HM Inspectorate of Prisons - Communications Officer(Ref: 91161)
Ministry of Justice
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 21st October 2024
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Salary
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Contract type
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Type of role
Digital
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Contents
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About the job
Job summary
Job description
HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMI Prisons) for England and Wales is an independent inspectorate which reports on the treatment of, and conditions for, those in prison, young offender institutions and court custody suites in England and Wales, and immigration detention facilities in the United Kingdom. HMI Prisons also inspects Border Force customs custody (jointly with HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services) and secure training centres (jointly with Ofsted). By invitation, HMI Prisons inspects some military detention facilities, as well as prisons in Northern Ireland and in other jurisdictions with links to the UK, such as the Isle of Man.
The role of HM Inspectorate of Prisons is to provide independent scrutiny of the conditions for and treatment of prisoners and other detainees, promoting the concept of ‘healthy establishments’ in which staff work effectively to achieve positive outcomes for those detained and for the public.
The Inspectorate’s work constitutes an important part of the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment. This Protocol requires signatory states to have in place regular independent inspection of places of detention.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an Arm’s Length Body (ALB) of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The Chief Inspector of Prisons is a Crown Appointee, while the staff of the Inspectorate are civil servants employed by the MoJ. The established values of the Inspectorate are:
- Independence, impartiality and integrity are the foundations of our work.
- The experience of the detainee is at the heart of our inspections.
- Respect for human rights underpins our Expectations.
- We embrace diversity and are committed to pursuing equality of outcomes for all.
- We believe in the capacity of both individuals and organisations to change and improve, and that we have a part to play in initiating and encouraging change.
About The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join a small, busy communications team working with a Head of Communications and a second Communications Officer. As the team is small, the range of work and experience that you will gain is diverse, including opportunities to work across media, digital (including social media), publications, events, stakeholder engagement and internal communications. The Communications Team is responsible for publishing reports from inspections of places of detention, including prisons, immigration removal centres and young offender institutions in England and Wales. The team is also responsible for managing a programme of strategic communication to enhance the Inspectorate’s reputation and influence on issues relating to the conditions and treatment of detainees. The successful candidate will be expected to take up post in [2024], but the exact date will depend on the timescales for interviews and security clearance processes.
Responsibilities
To support the implementation and development of the Inspectorate communications strategy, and specifically to:
Media work
- Answer incoming media enquiries, seeking advice in preparing responses as needed.
- Draft and issue media releases, using Cision to prepare lists for distribution to appropriate outlets.
- Provide support to the Chief Inspector or other spokespeople, preparing briefings on key issues, attending studio interviews with them, organising transport or setting up Zoom interviews as needed and taking note of issues covered.
- Monitoring media coverage, working with the Head of Communications to identify risks and opportunities, and building an understanding of issues different outlets and correspondents respond to.
Social media and website
- Create and publish content on the Inspectorate’s website, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts including short videos, simple infographics and other content to bring the Inspectorate’s work to life.
- Work with the other Communications Officer to plan and evaluate our social media activity, including reporting on engagement on different channels.
- Improve our use of web and social media analytics to evaluate our activity and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Working with our research and data team, investigate ways of presenting data in informative and effective ways, such as through infographics and animations.
- Publish video content to the Inspectorate’s YouTube page.
- Work with the Head of Communications to evaluate user journeys on the Inspectorate’s website, and implement improvements in response to feedback.
Publications
- With the Head of Communications and second Communications Officer, manage a programme of report production from allocating reports to a team of fee-paid editors through to proof-reading, editing and helping to coordinate amends with internal and external colleagues for final sign-off and publication.
- Sending documents for translation into Welsh or other languages as required, and creating Easy Read versions of reports.
- Help to maintain report tracking spreadsheets and manage processes to ensure all reports are published within agreed timescales and meet quality standards, including accessibility checks.
Events and stakeholder engagement
- Support the delivery of events including helping to prepare invitation lists, setting up the Eventbrite event and managing invitations and RSVPs and any support delegates need in that process.
- Brief the Chief Inspector or other speakers at events, helping to draft speeches or presentations as needed.
- Work with the policy team to support effective stakeholder engagement including maintaining an up-to-date list of stakeholder contacts.
Internal communications
Help to manage the Inspectorate’s programme of internal communication, including the intranet.
Other
Carry out any other reasonable duties as required.
Technical 1
You will be required to prove your experience against the following essential technical skills: Further details can be found at Government-Communications- Professional-Competency-Framework.pdf (civilservice.gov.uk) These should be read in conjunction with the Civil Service Behaviours Success Profiles. Further guidance can be found
at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
Ideas
Level 2
Design and develop engaging, targeted content and messages suitable for use across a range of channels
Technical 2
Insight
Level 2
Use insight to identify target audiences and partners, support decision making and help inform the overall communication approach.
Demonstrate an understanding of the communication objective and how these support the overall policy objective.
Build audience insight using appropriate tools to monitor content and listen to conversations on key external digital channels, including social media.
Provide advice on appropriate digital channels to reach target audiences. Research where target audiences are active, including online partnership networks.
Technical 3
Implementation
Level 2
Express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing, and with sensitivity and respect for others.
Select appropriate visuals to improve the impact of communication (for example, photography and infographics).
Monitor plans and provide status updates to ensure communication plans are delivered on time and to budget.
Person specification
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Please refer to Job Description
- Please refer to Job Description
- Please refer to Job Description
Benefits
- 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 employer contribution of 28.97%
- 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
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
- Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
- Telephone : 0845 241 5359
Recruitment team
- Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
Further information
