National Specialist Lead (Ref: 21575)

This role is based Nationally.

Interventions Services National Specialist Lead TEMPORARY

Directorate: Rehabilitation & Change

Job Title: Interventions Services National Specialist Lead

Grade: HMPPS Band 8

Job description

The National Specialist Lead (NSL) within HMPPS Headquarters is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and maintenance of specialist interventions aimed at reducing reoffending. The role ensures that accredited and nonaccredited programmes are evidence based, clinically robust, and aligned with organisational priorities. NSLs design and oversee interventions and related products for complex groups, including those convicted of violent and sexual offences, and ensure programmes respond to evolving research, policy, and population needs.

NSLs provide expert clinical and operational advice across HMPPS and to external partners. They offer strategic guidance to senior managers, commissioners, psychologists, and practitioners, supporting high quality intervention delivery in prisons and the community. This includes advising on programme development, policy, training requirements, and emerging practice, ensuring HMPPS maintains a strong national and international reputation for effective rehabilitation.

A core part of the role is delivering high quality national training for staff who facilitate offending behaviour programmes. NSLs design and update training materials, deliver training and ensure that staff are prepared to deliver effective, evidence-based interventions. They also lead innovation, developing new interventions and assessment tools to respond to gaps in provision, changes in needs, commissioning priorities, and wider political or strategic shifts.

Overall, the NSL plays a crucial leadership role in ensuring HMPPS offers effective, evidence-based interventions that support rehabilitation and public protection, while also maintaining their own specialist expertise through ongoing professional development to retain credibility with commissioners, practitioners, and external stakeholders.

This campaign is to recruit individuals into temporary Band 8 National Specialist Lead positions. Applicants should note there is x2 permanent post that's running Simultaneously. Applicants should apply to all campaigns they are interested in.

Key responsibilities

Designing and Developing Interventions

Leading the design, development, accreditation, training, implementation, support, and maintenance of both accredited and non‑accredited offending behaviour programmes (including specialist assessments).

Ensuring Clinical Integrity and Evidence-Based Practice

Ensuring all interventions are clinically robust, grounded in international evidence, fit for purpose, defensible, and developed through consultation with stakeholders. Aligning all products with HMPPS’ strategic priorities for reducing reoffending.

Providing Expert Clinical and Operational Advice

Offering advice to senior commissioners, HMPPS delivery sites, other government departments, and external partners. Contributing to briefings, parliamentary responses, policy development, and strategic decision‑making.

Supporting Stakeholders and Building Partnerships

Working collaboratively across HMPPS and with external agencies to share expertise, ensure programmes meet local needs, contribute to cross‑government groups, and respond to changes in populations and commissioning requirements.

Leading and Delivering Specialist Training

Designing, updating, and delivering national specialist training to ensure staff are equipped to deliver high quality, evidence-based intervention

Innovation and Product Development

Leading the development of new interventions and assessment tools, identifying gaps in provision, ensuring products are contemporary, evidence‑informed, and delivered on time. Considering political change, population needs, and emerging evidence.

Maintaining Professional Competence

Staying current in understanding and applying the evidence base on effective rehabilitation, and in relation to specific cohorts.

Additional Duties

Undertaking other tasks appropriate to the grade when required, with any significant changes discussed in line with job evaluation processes.

Technical Requirements

• Registered Psychologist or Qualified Probation Officer.

Essential Skills

• Specialist skills and expertise relating to the assessment and treatment of individuals in prison or in the community.
• A minimum of five years’ experience of working with people who have offended in a community or custody setting.
• Proven experience of providing training to multi-disciplinary staff.

Desirable skills

• Experience of working with individuals who have specific responsively needs e.g. learning disability.
• Experience of delivering and supervising an accredited offending behaviour programme.
• Experience of delivering, supervising and managing accredited programmes in custody or in the community.
• Proven training/experience of providing clinical supervision to facilitators who deliver treatment.
• Chartered and / or Registered with HCPC.

Further information

If you would like further information about the role you should reach out to either cara.cunningham@justice.gov.uk or Aubrey.vanzyl@justice.gov.uk

Applicants can also see more details about the role here: [https://sway.cloud.microsoft/PHHugKEGuaxqrE2B?ref=email]

Registered Psychologist or Qualified Probation Officer.

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)
• 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)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.