Designate Commissioner for Domestic Abuse
- Body
- Non-statutory office holder
- Appointing Department
- Home Office
- Sectors
- Charity & Public Sector, Communities
- Location
- Central London (with flexibility)
- Number of Vacancies
- 1
- Remuneration
- £108-£140,000 per annum full-time equivalent salary
- Time Requirements
- Two or three days per week
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
04/12/2018
-
Closed for Applications
27/01/2019
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Panel Sift
13/02/2019
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Final Interview Date
25/03/2019
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Announcement
18/09/2019 at 00:00
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
The Home Secretary has today (Wednesday 18 September) announced Nicole Jacobs as the designate Domestic Abuse Commissioner. Ms Jacobs was the former Chief Executive Officer at charity Standing Together Against Domestic Violence and has more than two decades of experience working to reduce domestic abuse. The role of Domestic Abuse Commissioner will lead on driving improvements on the response to domestic abuse in the UK, championing victims and making recommendations on what more should be done to better protect victims and bring more offenders to justice. Home Secretary Priti Patel said: Domestic abuse is unacceptable, and I am absolutely determined to do all I can to protect victims and their families and ensure perpetrators face tough action. I am delighted that Nicole will be taking on the crucial role as Commissioner and acting as a voice for those who need it most. Also today, the Home Secretary will co-chair a roundtable with the Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland, to listen to the experiences and concerns of victims of sexual violence and to understand better what barriers could be preventing victims from engaging with the criminal justice system. Designate Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs said: Establishing the Office of the Domestic Abuse Commissioner shows the government’s commitment to reducing harm and improving the lives of those who experience domestic abuse. It is an honour and a privilege to be appointed as the first Commissioner and I intend to raise the voices of victims and survivors of all ages, status and background and ensure that we shine a light on practice that fails them. Minister for Safeguarding and Vulnerability, Victoria Atkins, said: The focus of the Commissioner will be to stand up for victims and survivors, raise public awareness and hold both agencies and government to account in tackling domestic abuse. I look forward to working with Nicole, and together we can bring about the most comprehensive package of measures ever attempted in England and Wales. The independent Office of Domestic Abuse Commissioner will be tasked with encouraging good practice in preventing domestic abuse; identifying both those at risk of abuse as well as those perpetrating it and improving the protection and provision of support to those affected by domestic abuse. They will also be able to publish reports that hold statutory agencies and the government to account. Ms Jacobs will initially work as the designate Commissioner until the Commissioner’s Office is placed on a statutory footing. Both the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary have stated their commitment to tackling domestic abuse, with commitments to bring in legislation during the Queen’s Speech. During her career, Ms Jacobs has worked in a number of roles linked to domestic abuse, including as a frontline practitioner, in senior operational and management roles, and as a trainer and strategic leader. She will take up the role this week.
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Colleen Harris
- Added
- 04/12/2018
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Senior Independent Panel Member
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| Political Activity | No Politicial Activity |
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| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Cecilia French
- Added
- 04/12/2018
- Positions
- Home Office Director of Public Protection Departmental Official
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| Political Activity | No Political Activity |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Frank Mullane
- Added
- 04/12/2018
- Positions
- Chief Executive of Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse Other Panel Member
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| Political Activity | No Political Activity |
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| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Samantha Rennie
- Added
- 04/12/2018
- Positions
- Executive Director of Rosa Other Panel Member
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| Political Activity | No Political Activity |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
Vacancy Description
Do you want to play a leading role in helping to reduce domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse is a terrible crime. Two million adults a year experience it, yet it remains largely hidden, as most victims do not speak to the police or other public bodies. And when they do the quality of the services which they receive will vary significantly according to where they live. Transforming the response to domestic abuse is a key priority for the Government, so we are establishing a Designate Domestic Abuse Commissioner, which will offer a unique opportunity to make a huge difference to victims and survivors of domestic abuse across England and Wales. The post holder will provide public leadership on issues of domestic abuse, ensure that the voices of victims and survivors are heard, and drive real improvements in the provision of services. The Designate Domestic Abuse Commissioner will:
• provide national leadership on the response to domestic abuse, ensuring that the voices of victims and survivors are heard; • work in partnership with a range of stakeholders and public bodies to drive change; and • map the local and national response to domestic abuse and publish the results and the recommendations arising.
Subject to Parliament’s approval of the necessary legislation (a draft Domestic Abuse Bill will be published later in this parliamentary session), the role will become statutory, but we are seeking to recruit a Designate Commissioner ahead of this, so that we can achieve real change now. We expect that the Designate Commissioner will have the same responsibilities as the statutory Commissioner, although formal powers to compel public bodies to co-operate will exist once the post becomes statutory.
We are looking for an outstanding leader, who can provide national leadership in the public sphere, work with partners, engage with service providers and, most importantly, listen to and communicate the voices of victims and survivors and their children. You should be able to build an organisation, inspire a team and understand the importance of robust evidence in enabling the provision of excellent services. This role will give you a unique chance to influence the national conversation on a critical issue, and to improve the lives of those affected by it.
Person Specification
It is essential that you provide in your supporting statement evidence and proven examples against each of the selection criteria in Part One of the person specification, in so far as you are able. These responses will be further developed and explored with those candidates invited for interview, together with the other criteria listed in Part Two.
PART ONE: ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
Skills and Experience
• Experience of strategic leadership at senior levels of Civil Society, Government, Law Enforcement, Private Sector, Public Sector or Academia.
• Strong communication, negotiating and interpersonal skills to build effective working relationships with Ministers, policy owners, Government departments, the media, and other key stakeholders, including the wider public sector, civil society, and the public.
• The ability to build and grow an organisation.
• The ability to work effectively in partnership with other organisations.
• A clear understanding of the role of evidence-based analysis in informing the work of public bodies in an area of political and public attention and sensitivity.
• Strong financial and people management and governance experience.
• The ability to provide robust, independent advice, under a high level of public interest and scrutiny, negotiating between conflicting opinions and generating options to reach consensus.
PART TWO: KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
You should also be able to demonstrate:
• Experience or knowledge of the issues involved in domestic abuse.
• The ability to be a highly regarded, credible and confident leader, with the capability to lead effective boards and organisations to deliver agreed priorities.
• Credibility with government, civil society and the public.
The Designate Commissioner should operate in the public interest at all times, rather than in the interests of any particular organisation or interest group. S/he should consistently demonstrate the highest levels of personal integrity, in accordance with the 7 Principles of Public Life.
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have or to be willing to obtain security clearance to Security Check (SC) level. Pre-appointment checks will also be undertaken on immigration and criminal convictions. It usually takes between four and five weeks to obtain the security clearance. The role will be offered on a conditional basis until the successful candidate has passed all checks. The successful candidate will be encouraged to take up this appointment as soon as possible, subject to the successful completion of all pre-appointment checks.
How to Apply
Please send your completed application comprising CV, supporting statement and Annex A supporting document to: publicappointments@homeoffice.gov.uk