Assistant Portfolio Director - Safeguarding (Secondment)

Job summary

HMICFRS independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire and rescue services – in the public interest. We promote improvements in policing and fire and rescue services to make everyone safer.

We are independent of the Government, police and fire and rescue services. We ask the questions that we believe the public wish to have answered and produce major reports that shine a light on issues at the very heart of policing and fire and rescue services.

Our reports are widely covered by the media and help inform the public of the performance of their local police forces and fire and rescue services. You can find out more about HMICFRS on our website and see some of our recent reports.

Working at HMICFRS gives you an opportunity to make a real difference to the quality of local police and fire and rescue services and the lives of the public.

HMICFRS is a unique organisation with staff seconded or loaned from across the Civil Service, police forces and fire and rescue services. We set ourselves high standards, taking great pride in the quality of work we achieve and the opportunities we create for our staff.

This role is designated as a Home Worker / Remote Access Worker position. The successful candidate will normally work remotely using their home as their base location and will be required to travel to inspections, meetings, training events and HMICFRS offices as required. Home Worker status applies to directly employed HMICFRS staff, whilst Remote Access Worker (RAW) status applies to secondees.

As our inspection work takes place across forces throughout England and Wales, successful candidates will be required to travel regularly, including overnight stays where necessary to support inspection activity. Travel, accommodation and subsistence costs will be reimbursed in accordance with HMICFRS policy.

For administrative purposes, you will be attached to one of our offices in Birmingham, London or Salford.

Find out more

If you would like to talk to someone about this role and what it’s like working for HMICFRS we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact Simon Gawthorpe, Deputy Portfolio Director [email removed]

Job description

We are recruiting for an Assistant Portfolio Director (APD) to join our dynamic PEEL team.

The PEEL portfolio team leads the inspection of police forces to assess police effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy (PEEL). We report on these aspects of policing at a force level, as well as drawing out national themes in thematic reports.

Through this work, making evidenced based observations and assessments, you will be driving real improvements in the overall safety and performance of our police services.

Working as an Assistant Portfolio Director (APD), you will play a leading role in the design, planning, analysis and reporting of our PEEL force inspections.

This post is the question lead for question 7 – safeguarding. You will be responsible for the way in which HMICFRS inspect how police forces work to identify and safeguard vulnerable adults and children.

Additionally, you will lead on a number of allocated corporate responsibilities on behalf of the team.

We are looking for talented individuals who have the drive, enthusiasm and skills to be part of HMICFRS. You will need to be inquisitive and have the ability to assess data and performance objectively.

You will be expected to form constructive relationships that will enable you to work closely with those we inspect, providing challenge, and identifying areas for improvement and to share best practice.

This opportunity is only open to those who currently work within a police force within England and Wales, and are of the following rank: superintendent / police staff equivalent on level transfer, or substantive chief inspectors or police staff equivalent on temporary promotion to their next grade.

Responsibilities:

Design, plan, and implement the PEEL Assessment framework for your subject matter area.

Develop and maintain effective working relationships across government and with local and national policing agencies, including convening External Reference Groups as required.

Lead and manage small teams of associate inspectors and inspection officers, as required.

Undertake inspection activity, including leading interviews, focus groups and reality testing, and making judgments as required.

Identify and analyse national themes, using evidence to draw conclusions, make meaningful recommendations and track improvements.

Undertake high quality research, prepare briefings and respond to correspondence for and on behalf of HMICFRS.

Research and draft bespoke subject matter area reports to address specific issues and areas of particular public interest.

Deputise, if required, for the Deputy Portfolio Director, including chairing and/or representing HMICFRS at meetings, and presenting and explaining the inspection programme and its findings to internal and external partners.

Take an active role in managing and developing staff, including using mentoring and coaching techniques.

Have a number of corporate responsibilities commensurate with the role.

The post is designated as full time, homeworking and cannot be considered for part time working.

Person specification

Essential criteria

All applicants must be currently employed by a police force within England and Wales and meet the above rank criteria. All applicants are also expected to have the following skills:

• Recent experience of providing strategic leadership for safeguarding arrangements within a policing context, supported by a comprehensive understanding of operational safeguarding practice and a sound working knowledge of relevant safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and its application within policing.
• Experience of presenting to and building effective relationships with senior-level stakeholders and partners, with proven experience of influencing, engaging and working collaboratively at a senior level.
• Experience of analysing complex, incomplete and sometimes conflicting information, identifying key themes and issues, and presenting clear, well-considered, evidence-based conclusions.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with experience of preparing clear, structured reports, papers and briefings to a high standard, alongside effective use of Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience of leading, managing and motivating teams to deliver high-quality outcomes, including the coordination of complex operational activity, programmes, projects or inspections, as well as performance management, planning, prioritisation and delivery to deadlines.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of inspection, audit, assurance or scrutiny activity within a policing or public sector environment.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Learning and development tailored to your role