Moving Forward Making Changes (MF:MC) National Design Lead SECONDMENT

The Scottish Government is offering a 2 year secondment in the Reintegration & Public Protection Unit, Community Justice Division within Justice Directorate. This post will be responsible for revising the Moving Forward Making Changes (MF:MC) Sex Offender Treatment Programme including drafting the associated programme manuals.

The Moving Forward Making Changes (MF:MC) programme was developed to provide treatment for moderate-high risk adult men (aged 18 and above) convicted of sexual offences, and to increase their capacity to meet their needs by non-offending means.

The programme was evaluated in 2018. The evaluation broadly demonstrated that the programme was being delivered as intended. However, given the changing nature and pattern of sexual offending, it has been agreed by the National Moving Forward Making Changes Advisory Board (the Board) that the current programme should be revised to ensure future flexibility and sustainability.. This should include a particular focus on ensuring a revised programme can effectively meet the needs of both moderate and high risk offenders in custodial and community settings.

We would like to invite applications from applicants who have relevant qualifications, a sound knowledge and firm understanding of evidence-based practice in what works to reduce re-offending, with practitioner experience of risk assessment and risk management of men convicted of sexual offences in custody and in the community.

The Scottish Government will reimburse the host organisation for costs in line with current salary for the duration of the secondment.

The secondee will be based in St Andrews House in Edinburgh within the Reintegration & Public Protection Unit, Community Justice Division, Justice Directorate and some travel will be associated with this post. Reasonable requests for assistance with travel costs will be considered.

The Division is responsible for a range of policies and approaches which are focussed on reducing reoffending. This includes: reducing the use of short-term imprisonment through greater use of community sentences; working with the Scottish Prison Service to ensure that rehabilitation opportunities are available those who receive a custodial sentence; and supporting the successful reintegration of people leaving prison. The Division also has a clear focus on protecting public safety and ensuring robust mechanisms are in place to assess and manage the risks that certain types of offenders may pose.

The division is made up of three units: Prison and Release Unit; Community Justice Interventions Unit; and Reintegration and Public Protection Unit. The three units are supported by a Sponsorship and Finance Team.

Main Duties

• Lead on the development of a revised Moving Forward: Making Changes sex offender treatment programme for individuals in custody and the community.

This will include:

· Developing a clear logic model for the revised programme, setting out clear programme objectives and treatment outcomes.

· Oversee the establishment and work of 5 workstreams (Risk Assessment, Revised Programme, Training & Resources, Transition and Data & Evaluation) and co-ordinate their activity.

· Developing and writing the programme manuals;

· Overseeing the pilot of the revised programme and making any necessary changes

· Be part of the team who present the final revised programme to the Scottish Advisory Panel On Offender Rehabilitation to secure accreditation.

Although the post has a high level of leadership and autonomy, the post holder will be supported by the Public Protection Team within Community Justice Division in Scottish Government. They will also receive ongoing support and input from the members of the Advisory Board and the associated workstreams. The post holder will report to the National Advisory Board on MF:MC which has overall responsibility for overseeing the programme of work to revise the current MF:MC programme, including implementation and evaluation.

Key Competencies

Self Awareness - a self-starter with the ability to promote collaborative working and respond creatively to tough challenges. Comfortable managing multiple demands from multiple sources and prioritising.

Communications and Engagement - communicates a clear vision which supports actions and engages others. Able to skilfully manage a wide and varied range of views , information and priorities and be aware of, and sensitive to, tensions and challenges. Strong negotiating skills will also be required.

Improving Performance - experience of leading and influencing policy change and development. Adapts quick to fit skills and resources to changing circumstances and expectations. Takes responsibility to deliver consistent services, managing risk and resources to support continuous improvement.

Analysis and Use of Evidence - experience in using evidence to assess, measure and evaluate projects or options for change, considering the impact on policies and outcomes. The ability to develop a clear view of the way forward and commitment to the outcomes.

Behavioural Competencies

• Professionally assertive and authoritative
• Respectful and approachable
• Highly motivated
• Capable of building strong collaborative networks, bringing stakeholders together to deliver shared objectives

Essential Criteria

· Relevant qualifications and sound knowledge of evidence base around effective interventions enabling attitudinal and behavioural change in custody and the community.

· Experience of risk assessment and risk management of individuals who have committed sexual offences, including those with personality disorders and learning disabilities and the responsivity factors which may be relevant.

· Excellent written and verbal communication and engagement skills within multi-agency settings, and the ability to communicate effectively to different audiences.

· Experience of working collaboratively

Desirable Criteria

· Relevant qualifications and sound knowledge & experience of the Scottish criminal and community justice landscapes

· Good understanding of the principals of project management

· Evidence of delivering/implementing psychological interventions

Further information about the Organisation:

Further information about the Scottish Government Community Justice Division and our policy work is available on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot

Details of How to Apply:

For further information please contact Jennifer Stoddart, Head of Reintegration and Public Protection Unit, Community Justice Division on 0131 244 7401 (Jennifer.stoddart@gov.scot). If you would like to apply, please complete the Inward Secondment Application Form and return to Jennifer Stoddart at the above email address.