16314 - Programme Manager Low Newton

General Information

Salary £39,803 - £43,783 Working Pattern Full Time Vacancy Approach External Location Durham Region North East Closing Date 15-Apr-2026 Business Unit Low Newton Post Type Permanent Civil Service Grade HEO Number of jobs available 1 Reserve List 12 Months Job ID 16314

Descriptions & requirements

Job description Overview of the job    
This is a management job in an establishment.
Summary    
The job holder will be responsible for programme management of drug, alcohol and offending behaviour programmes in the establishment ensuring they are delivered in line with required standards.
The job holder will assist in the provision of constructive and supportive regimes, which addresses offending behaviour, improve educational and work skills and promote law abiding behaviour in custody and after release in reducing reoffending. To assist in the management of the planning and execution of the Service Delivery Agreement for the offending behaviour courses.

In addition, they will manage a group of facilitators and administrative staff to ensure that all protocols, procedures and routines to do with Psychological Services are planned, prepared, operated and developed in line with standards.

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:
•    Responsible for managing and overseeing the facilitation team and the suite of interventions to ensure they are supported and given appropriate guidance.
•    Responsible for ensuring that treatment managers are effectively managed and supported.
•    Responsible for ensuring best value of resources for the department.
•    Responsible for ensuring that all Programme work is delivered in line with the baselines identified in the Accreditation Document.
•    Responsible for ensuring a plan for effective delivery is made for the forthcoming year to ensure that there are enough spaces offered to achieve the establishment’s performance target and specifically taking into account the needs of the prisoner population and staff training requirements.
•    Responsible for managing and oversee the delivery of complex/high intensity programmes such as the Sex Offender Treatment Programme.
•    Liaise with the psychological services to ensure that resources are appropriately identified for the delivery of sex offender treatment programmes.
•    Attend all relevant and appropriate meetings, both at local and national as per the Audit requirements.
•    Act as a consultant with regard to the introduction of both accredited and non-accredited programmes.
•    Responsible for ensuring the full participation of staff in the supervision process.
•    Develop and monitor productive working relationships with all staff.
•    Responsible for managing the delivery of and providing interventions of both, clinical and non-clinical offending behaviour programmes.
•    Liaise with the establishment Senior Management Team and ensure that they are updated on policies set by HMPPS in respect of Treatment Programmes.
•    Responsible for ensuring that all standards contained in the programme specific criterion enclosed within the programme manuals and audit document are met.
•    Promote the concept of multi-disciplinary team effort and integration within the Accredited Intervention Meetings (AIMs) teams, in staff awareness sessions and tutor support.
•    As part of the AIM team, is responsible for the management of group members and their specific treatment needs.
•    Promote opportunities for integrating programmes with other establishment processes, particularly with other interventions such as basic skills, Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare service (CARATS) and other aspects of drug strategy.
•    Produce data analysis of the local drug strategy for area reports.
•    Contribute to the overall risk management process including sharing information on high risk and dangerous offenders with relevant agencies Contribute to the Programme Department performance as assessed by the audit criteria, with particular reference to all Programme Manuals and to assist with the successful delivery of all audit baselines.
•    Contribute to improvements and compliance of any issues raised as part of action plans arising from Standards Audit, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP), Measuring the Quality of Prison Life (MQPL) and any other relevant action plans including local self-audit action plans and resettlement strategies.
•    Contribute to the successful achievement of the Service Delivery Indicators (SDIs) target agreed between the Deputy Director of Custody and Governing Governor ensuring milestones are properly identified and communicated.
•    Manage a safe working environment for staff, prisoners and visitors. Ensure Health and Safety legislation is followed ensuring safe systems of work (SSOW) and risk assessments are completed in a timely manner and any faults are reported promptly.

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 (where specified in Wales) Welsh.
Civil Service Success Profile Criteria

Behaviours    
•    Making Effective Decisions•    Changing and Improving
•    Communicating and Influencing
•    Working Together
•    Managing a Quality Service
•    Developing Self and Others

Experience    
•    Job holders will need to be highly organised and committed to treatment and rehabilitation work.•    Will require experience of managing both staff and processes.

Technical requirements    
Internal applicants
All newly promoted staff to the following Band 6 first line manager roles (Activities Unit Manager, Facilities and Services Unit Manager, Facilities and Services Business Manager, Programme Manager, Specialist Treatment Manager or Equality Advisor) in Establishments will be expected to complete the New Manager Programme on Civil Service Learning within three years of promotion.

Staff that have mapped or re-graded to Band 6 who have previously worked at an equivalent level will not be required to undertake the qualification.

External applicants

All external staff joining as a Band 6 Activities Unit Manager, Facilities and Services Unit Manager, Facilities and Services Business Manager, Programme Manager, Specialist Treatment Manager or Equality Advisor in an Establishment will be expected to complete the New Manager Programme on Civil Service Learning within three years.
Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances    
37 hour working week

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

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(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, 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.

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

HM Prison & Probation Service  (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever 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

-There 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 (0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail 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)

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 wherever 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: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
• 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

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 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 16314

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 16314

Job Description Attachment

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Application form stage assessments

Behaviours Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit 250 Making Effective Decisions Working Together Communicating and Influencing Managing a Quality Service

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates Expected 29/04/2026 Behaviours Making Effective Decisions Working Together Communicating and Influencing Managing a Quality Service Changing and Improving Strengths Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here. Level of security checks required DBS Enhanced

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. 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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.