Head of Female Prison - Sodexo : Job Details

In this newly scoped role, our Head of Female Prison will support the Prison Director with all aspects of running the female prison.

Do you have senior management experience in the criminal justice field? Are you a team player, an inspirational leader and can you motivate all levels of staff to succeed in difficult circumstances? Are you innovative, strategically minded and able to build trust with people from all backgrounds?

As Head of Female Prison, you'll provide an operationally safe and secure custodial environment which meets the needs of female prisoners and promotes dignity and opportunity to reduce re-offending and change lives for the better. You'll do this by providing strategic and operational leadership for the female prison, communicating the vision for the Prison and Justice Services through high levels of staff engagement and values-based leadership, delivering the business and contractual requirements of the female prison and taking responsibility for the performance and quality of services.

HMP/YOI Peterborough is the country's only purpose-built prison for both male and female prisoners (kept separate at all times), including a 12-place mother and baby unit.

In Sodexo Justice, we aim to change lives for the better by operating safe, decent, and secure prisons. We rehabilitate those in our care and provide purposeful activity, employment, education, and rehabilitation services. We support offenders to lead law-abiding lives in their community on release.

Join Sodexo and be part of something greater. You belong in a team where you can act with purpose and thrive in your own way.

• Working with the Prison Director to develop and review the female prison strategy, including delivery of an annual business plan and equality plan setting targets for improvements in performance and efficiency in line with business requirements.
• Deliver the agreed performance and contractual targets on time and within budget.
• Ensure the identification, management and review of organisational risk (operational, financial, reputational and people).
• Develop and sustain a culture that attracts, engages, motivates and retains high quality staff to foster a work environment where hard work, innovation and creativity are encouraged and valued. Ensure effective workforce and succession planning.
• Ensure financial probity and value for money, ensuring all services are delivered within budget, with all identified efficiencies achieved.
• Make recommendations to Prison Director around the contract change process to identify and resource new work.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with the Controller team and all external partners including HMPPS.
• Effectively manage and engage with audit and inspection processes.
• Provide people management for team members.
• Identify and maximise opportunities for the growth of the organisation, to ensure a vibrant and viable company for the future, presenting business case to Prison Director.

• Senior operational leadership experience in female prisons with ability to communicate and promote engagement with vision.
• A role model leader - authentic leadership skills with a clear and demonstrable understanding of key people management tools and resources.
• Successful completion of incident and hostage management training, and adjudication training.
• Financial management experience, including responsibility for budgets, and proven ability to achieve efficiencies.
• Strategic thinking, understanding policy and legal context, to make meaningful decisions in complex and challenging situations.
• Proven ability to develop mature, productive and meaningful relationships with internal and external service providers, key stakeholders and partners.
• Effective communicator, including the proven ability to negotiate and influence at a strategic level.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement in politicised and pressured environment.
• Technical knowledge of relevant prison legislation, Prison Service Orders and instructions, Standards, inspection and audit processes, and knowledge of the wider criminal justice system.
• Deputy Governor/Director experience.

Alongside an attractive salary and a meaningful career with personal growth, the successful candidate will benefit from:

• Performance-related bonus.
• A flexible benefits fund of £1,300 to utilise a range of benefits, including Private Medical Insurance (PMI), dental, gym memberships, retail / hospitality discounts, etc.
• 20+ Sodexo benefits such as Sodexo retirement plan, private healthcare, discounts to over 1,900 brands to shop online, Gym discount to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme providing independent support to overcome whenever life has its obstacles including emotional support, legal and financial advice.

All offers are subject to MOJ vetting and clearance checks – you will be subjected to an advanced DBS check, a prison security check (level 2) prior to being employed.

Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today!

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be natural, and be the best versions of themselves. We recognise that we're on a journey with regards to diversity and inclusion and would therefore welcome applications for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds.

We're a Disability Confident Leader employer. We're committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.

To be considered for an interview you must:

• provide evidence in your application that you meet the minimum criteria in the job description.
• meet all of the qualifications, skills or experience defined as essential.

Location: HMP YOI Peterborough, Saville Road, Westwood, Peterborough, PE3 7PD, United Kingdom.