Contract Support Officer – Preston (Ref: 18901) Full Time NEW

Job Summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job Description

Overview of the job

Accountable to a designated Senior Contract Manager (SCM) the CSO will support efficient and effective contract management, including Commissioned Rehabilitative Services contracts, within their area. The post holder will also support the work of their local contract management team and Operational and System Assurance Group to quality assure and audit operational service delivery and deliver the Annual Service Operational Audit Plan.

It is an offender facing role in terms of working with service users to ascertain their views on the services received.

The post holder will contribute to the support of a portfolio of contracts within the PS regions, including Commissioned Rehabilitative Service contracts, and it involves complex stakeholder and delivery chain relationships.

The geographical base for the CSO post can be flexible within their contract management area and may require some work in London and other locations.

Summary

The CSO is a support role with administrative, secretariat and data handling and analysis responsibilities. Overall, the post contributes to the support of the contract management team with their remit to monitor and validate provider performance, assure delivery of services in the community and manage the relevant contracts.

Working alongside the Senior Contract Manager and Service Manager (SM), the CSO will support the delivery of the contract management governance processes in relation to designated providers. They will provide a secretariat service by co-ordinating Service Management Board, Contract Strategy Board, Change Management Board and other groups as directed by the SCM and SM.

The post-holder will support the work of their local contract management team and operational audit activity to assist the process of OA such as data collection and analysis, research and observation of provider practice and performance.

The post holder will undertake research and analysis activities as required which will demand initiative and self-motivation. E.g., review of stakeholder surveys and opinions, development of ‘good practice’ case studies, reporting on risk and monitoring the provision of third-party commissioned services.

The post holder will also ensure that changes to data requirements are approved by the Data Gateway Services protocol.

The geographical base for the CSO post can be flexible within their contract management area and will require some work in London and other locations.

Responsibilities, Activities And Duties

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

• Providing secretariat support to the Senior Contract Managers and Service Managers; Service Management Board, Contract Strategy Board, Change Management Board and any other meetings convened by them.
• Arranging and distributing the agenda and papers with direction from the relevant chair.
• Producing first draft minutes and action logs.
• Maintaining formal documentation, Terms of Reference, membership and distribution lists.
• Following-up with action owners for updates.
• Filing, archiving and enacting version control on all relevant documentation.
• Supporting their local contract management team and OSAG to deliver their annual programme of assurance activities to operationally audit and analyse provider delivery data including: regular sample testing of provider performance information and validation of reported data; involvement in periodic process review activities; and observation of provider activities.
• Reviewing and monitoring performance data in relation to designated providers.
• Supporting Senior Contract Managers and Service Managers in the delivery of on-going contract management activities with providers – e.g., following-up requests for information from Commissioned Rehabilitative Providers, scheduling of ad hoc meetings.
• Conducting research and analysis activities as required by team managers – e.g., review of stakeholder surveys and opinions, analysis of MI trends and issues, development of ‘good practice’ case studies, reporting on risk and monitoring the Provision of third-party commissioned services.
• Support the National Strategic Contract Management team and national supplier level management through liaison, consultation, information sharing and acting on guidance to ensure consistency.
• Providing information to Director/ MoJ and others as required.
• Ensuring changes to data requirements are approved by the Data Gateway Services protocol.

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

• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

Experience

• Good understanding of HMPPS strategic direction
• Good level of confidence sufficient to allow post holder to represent the organisation in a professional manner to a range of stakeholders
• Sound skills to enable management of effective relationships in a contractual and political environment
• Sound knowledge of Project and Programme management techniques
• Sound attributes to prioritise the management of tasks and risks and with appropriate support, advice and guidance deliver tasks to time
• Sound problem solving, planning and communication skills
• Strong numerical and IT skills with strong presentation skills (written and verbal)
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong networking capabilities enabling the development of productive working relationships across organisational boundaries and across all levels of an organisation
• Working knowledge of public, private, social enterprise, charitable, voluntary and community sector organisations
• Strong analytical skills and research and evaluation skills to make informed judgements on concern and gaps in provision
• Sound ability to work in a dispersed team and be a self-motivator with the capacity to organise and prioritise on the basis of organisational reputation/financial risk
• Strong Business support and/or secretariat experience
• Experience of co-ordinating, organising, reviewing and taking minutes of high level meetings in a politically sensitive environment involving a wide range of senior representatives
• Strong commitment to valuing and promoting diversity as the vehicle for achieving successful business outcomes
• Strong commitment to excellence within a changing landscape with the ability to innovate and adapt working style
• Good ability to maintain professional integrity and adherence to organisational priorities in the face of competing pressures

Technical Requirements

No specific qualifications are essential but experience and qualifications relevant to contract support and contract management are desirable.

Ability

Psychometric tests will not be required to assess the ability of post holders.

Technical Requirements

No specific qualifications are essential but experience and qualifications relevant to contract support and contract management are desirable.

Ability

Psychometric tests will not be required to assess the ability of post holders.

Person specification

Please Refer To Job Description

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Working Together

Alongside your salary of £41,197, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £11,934 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

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

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
• Telephone : 0345 241 5358

Recruitment team

• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints

https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/18901?entityId=18901