Location: Victory House, Balliol Business Park or any accommodation as directed by the PCC
Accountability: Reports to the DA Specialist, Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit
Car User Status: Casual. Requirement to travel for training and national workshops (subject to covid-19 restrictions)
Salary: Grade H £33,222 - £36,269
Hours: 2.5 days per week
Contract Type: Fixed term until 30th September 2021 – subject to funding extension
Interview date: 12th January 2021 (on-line interview)
This post will be subject to Police Vetting and is politically restricted.
What is Drive?
Drive is an intervention that works with high-harm, high-risk and serial perpetrators of domestic abuse to prevent their abusive behaviour and protect victims. It advocates for changes to national systems so that perpetrators posing all levels of risk can no longer get away with abusive behaviour and can access the help they need to stop.
The Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, has secured funding to implement the Drive model in Northumbria and is looking to recruit an experienced project manager to lead the set-up and preparation. Candidates should have extensive experience of managing and /or commissioning multi-agency community safety interventions, ideally in a domestic abuse context
The Implementation and Evaluation Co-ordinator will project manage all aspects of multi-agency implementation including: contract and performance management; commissioning an independent evaluation of Drive; managing the Drive budget; overseeing delivery of the grant agreement including reporting on progress to the Home Office and partners; chairing relevant stakeholder meetings; fulfilling the role of the Drive Fellow; and acting as the key link between the Violence Reduction Unit; the Drive Central Team; the local service provider (Barnardo’s); Northumbria Police; and other partner agencies.
The post-holder will be based within the PCC’s Violence Reduction Unit. Successful implementation of Drive will support delivery of the VRU’s strategic priority to reduce reoffending.
Secondments are welcomed and candidates should be supported by their current employer who must be willing to enter into an agreement with the OPCC to be released for the duration of the secondment. Candidates who are not supported by their employer may apply for the role on a fixed term contract basis.
Purpose
To lead the set-up and project management of the Drive Project in Northumbria, building on the foundations of multi-agency approaches to tackling domestic abuse perpetrator behaviour.
Role summary
The Implementation and Evaluation Co-ordinator will project manage all aspects of multi-agency implementation and this will include, but is not limited to; contract management; chairing relevant stakeholder meetings; commissioning an independent evaluator; overseeing performance; managing the Drive budget; reporting on progress to the Home Office and partners; fulfilling the role of the Drive Fellow; and acting as the key link between the VRU; the Drive Central Team; the local service provider; Northumbria Police; and other key stakeholders.
The role will work closely with Northumbria Police ensuring that Drive is able to be embedded into the existing MATAC and MARAC processes and is given a high level of focus and buy in from key stakeholders. The post holder will also work closely with the Drive central team in building relationships and advocating for the service. The role will also take part in the Drive Leadership Development Programme for Drive Fellows which has been designed specifically to enhance the skills in delivering effective multi-agency preventative work.
Key roles and responsibilities of this post
Delivery site preparation and governance
• Develop and oversee a SMART Drive Implementation Plan and Risk Plan to ensure an audit trail of events and actions and to manage risk
• Work with Police and Drive leads to identify the key roles and responsibilities of key partners
• Identify potential Drive champions from appropriate local services based on local need and systems – to include as a minimum mental health and substance misuse services
• Ensure agencies are signed up to Drive information sharing protocols
• Work with the local Service Provider to help resolve any issues around set-up and delivery
• Advocate for the Drive service and ensure engagement / sponsorship from senior leaders in the Police and key stakeholders on behalf of the VRU/OPCC
• Take a lead establishing the best governance fit for Drive within existing local governance structures in collaboration with the OPCC, Police, Drive central team and local stakeholders
Contracting, reporting and budget management
• Lead on all aspects of commissioning and contract management of the local service provider, establishing appropriate mechanisms to manage the contract, including performance management responsibilities and close working with the Drive Central Support Team.
• Ensure compliance with the Drive grant agreement and OPCC contracting procedures.
• Manage the project budget and hold regular meetings with the Service Provider and Drive to ensure spend is maximised
• Lead on the production of monitoring reports, including measures of outputs and outcomes for performance and quality monitoring including audit requirements
Implementation and ongoing oversight
• Act as the main co-ordinator between the police, service provider, partners and the Drive central team to support the smooth implementation of Drive
• Support the MATAC Manager, MARAC Chairs and Drive service manager to identify and resolve issues that may impact on project delivery and identify areas where delivery could be improved, using monthly updates and performance reviewing session to assist.
• Attend working groups overseeing the operation of Drive and chair these where appropriate
Evaluation and exit plans
• Commission an independent evaluation of Drive
• Act as the key contact for the evaluator providing support in accessing key stakeholders and data needed to inform the evaluation.
• Lead on the development of an exit strategy / plan for longer-term sustainable funding should the early findings of the evaluation provide positive.
Required knowledge, skills and abilities
• Must have excellent communication, interpersonal and collaboration skills and the ability to build relationships; influence stakeholders around common goals; and negotiate with service providers, partners and stakeholders
• Must have the ability to analyse and present complex information in a simple fashion to a wide range of stakeholders
• Must have proven experience of setting up and delivering projects within timescales alongside the ability to remove barriers to delivery and provide recommendations on implementation planning
• IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office
• Must hold a degree or have substantial experience of working in a community safety multi-agency context and have a good understanding of domestic abuse.
• Must have comprehensive contract / project / programme management experience including developing and commissioning services and overseeing delivery of those services
• Must have proven experience of working in a pressured environment to tight timescales
• Must have proven experience of managing budgets for complex projects including reporting to external funders and stakeholders in line with grant agreements
• Should have an understanding of the public health approach to tackling serious violent crime and an excellent understanding of the local landscape and governance structures.