Job Opportunity

We don't normally carry adverts, but regular readers will be familiar with a certain flexibility regarding boundaries around here and there is a very important job being advertised by the much-respected Howard League for Penal Reform. 

Having an agenda of achieving "less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison"  it's pretty obvious that this chimes perfectly with probation ethos and in fact can really only be achieved by ensuring we have an effective Probation Service. Having survived a disastrous part-privatisation and enforced marriage to HM Prison Service, the former gold award-winning Probation Service is in disarray, in danger of being totally subsumed within the Prison Service and effectively neutered by civil service command and control. 

There has never been such a seminal moment for wise and informed counsel to make the case for a change in direction for probation and reaffirmation of its core ethos. Thankfully there are encouraging signs from key stakeholders such as the Probation Institute, (now constituted as Charitable Incorporated Organisation); HM Probation Inspectorate; Napo; Russell Webster, and academics such as Prof Rob Canton who recently reminded us of his words from 2007:-

"The history of probation has... been characterised as a journey from 'advise, assist and befriend' to 'enforcement, rehabilitation and public protection'. But there is now a weight of evidence and argument to show that the way to get the best from people is to treat them well - with fairness, respect, encouragement and personal interest. This is not only ethically valuable, but also conduces to probation's objectives. In each of its phases, probation has sooner or later made this discovery. Perhaps the best way to enforce, rehabilitate and protect the public is by advising, assisting and befriending." (My emphasis)

The time has come for a re-stating of the key place probation must have within society if we are to have "less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison"  and I'm sure the person lucky enough to fill this post will be able to play a key part in this worthy endeavour and particularly as we almost certainly move towards a new political direction within the next two years. 

        
Policy and Public Affairs Officer

Purpose of the post

The Howard League for Penal Reform is the world’s oldest penal reform charity, with a proven record of delivering change.

Our successful campaigns have contributed to the abolition of capital punishment, an end to the ban on sending books to prisoners and a massive reduction in arrests of children. Our legal team provides expert advice and support to children and young people in prison.

We want to do even more, so we are looking for a Policy and Public Affairs Officer who can help us achieve our goals of less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison.

The Policy and Public Affairs Officer will have a strong political sense and ideally experience of working in policy and/or public affairs environments.

The role will involve developing an expertise in prisons and probation policy and practice, with opportunities to advance in a changing organisation.

*We are keen to consider candidates with a range of experience and a successful candidate with a more established track record in policy work may be offered the role of ‘Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer’, with a higher salary and slightly different duties and responsibilities.

Duties and responsibilities

• Monitoring and advising on penal and prison policy and practice
• Writing reports and parliamentary briefings with clear objectives for change, in line with the organisation’s strategic objectives
• Lobbying a range of stakeholders, including parliamentarians, and developing and nurturing links with relevant agencies and opinion formers
• Responding to consultations and preparing briefings as required
• Maintaining statistical data and updating colleagues accordingly
• Speaking at meetings, conferences and seminars as appropriate
• Must work as part of the whole office team
• Working within the political and structural framework to achieve change

Person specification

Essential

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and a proven track record of writing and producing materials to publication standard
• Excellent analytical skills, able to interpret data and translate research into a policy context
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships of trust and confidence with senior decision-makers
• Excellent organisational skills, ability to keep a clear timetable and achieve agreed targets to timetables with a short turnaround
• Strong political sense and understanding of challenges and opportunities in lobbying government
• A good team player, with the ability to build relationships internally
• Ability to think creatively and conceive innovative solutions and ideas
• Computer literacy with experience in using a range of office software packages (including Word, Excel and Outlook).
• A commitment to social justice, human rights and prison reform

Desirable

• A university degree or equivalent studies in a relevant field (such as criminology, law, sociology etc)
• Experience of working in a public affairs or policy environment
• Knowledge of criminal justice issues and the penal system

Conditions of Service

The post is full time. The terms and conditions are as laid out in the contract of employment and the office handbook and include 30 days paid leave plus statutory days and 10% contribution to the Howard League workplace pension scheme. You may choose to work in the office each day, or to work some days from home on agreement with management.

The Howard League encourages applications from suitable candidates with lived experience of prisons or the wider criminal justice system. As an inclusive employer the Howard League actively encourages applications from racially minoritised backgrounds.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please fill in the application form. If for any reason you can’t use the application form, please provide an up-to-date CV and supporting statement, giving evidence and examples of how you meet the criteria, and what you feel you would bring to the role.

Please e-mail the completed application. The deadline for applications for this role is on Monday 28 November 2022 at 5pm. Interviews will be held on Thursday 8 December 2022.