in an end to end offender management process.
• National tactical and case management oversight of high risk CT and Pathfinder cases: Responsibility for the day to day work of the unit. Provide input as required to negotiate tactical management decisions at Governor and PGD level, where there is local resistance to a proposed move.
• Embed CT processes within current HMPPS culture and practice: Ensure that frontline staff in prisons are able to identify and manage risks posed by terrorist offenders and the threat of radicalisation, as part of their wider day to day risk management processes wherever possible.
• Embed the CT network and its processes within other programmes of work being undertaken across HMPPS: Ensuring the day to day activity of the operational delivery arm of JEXU is accounted for and aligned with all other HMPPS work programmes that cut across the work of the unit.
• Training delivery: Work in collaboration with JEXU CT L&D team and other key stakeholders to create and deliver effective CT and Extremism Awareness training products across all HMPPS sites. Also responsible for identifying emerging training requirements that require the development of new or revised products.
• Capability and Assurance Monitoring: Responsible for ensuring appropriate levels of capability and performance monitoring are in place across prisons to provide assurance that the HMPPS Counter Terrorism strategy is being fully implemented and embedded at an operational and working level.
• Separation Centres: Deputise in the absence of the Head of CT Operational Delivery as a member and one of four core decision makers on the Separation Centre Management Committee, providing advice and input into committee decisions to place the highest risk extremists into a Separation Centre. Also support the continual upskilling of Regional CT Consultants to improve the quality of referrals into Separation Centres.
• Tactical Engagement: The post holder will have responsibility for managing the tactical relationship with law enforcement operational CT functions, particularly with the Police and the Security Services. The post holder will also maintain operational connectivity between the unit and other operational functions whose responsibilities cut across the work of the unit, such as Probation Divisions, Long Term High Security Estate (LTHSE), Youth Custody Service (YCS), Women’s Estate and Public Sector Prisons (PSP) Group

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.

An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
• Telephone : 0845 241 5358

Recruitment team

• Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com