The Parole Board. Working with others to protect the public.
Recruitment
All Parole Board members must have a certain set of core qualities. On top of these, knowledge of the criminal justice system would be desirable, but is not essential, as full training will be given.
You will need to be able to organise information to find common themes and isolate what is relevant. Dossiers are complex and include information from different sources in different formats, which all needs reading and assimilating. Acute attention to detail is important. You will need to identify trends and use evidence to make conclusions. Being able to assess new information quickly is important, as is keeping up to date with the latest information and best practice.
Our members follow structures and procedures. You will be able to follow an oral argument. You have experience of effective risk management and the ability to balance evidence, think objectively and stick to the facts. Thinking independently and stating and supporting your own decision in front of your colleagues, whilst being open to challenge from them, will be a big part of serving on panels. Combining all of these skills, you will see logic and make the right decisions.
Good verbal communication is key. You must be clear and concise, covering all the relevant information. You will be aware of the chronology of events. You will be thoughtful, with the ability to interview, drawing out information from prisoners and others in order to assess risk. Listening is part of communication too, actively listening to others and responding flexibly. Confidence in public and speaking to a small audience is absolutely vital.
Report writing is a major part of service on the Parole Board. You will need to draft communications clearly, accurately and concisely, with effective use of IT, producing a comprehensive coverage of information in written documentation. All your points will be clearly conveyed.
The workload on the Parole Board is heavy but manageable with effective planning. You will organise your own time effectively in order to produce results, dealing with large volumes of work within tight timescales.
Teamwork is absolutely essential to what we do. You must develop effective working relationships with others, including colleagues and outside contacts. Openly communicating ideas and viewpoints will not be a problem for you, nor will actively listening to others and considering their views. You will check your own understanding and that others understand you. Youre not intimidated by the thought of positively challenging colleagues or arguing your position, and youre open to being challenged yourself.
For you, equal opportunity means the chance to work with colleagues as diverse as society itself. You understand the importance of promoting equal opportunities for all, treating people fairly while responding sensitively to differences. When human rights are an issue, you will respond appropriately, with an unwavering commitment to fairness.
You will be able to understand the perspective of the victim when making Parole Board decisions. This could be through direct experience of being a victim of crime yourself, through having links to others who have been victims of crime or through a wider understanding of the issues victims face.
IT competency is important. You will be provided with a laptop computer, software and a secure e-mail link, but you will need to provide your own internet access. You will have good word processing skills, including the ability to edit documents, and be able to access and read information from spreadsheets.
Grenadier House, 99-105 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 2DX
Telephone 0845 251 2220