Assistant Portfolio Director - Effectiveness (Secondment)

Job summary

Summary

HMICFRS independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire and rescue services – in the public interest. We promote improvements in policing and fire and rescue services to make everyone safer.

We are independent of the Government, police and fire and rescue services. We ask the questions that we believe the public wish to have answered and produce major reports that shine a light on issues at the very heart of policing and fire and rescue services.

Our reports are widely covered by the media and help inform the public of the performance of their local police forces and fire and rescue services. You can find out more about HMICFRS on our website and see some of our recent reports.

Working at HMICFRS gives you an opportunity to make a real difference to the quality of local police and fire and rescue services and the lives of the public.

HMICFRS is a unique organisation with staff seconded or loaned from across the Civil Service, police forces and fire and rescue services. We set ourselves high standards, taking great pride in the quality of work we achieve and the opportunities we create for our staff.

Job description

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) independently inspects police forces and fire & rescue services in the public interest. The fire & rescue services inspection focuses on the efficiency and effectiveness of fire & rescue services across England, as well as how well they look after their people. We are independent of the government, police services and fire & rescue services.

Working in HMICFRS as an Assistant Portfolio Director puts you at the heart of the inspection activity. We are looking for talented individuals who have the drive, enthusiasm and skills to be part of this inspection programme. You will need to be inquisitive, have the ability to assess performance objectively and follow lines of enquiry. You will be expected to form constructive relationships that will enable you to work closely with those we inspect, provide challenge, identify areas for improvement and share best practice. You must have excellent written and oral skills and be able to provide a high-quality level of service to assist the HMI in discharging their public office function efficiently and effectively.

HMICFRS is seeking to recruit an Assistant Portfolio Director to lead the Effectiveness strand of the FRS inspection programme. The post holder will undertake a significant role in promoting improvements in the fire and rescue service focusing on how effective the service is at keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks. This will involve assessing how well the fire and rescue service understands its current and future risk and demand, prevents and responds to fires and other emergencies, provides protection through regulation and is prepared to respond to national emergencies.

The Assistant Portfolio Director will report to the Deputy Portfolio Director and may have responsibility for an SEO or HEO.

To be eligible to apply you must meet the following:

• Be employed by a fire and rescue service and/or the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC)
• Applicants must obtain agreement from their employing organisation before appointment
• Any appointment remains subject to agreement between HMICFRS and the substantive employer

Responsibilities

• Leading the design, delivery and oversight of the Effectiveness strand of the inspection programme to help assess the way in which the service keeps people safe from fire and other risks;
• Undertaking research, responding to correspondence, preparing briefings and providing assurance of the information HMICFRS holds about the effectiveness strand;
• Maintaining expertise and technical knowledge on all areas of the effectiveness strand, including a clear understanding of emerging sector priorities.
• Providing expert advice on the effectiveness strand, focusing on protection, prevention and response;
• Managing and evaluating a wide range of evidence and working confidently with a range of analytical products;
• Developing and delivering an effective quality assurance process for FRS inspection reports;
• Representing HMICFRS and/or deputising for the Deputy Portfolio Director at meetings/events where required;
• Developing and maintaining professional working relationships with fire and rescue services and other agencies. Keeping key stakeholders, such as relevant leads from the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, updated about future inspection activity and good practice elsewhere. Representing HMICFRS at relevant external boards and working groups;
• Building strong interpersonal relationships with inspection colleagues through actively participating in inspection activity and supporting diverse inspection teams;
• Working closely with the FRS portfolio team and other teams across HMICFRS during the designing, planning, analysis and reporting phases of inspections;
• Demonstrating and actively promoting behaviours described in HMICFRS’s values, and where applicable taking an active role in managing and developing staff.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

This opportunity is open to candidates working within the fire and rescue services and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). Applicants must obtain agreement from their employing organisation before appointment; and will remain subject to agreement between HMICFRS and the substantive employer.

• Detailed operational knowledge and experience of fire & rescue services in England, including a comprehensive understanding of fire protection and clear awareness and understanding of emerging sector priorities.
• Experience of presenting to and building effective relationships with senior-level stakeholders and partners, with proven experience of influencing, engaging and working collaboratively at a senior level.
• Experience of analysing complex, incomplete and sometimes conflicting information, identifying key themes and issues, and presenting clear, well-considered, evidence-based conclusions.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with experience of preparing clear, structured reports, papers and briefings to a high standard, alongside effective use of Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience of leading, managing or coordinating complex operational activity, programmes, projects or inspections.
• Experience of leading and motivating teams to deliver high-quality outcomes, including performance management, planning, prioritisation and delivery to deadlines.
• Experience of leading, managing and motivating teams to deliver high-quality outcomes, including the coordination of complex operational activity, programmes, projects or inspections, as well as performance management, planning, prioritisation and delivery to deadlines

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

• Learning and Development tailored to your role

We are committed to investing in our staff and providing all staff with opportunities to maximize their skills and achieve their potential. We offer a range of work-based training and development opportunities including access to coaching and mentoring, and five days volunteering per year.

• An environment with flexible working options

We promote flexible working that balances professional and personal commitments. We support virtual and smart working, making best use of our technology and building collaborative working models to help all staff to work from home and/or in the office in a ‘hybrid’ way. 

• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

The diversity of our people is a real asset to HMICFRS. We are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities, as they are currently under-represented within this grade level

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete

• CV detailing job history/qualifications/skills ( The CV is for information purposes only and will not be marked)
• Personal Statement (maximum 1250 words) aligned to the essential criteria listed in the advert.
• Evidence of the Behaviour - Seeing The Big Picture (This is set at the maximum of 250 words per Behaviour)

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift and interview process .

The first stage of the sift will be carried out on your personal statement which should be aligned to the essential criteria, detailed in the job advert.

If you do not meet the essential criteria, your application will not progress further. For those who do meet the essential criteria, their application will progress to the second stage of the sift process.

The second stage of sift is based on the lead behaviour Seeing The Big Picture.

If successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview where you will be asked questions on the:

Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and experience-based questions.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

You will also need to complete and submit the Force Approval Form (attachment below) by the application closing date. While you may submit your online application without the form, you cannot be appointed without the required approval. Failure to provide the completed form by the closing date may result in your application being withdrawn from the recruitment process. Please send the completed form to Recruitment@hmicfrs.gov.uk .

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers .

• Sift and interview dates
• Sift – w/c 15th September
• Interviews by Video link – w/c 5th October

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer.

Behavioural statements

You need to provide specific examples of when you have demonstrated particular skills or qualities for each of the five Civil Service behaviours listed. Your examples must also show how you meet the Essential criteria and skills listed in the job description.

We recommend that you use the  Situation, Task, Action and Result (STAR) method  to help make sur