Job Overview
The job holder will be responsible for the Food Services for the establishment including responsibility for the activities within all food areas (and staff mess). This is a non‑operational job with line management responsibilities. This role is non‑rotational.
Key Responsibilities
* Ensure the provision of meals for prisoners and the quality and quantity of meals served.
* Monitor a safe working environment, e.g. request repairs to kitchen equipment, ongoing testing and reporting operating faults on the computer aided facilities management system.
* Achieve Service Level indicator targets within the unit, verifying and signing off documentation as appropriate.
* Maintain compliance with all Food Safety Management systems and Hygiene Assessments within the kitchen and associated areas, undertaking risk assessments and responding to hazards.
* Cost the menu requirements and manage the catering budget, including provision of cultural, health, nutrition and special dietary needs.
* Act as point of contact for all external/internal stakeholders visiting the kitchen including Independent Monitoring Body (IMB) and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP).
* Estimate, order and manage resources (generally food and ingredients) to deliver catering requirements, ensuring efficient utilisation to reduce waste.
* Maintain kitchen security standards in line with Local Security Strategy (LSS) and National Security Framework (NSF).
* Oversee prisoner workforce in the kitchens – induction, training, supervision, payment and maintaining required documentation.
* Implement national policy and/or contribute to the development of local policy, procedures and practice for catering, ensuring consistency across the unit.
* Collect, collate, analyse and act on data concerning the catering function, including feedback on food choices and weekly individual menu choices from residential areas.
* Train wing food handlers on hygiene standards.
* Carry out kitchen inspections, audit preparation and documentation for audit purposes.
Additional Management Tasks
* Manage devolved budgets in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation.
* Manage all staff within the area – performance, development, annual appraisal, sickness absence management.
* Ensure all HMPPS standards and Service Delivery Indicators (SDIs) are implemented and managed within the relevant work area.
* Ensure all national and local policies and procedures are implemented and compliant (examples: NSF, LSS, Finance Manual).
* Attend and actively contribute to boards/meetings as directed.
* Provide leadership and direction to supervisors and staff through briefings, building informal and formal relationships and effective communication.
* Produce relevant reports as required and ensure all correspondence is replied to within agreed timescales.
* Liaise and form good relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
* Contribute to the preparation of the prison contingency and emergency plans and ensure implementation when required.
* Manage resources to deliver activities within the defined work area and contribute to the mid‑to‑long term business planning process.
* Ensure the defined work area and associated activities comply with Health and Safety legislation and that risk assessments are undertaken and staff are made aware of their responsibilities.
The duties and responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and are 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.
Working Arrangements
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non‑contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and/or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre‑employment checks.
Some of MoJ's terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS' Flexible Working policy.
If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff. The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.
Application Assessment
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours assessment methods: CV or Work History. Evidence of Experience. (TBC, expected April 2026)
Level of security checks required: DBS Standard.
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.
Been Behaviours
* Working Together
* Managing a Quality Service
* Communicating and Influencing
* Leadership
Technical Requirements
* Hold qualifications and competences of F&S Supervisor – Catering.
* Hold a Food Hygiene Level 4 Diploma or equivalent Level 4 award in HACCP.
* Familiar with applying all current health, safety and hygiene related regulations that apply in a working kitchen environment and demonstrate previous competency at supervising or managing staff within a kitchen environment.
* Refresher training in Food Safety (HACCP) should be completed at 3‑year intervals.
Benefits
Annual Leave – The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non‑standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro‑rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.
Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays – You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment.
Pension – The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Work‑life balance – HMPPS encourages flexible working where possible. After two months of service, you will be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer‑period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work.
Childcare vouchers – May have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.
Training – HMPPS offers a range of training and development opportunities, including Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti‑Bullying programmes. All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles. Opportunities to access promotion programmes are also available.
Eligibility and Equality
All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post. All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS. All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which HMPPS considers to be racist.
As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ is committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long‑term condition, please watch our animated videos.
MoJ is committed to attracting, retaining and investing in talent wherever it is found. For more information, see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
The “Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans” initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme for eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements can be found on GOV.UK.
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are ‘at risk of redundancy’.
Contact for Complaints
Should you feel the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint by contacting:
* To Transformative Business Services – 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8 am‑6 pm) or email moj‑recruitment‑vetting‑enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
* To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team – resourcing‑management‑office@justice.gov.uk
* To the Civil Service Commission – details available here
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