Community Justice Co-ordinator

Job Description

Community Justice is at the heart of preventing offending and re-offending in Midlothian. It represents the individuals, agencies and services that work together to support, manage and supervise people who have committed offences or who may be at risk of committing offences. The Community Justice Partnership aims to support and manage offenders in the community, from the point of arrest through to the end of sentence and to being fully reintegrated into the community. Community Justice promotes desistance, social inclusion, and citizenship. Local communities and the third sector are a vital part of Community Justice; a strong partnership-working approach is critical to its success. The Partnership’s key aim is to ensure Midlothian is a safe place to live, grow up, work and visit.

The successful candidate will be key to driving the National Strategy for Community Justice at a local level and will use their skills and knowledge to ensure that there is a focus on evidence-based practice, partnership working and public awareness raising. The successful candidate will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, be motivated and have the right interpersonal skills to bring partners together to achieve a common goal. The successful candidate will have a strong value base and an understanding of why and how individuals become involved in offending and a positive belief in rehabilitation and reintegration. They will also be committed to making Midlothian a safer place and to involving the community in achieving this aim. The Community Justice Coordinator will also support the implementation of the Equally Safe Strategy within Midlothian and Chair the Equally Safe Working Group.

The post holder will be based in Fairfield House and in No 11 Recovery Hub. There will be opportunities to undertake aspects of the work from home with the agreement of the Service Manager.

Essential

The jobholder must hold a degree or equivalent level of qualification in a relevant subject indicative of the ability to research, analyse and report.

In order to exercise the wider remit of the post, in particular the awareness of professional and legislative changes and the development of good practice following the publication of reports, a jobholder requires post-qualifying experience to include the following:

• Direct practice experience of service planning or development
• Practical experience of partnership working
• Knowledge of Community Planning Partnership working practices and sound knowledge of current issues in Community Safety and Justice.
• Proven report writing and presentation skills.
• An understanding of performance management
• A high level of competency in communication, presentational and interpersonal skills, strong organisational and analytical skills and practical facilitation skills.
• Ability to develop and implement a project plan to budget and timescale.
• Experience of managing staff.

This experience is gained through having held a variety of roles in the service provision field.

The jobholder calls on knowledge of relevant legislation, a wide knowledge of partnership working, and an understanding of the needs and expectations of external partners and providers and must have an understanding of the interrelationship between individual and aggregated need in order to develop an effective partnership model that will improve Community Safety and Justice outcomes.

Desirable

A postgraduate qualification from a recognised professional institute in a relevant discipline or similar subject.

Closing Date - Thursday 22^nd August

Interview date – Tuesday 27^th August and Wednesday 28^th August

Requirements

Position Title: Community Justice Co-Ordinator

Position Number: WAF0035

Directorate: Health and Social Care

Working from Home: No

Location: Fairfield House and No 11

Contract Status: Permanent

Hours of Work: 36 hours per week

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00

Weeks per year: 52

Please note that it is Midlothian Councils policy that successful applicants will be appointed to the first point on the salary scale.

Based on 36 hours over 52 weeks per year, the minimum actual salary for this position is £44,895.67 per annum.

Responsibilities

This post is considered Regulated Work with Children and Protected Adults, under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act, 2007. Therefore, it is an offence to apply if you are barred from working with children and/or protected adults.

Successful candidates will require PVG Scheme membership for Regulated Work with Children and Protected Adults. You will be required to join the Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme Update check prior to commencing employment with Midlothian Council, the cost of which will be met by you.

For further information on the PVG Scheme please visit www.disclosurescotland.gov.uk

The Individual

If you have difficulty applying for this post or in accessing attached documentation, or if you have a disability and reasonable adjustment is required, please call 0131 271 3063 to speak to a member of the Recruitment Team, stating the post reference number.

Midlothian Council is currently undergoing a period of transformation, changing and improving the way it delivers services in Midlothian. As a consequence, there are a number of existing employees for whom we are committed to seeking suitable alternative employment within the Council in accordance with our legal obligations. Candidates are advised that, for some vacancies, internal candidates in this situation will be interviewed before the wider selection pool and a slightly longer delay may be experienced before application outcomes can be advised to you. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

If you are a trainee of a Midlothian Council Training Programme, have a disability or you are a care experienced young person you are eligible for a guaranteed interview if you meet the essential criteria for the post.