General Information
Salary
£78,587 - £86,446
Working Pattern
Full Time
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Aylesbury
Region
South Central
Closing Date
11-Mar-2026
Business Unit
Grendon & Spring Hill
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 6
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
15099
Descriptions & requirements
Job description
Overview of the job
This is a senior management job within an establishment focusing on the therapeutic needs of prisoners.
Summary
The focus of the work is based on therapeutic community principles, w a dedicated multidisciplinary team of staff work together with prisoners, in an atmosp w attitudes and expressions, which would not normally be tolerated in prison, are accepted and used to give feedback to prisoners. This therapeutic dialogue leads to prisoner's greater understanding of their usual behaviour.
The job holder will be responsible for all therapy and treatment that takes place within the establishment, working ly with the Governor to ensure a safe environment is maintained.
This is a non-operational job with line management responsibilities. This role is non-rotational.
Responsibilities, Activities and Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
* Accountable for ensuring a safe, decent and secure environment is maintained for all prisoners and staff
* Accountable for the establishment's overall achievement of Service Delivery Indicators (SDIs) and standards, leading on the performance and delivery of targets relating to the budget and People Plan
* Accountable for promoting and sustaining a performance management culture within the establishment
* Ensure interaction between prisoner and staff is actively encouraged
Accountable for ensuring Heads of Functions within the Therapeutic Communities (TC) ad- to the management of HR policies
Accountable for ad- nce to action plans as a result of HM's Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP), Standards Audit Unit (SAU) and TC accreditation across all communities
* Actively participates in national working groups maintaining a current awareness of political, social, legislative and policy changes affecting HMPPS
* Manage within budget those responsible for delivering therapy both operational and non-operational grades ensuring that TC accreditation and HMPPS audit standards are met
* Manage Offender Management Unit and therapy, sentence planning, public protection and resettlement interface
* Manage Psycho drama, Residential, Psychology and therapy
* Work with the Governor on the daily and tactical management of the establishment ensuring good relationship exist between security/therapy and on the strategic development of the establishment
* Accountable for fostering and progressing open and positive external relationships with stakeholders to the mutual benefit of the establishment and the community ensuring the delivery of these services through Service Level Agreements (SLA)
* Accountable for the proactive promotion of prison service policy in all activities and behaviours by promoting diversity, decency, safety and reducing re-offending agendas
* Provides leadership and direction for all staff including coaching and mentoring for managers
* Manage the appropriate authorisation of financial compliance statements
* Manage devolved budgets in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation
* Ensure that the function produces and analyses audit and establishment performance management information identifying variances and areas requiring improvements
* Deliver establishment responsibilities in the Memorandum of Understanding with Birmingham City University
* Advise Governor on strategic management of the establishment
* Ensure achievement of population/accommodation
* Work with Governor in achieving an effective relationship between therapy and operations
* Attend relevant boards/meetings and actively contribute either as chair or team member
* Responsible for ensuring work areas and associated activities comply with Health and Safety legislation. Ensure all risk assessments are undertaken and staff are made aware of their personal responsibility towards Health and Safety compliance
* Work collaboratively and provide constructive challenge to colleagues to ensure that their own and other functions are joined up and together contribute towards the overall delivery of the establishment's performance
* Produce relevant reports as required and ensure all correspondence is replied to within agreed timescales
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.
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (w specified in Wales) Welsh.
Civil Service Success Profile Criteria
Behaviours
* Making Effective Decisions
* Leadership
* Communicating and Influencing
* Developing Self and Others
* Managing a Quality Service
* Delivering at Pace
Experience
* Experience in providing clinical supervision
Have undertaken relevant training, including knowledge of various models and effective models for treatment delivery and ad- nce to best practice models
Technical requirements
* Qualified and registered clinician with an associated and relevant professional body, e.g. BACP, BPS, BABCP, UKCP
* Possess a professional background in one of the following disciplines: Psychotherapy, Psychology, Psychiatry, Nursing
* Qualification and experience in providing clinical supervision (preferably both group and individual)
* When transferring to a Young Persons establishment the job holder will be required to successfully undertake an assessment to demonstrate suitability to work with Young People
Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances
37 hour working week
Additional Information
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements w 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(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) 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, w 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.
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. T 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
HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wver managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ
Season Ticket Advance
* After two months' service, you'll 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
For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
Training
HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes
* T are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts
* All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles
Eligibility
* 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 the HMPPS considers to be racist
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
* To Transformative Business Services Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-);
* To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-);
To the Civil Service Commission (details available- )
As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are 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. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wver it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit:
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'.
MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
Civil Service Nationality Rules
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)
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.
Contact Information
MoJ:
If you require any assistance please call Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-
Please quote the job reference: 15099
HMPPS
If you require any assistance please call Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-
Please quote the job reference: 15099
Job Description Attachment
* 602 DirTC Director of Therapeutic Communities (Job Description Attachment)
Select new file
Application form stage assessments
Behaviours
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Making Effective Decisions
Leadership
Communicating and Influencing
Developing Self and Others
Managing a Quality Service
Delivering at Pace
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History
Specific membership requirements
Qualified and registered clinician with an associated and relevant professional body, e.g. BACP, BPS, BABCP, UKCP
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History
Technical
Technical Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Qualified and registered clinician with an associated and relevant professional body, e.g. BACP, BPS, BABCP, UKCP
* Possess a professional background in one of the following disciplines: Psychotherapy, Psychology, Psychiatry, Nursing
* Qualification and experience in providing clinical supervision (preferably both group and individual)
Specific qualification requirements
Qualified and registered clinician with an associated and relevant professional body, e.g. BACP, BPS, BABCP, UKCP
Interview stage assessments
Interview Dates
TBC Late March 2026
Behaviours
Making Effective Decisions
Leadership
Developing Self and Others
Delivering at Pace
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed .
Other Assessments
Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation, Other 1
Other - Assessment Title 1
Residents Panel Not scored
Level of security checks required
DBS Standard
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
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. W 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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.