17936 - Head of Regional Training and Skills Development Department (London Probation)

Head of Regional Training and Skills Development Department (London Probation)

Vacancy Overview

The London Probation Regional Training and Skills Development Department is seeking an outstanding Head of Department to set up, shape, lead, and deliver an ambitious programme of learning, coaching, and practice support for probation staff across the region.

This is an exciting opportunity to set up a brand-new department in London offering a rare opportunity to build a function from the ground up. London is looking for someone who is passionate and who will thrive on the challenge of setting the vision, ways of working, and priorities from day one.

Accountable to London’s Regional Probation Director and reporting directly to the Head of Operations with the lead for Learning and Development, you will play a key role in strengthening practice and capability across London Probation. There is an expectation of regular travel across the region to support delivery and stakeholder engagement.

This senior role will lead the implementation and embedding of this department, ensuring the agreed regional model is translated into effective, consistent and sustainable practice to improve quality and protect the public The focus of the role is on turning an approved design into reality – overseeing delivery, assuring quality and impact, and ensuring the department meets its intended objectives.

The role is externally advertised and assessed under the Civil Service Success Profiles framework.

Role Summary

As Head of Regional Training and Skills Development, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for a region wide workforce development function. You will be responsible for establishing the department, leading delivery, and ensuring the learning and practice support offer delivers measurable improvements in practice quality, consistency and probation practitioner-confidence.

The role will be accountable to the Regional Probation Director and report to the Head of Operations with the lead for Learning and Development and will be part of the London Regional Leadership Team (RLT)

Regular travel across the London Region is required.

Key Responsibilities

You will

• Lead the implementation and embedding of the Regional Training and Skills Development Department in line with the approved regional model.
• Provide clear leadership, governance and direction for a region wide development offer, ensuring consistency while responding to local learning needs.
• Oversee delivery of a structured learning and development offer, integrating:
• classroom training and workshops
• structured coaching and mentoring programmes
• action learning and reflective practice
• practice-based support (including observation, co-working and feedback).
• talent-management, supporting staff to achieve their career development goals and fulfil their potential
• Manage phased rollout and expansion, initially prioritising Probation Services Officers (PSOs) and new administrators, with planned extension to Newly Qualified Officers (NQOs), Probation Officers (POs) and newly appointed Senior Probation Officers (SPOs).
• Provide senior oversight of quality assurance, evaluation and continuous improvement activities to ensure the department meets its objectives
• Chair operational governance arrangements and maintain a live departmental risk register, escalating risks appropriately.
• Work collaboratively with PDUs, Learning & Development, Performance and Quality, and other regional teams to ensure focus on identified regional learning-needs.
• Represent the department in regional forums, inspections and assurance activity.
• Ensure delivery demonstrates value for money, sustainability and aligns with regional priorities and objectives

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

You will be able to demonstrate

• Significant leadership experience in workforce development, organisational improvement or complex operational delivery.
• A strong track record of implementing and leading established models or programmes, including putting governance, assurance and controls in place.
• Experience of leading complex change, mobilising new services and embedding them into operational environments.
• Strategic leadership capability, including aligning delivery with organisational priorities, inspection expectations and workforce risk.
• Credibility and confidence in engaging senior stakeholders and influencing at regional level.
• Experience of using data, assurance activity and feedback to monitor impact and drive improvement.
• Experience of project management, from planning and implementation through to completion and review

Desirable Criteria

• Experience within probation, criminal justice or related public services.
• Understanding of inspection and regulatory frameworks and their implications for workforce development.
• Experience of coaching, mentoring or professional practice development frameworks.