Violence Reduction Unit Coordinator
Location: Balliol Business Park, Benton Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne and home working.
Department: Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner – Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit
Closing Date: 1 December 2021
Salary Banding: £41,040 to £44,928 Full time (37 hours per week)
There are 2 roles available
The role:
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is one of eighteen areas that have secured funding from the Home Office to develop a Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and commission services to deliver a response strategy including capacity building, tactical changes and interventions. The VRU adopts public health approach to violence reduction, deigned to bring together key partners from Police, Local Government, Health, Education and Voluntary and Community organisations to tackle violent crime and its underlying causes.
With support from the Head of the VRU and the Public Health Specialist, the VRU Co-ordinator will be collectively responsible for oversight and delivery of projects aligned to the Response Strategy. Projects and interventions will be delivered under the following four key themes:
· Youth Diversion;
· Working with Families;
· Reducing Offending;
· Connecting Communities.
This is an ideal opportunity for the right person to help deliver the work of the VRU. We are seeking an individual with drive and ambition and a strong background in Community Safety, Criminal Justice, Public Health or a related discipline, with experience of working with organisations and communities to develop and deliver projects.
Qualified to degree level or have substantial experience, you will have an extensive and excellent track record of implementing programmes in a range of settings, along with excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, strong written and communication skills. You will need to have a proven track record of partnership working with a range of statutory, voluntary and academic agencies to reduce violent crime. This is a vital role within the team and the successful candidate will have substantial, demonstrable experience of working in a similar role.
What will I be doing?
The key responsibilities of this post include;
• Shaping policy and develop/ commission services to deliver the Northumbria VRU’s response strategy including tactical changes and interventions from partners focusing on: Youth Diversion, Working with Families, Reducing Offending, Connecting Communities;
• Work with the Head of the Northumbria VRU and colleagues to contribute and deliver the work programme of the VRU ensuring effectiveness and value for money is achieved;
• Lead and performance manage across multi-agency teams and directorates to ensure commissioned services, policy and work programmes effectively meet Northumbria VRU needs;
• Ensure relevant due diligence checks have been undertaken and reporting and quality measures are in place;
• Build strong working relationships with partners across the Northumbria VRU and external stakeholders;
• Ensuring that the stakeholder management is prioritised in the policy development process and communication of the programme’s process and actions are of very high quality and key influencers are prioritised;
• Ensure the team is informed on key national policy issues in relation to violence reduction, strategy focus areas, criminal justice, policing and community safety - advising the Head of the Unit and VRU Board as appropriate;
• Oversee briefings, correspondence and advice to senior decision-makers and colleagues on Northumbria VRU policy relating to violence reduction/ strategy focus areas;
• Responsible for co-ordinating governance arrangements surrounding the Northumbria VRU.
What do I need?
Required knowledge skills and abilities
• Must have comprehensive project and programme management experience including developing and commission services and overseeing the delivery of those services;
• Must hold a degree or have substantial relevant experience of working within a multi-agency public sector environment;
• Must have the ability to manage multiple tasks and have proven experience of delivering within timescales;
• Must have the ability to handle complex information and be able to analyse and present it in a simple fashion;
• Must have experience of managing work with people and agencies across multiple sites;
• Must have excellent communication/interpersonal and collaboration skills and an ability to communicate, build relationships, influence and negotiate with prospective providers, stakeholders and partners;
• Must have experience of working in a pressured environment to tight timelines;
• Should have some experience of at least one of the following areas: early intervention; youth diversion; drugs, alcohol, homelessness; Mental Health;
• Should have an understanding of the public health approach and how interventions can be delivered at population level, targeting resources effectively through increased understanding of the population.
Desirable Criteria
• Good understanding of the role of Police & Crime Commissioners and the priorities of the Northumbria Commissioner.
• The flexibility to work additional / out of hours as necessary to fulfil requirements of the role and meet the business needs.
• Experience of minute taking and writing, with attention to detail and able to draft / edit written documents and correspondence independently.
• Excellent IT skills.
Vetting level:
Recruitment Vetting (RV)
Applicants must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 3 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information and references.
If you have any queries with regard to the application process please contact the Talent Acquisition Team by email at careers@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
All staff including those appointed on fixed term contracts must successfully complete their probationary period before they are eligible to apply for a Northumbria Police vacancy.
Vacancy Contact: To discuss the position in more detail please contact Nicola Cummings Public Health Specialist by email at enquiries@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria fully supports a policy of equal opportunities and we welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Appointments are based on merit alone