General Information

Salary

£37,872

Working Pattern

Full Time

Vacancy Approach

External

Location

Ashford (Surrey)

Region

Kent, Surrey & Sussex

Closing Date

18-Aug-2026

Business Unit

AGY - NOMS Agency

Post Type

Fixed Term

Civil Service Grade

Number of jobs available

Reserve List

12 Months

Job ID

20808

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Overview of the job

Working in a privately managed establishment within the Controller’s team reporting to the Deputy Controller. Responsible for day to day administration and supporting the work of the Controller’s team in managing the contract.

The post has no line management responsibilities.

Summary

To work as a member of the Controller’s Team, helping to ensure that it operates effectively and efficiently; to maintain correct and appropriate relationships with both team colleagues and other stakeholders. As and when required conduct duties on behalf of the team at other establishments.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

Contract Monitoring

Support the Controller/Deputy Controller in the formal monitoring arrangements relating to the contract through:

• Monitoring compliance with operational requirements.

• Undertaking audits.

• Identifying failures by Contractor’s staff to comply with contractual requirements.

• Making general observations of the operations of the establishment.

• Maintain a working knowledge of the Contract, identifying deviations and raising these with the Controller.

• Analyse the content of Prison Service Instructions and Orders, Standards etc. identifying any impacts for the provision of, relative to, contractual commitments, bringing to the attention of the Team any matters arising from this. Forward information on new and revised Prison Service Instructions and Orders to the Contractor from the Prison Service Intranet, liaising when required on matters arising from this.

• Prepare papers, including update on performance measures, for the monthly Controller and Director meeting and the Quarterly Contract Review Meetings, identifying outstanding actions and liaising with those responsible for updates as required.

Performance Management

• Analysing and presenting quarterly performance progress by developing and maintaining a robust database for the

Quarterly Contract Review Meetings, providing key updates for the Controller and other key internal stakeholders.

• Identifying failures and deficiencies to perform against the contract requirements.

• Monitoring Key Performance Targets/Indicators.

• Identifying and agreeing Quarterly and Annual performance points each month in line with Schedule F of the Contract.

• Ensuring incident and data returns and inputs are checked, validated and completed within timescales, including HUB data.

• Monitoring and logging the Contractor’s progress against HMIP, PPO and ACA Action plans.

• Prepare relevant statistical performance data and reports for the Team and relevant stakeholders, including any ad-hoc reports and other information, as required.

Office Management and Administration

• Ensure effective office administration processes are in place; this will include supporting and minuting the QCRM, maintaining a suitable supply of stationary ordered via I-Proc when required, providing necessary reception arrangements for visitors and general office duties.

• Maintain a robust electronic file management system. Coordinate communications for the Controller’s Team, in particular ensuring that there is a brought forward system in place to ensure that urgent issues are dealt with and acted upon within timescales.

• Prepare written materials (including notes, letters, PQs and briefs etc.) on behalf of the Controller and Deputy Controller, as required.

• Record receipt of Requests and Complaints/Home Detention Curfew appeals and related responses adhering to appropriate timescales.

• Perform the role of Deputy Information Assurance Manager.

Investigations

• Support the Controller/Deputy Controller in monitoring investigations carried out by the Contractor into allegations made against Contractor.

• Work in partnership with SSC to monitor procedures in relation to the suspension and revocation of Prison Custody Officer Certifications.

• Assist with any commissioned investigations including any investigations into allegations made against Prison Custody Officers in accordance with Schedule 10 of the CJA 1991.

IT Management

• Lead as On-site Quantum Point of Contact (QPC) for IT and telephony related issues and queries.

• Maintain the Quantum Asset register for the establishment.

• To ensure there is a local IT policy made available.

• Ensure there is a current IT Contingency Plan with Keyword.

Secretary of State Duties

• Sign licences for the release of prisoners, which would include end of sentence licence.

Representational and other duties

• To represent the Controller’s Team at relevant meetings or other events, briefing the rest of the team appropriately and ensuring that all action points are either delegated or acted upon.

• To liaise with the Contract and Commissioning group, internal and external stakeholders and to build and maintain collaborative partnerships in support of effective management.

• To complete any other duties or tasks as requested by the Controller or Deputy Controller.

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.

Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing

• Working Together

• Managing a Quality Service

• Delivering at Pace

• Changing and Improving

Experience

• Sound analytical skills and experience of designing and using spreadsheets

Technical Requirements

• I-Proc trained (or willing to undertake training)

• Quantum Point of Contact trained (or willing to undertake training)

Ability

• English, spoken and written

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.

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

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 20808

Please contact Dan.Ali@justice.gov.uk if you have any questions regarding this vacancy.

Job Description Attachment

0717 Assistant Controller JD v5.0.pdf (Job Description Attachment)

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Application form stage assessments

Behaviours

A sift based on the lead behaviour, Working Together, 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 Application Form Question Word Limit

250

Changing and Improving

Communicating and Influencing

Delivering at Pace

Working Together

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates

TBC

Behaviours

Changing and Improving

Communicating and Influencing

Delivering at Pace

Working Together

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.

20808 - Assistant Controller

Key skills

About this role