HM Inspectorate of Prisons - Communications Officer (Ref: 21697)

Job summary

Job description

We are an independent inspectorate led by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons. We scrutinise the conditions and treatment of prisoners and other detainees and report on our findings. We help to make sure that detention is humane, safe, respectful and helps to prepare people for release ahead of their return to the community. We do that by carrying out independent inspections of prisons, young offender institutions, secure training centres and courts in England and Wales and places of immigration detention across the UK.

Find out about our expectations for different types of detention.

We publish reports to let people know about our findings and hold the government, and those running places of detention, to account. We also identify and share examples of good practice to support leaders in learning from other, comparable institutions. Our role is to shine a light on what needs to change, but we cannot enforce it. It is up to prison leaders to consider the best way to respond to our concerns and use their resources and expertise to find solutions. HM Prison and Probation Service or the Home Office should work with the establishment to support this progress.

Find out more about our mandate.

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 January 2027 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, preparing 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 to which different outlets and correspondents respond.

Social media and website

• Create and publish content on the Inspectorate’s website, X, Blue Sky, LinkedIn and Instagram 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, find ways of presenting data in informative and effective ways, such as through infographics and animations.
• Work with the other Communications Officer, Head of Communications, Chief Inspector and other key staff to produce monthly podcasts, helping to plan episodes, record, edit and publish content, and promote it on social media channels.
• 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 other Communications Officer, manage a programme of report production from allocating reports to a team of fee-paid editors through to proofreading, editing and helping to coordinate amendments with internal and external colleagues for final sign-off and publication.
• Send documents for translation into Welsh or other languages as required, and write, design and publish 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 Eventbrite events 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 and Teams channels.

Other

• Carry out any other reasonable duties as required.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Essential

• Experience in a communications role covering at least one of the core areas of responsibility (media, digital/social media, publications or internal communication)
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing
• Excellent digital communication skills and willingness to learn how to use new tools and software programs such as video and podcast editing
• Excellent organisational skills
• Good analytical skills
• Good editorial and proofreading skills
• Effective interpersonal and team working skills and the ability to work with colleagues at all levels, including senior internal and external stakeholders
• Flexible, organised and adept at managing competing priorities
• Demonstrable commitment to the Inspectorate’s values and purpose

Desirable

• An understanding or interest in human rights, which underpins the Inspectorate’s work
• Knowledge of, or interest in, prisons and wider criminal justice issues
• Experience of communications, in particular media relations

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