Operationally
independent of Government, the Chair will be expected to lead the Lay
Observers and challenge the Government to improve conditions, through
regular engagement with senior government stakeholders as well as well-designed
recommendations in an Annual Report. The Chair is responsible for leading
the work of the Lay Observers and ensuring that there are systems, policies and
guidance to assist Lay Observers to perform their statutory responsibilities
effectively and independently. They are expected to lead the organisation in
light of the protocol agreed with MoJ which sets out its remit and functions.
The National Council
considers matters relevant to all Lay Observers and is led by the Chair. It is
responsible for:
·
developing the strategy
and culture of the organisation;
·
providing mechanisms
for Lay Observers reporting on the conditions in which detainees are held and
transported by escort contractors’ staff;
·
ensuring visits are
carried out by Lay Observers, reports are completed, and concerns brought to
the attention of the Prisoner Escort & Custody Service Contract Delivery
Managers, HMCTS and other relevant stakeholders;
·
maintaining Lay
Observers membership at a level which allows them to perform their duties;
ensuring the recruitment of Lay Observers is conducted fairly, openly and on
merit. The Chair convenes and oversees the work of the Lay
Observers’ National Council. The Chair also ensures that, on a
regional basis, monitoring is appropriately performed by the Lay Observers and
that their work properly dovetails with that of other bodies, such as the
Independent Monitoring Boards (IMBs) and prison inspectors.
The Chair is the
principal Lay Observer representing the organisation, as well as the national
media spokesperson and national liaison point with Ministers, the Department,
Parliament, His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), His Majesty’s
Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and partner organisations. The Chair and
National Council are supported by a Secretariat that is shared with the
Independent Monitoring Boards; the Chair task manages the CEO of Secretariat.
In the Prisons Strategy White Paper,
the Ministry of Justice has committed to bringing forward legislation to
combine the IMBs’ Management Board and Lay Observers’ National Council into a
single Board under a single Chair – both of which are to be recognised in
legislation. The Chair will be
responsible for leading this work with the Chair of the IMBs.
Therefore, whilst the
length of tenure for this post is advertised as 3 years, this may be shorter if
a legislative slot is obtained, and legislation is laid during this time.
Further information on the role of the Lay Observers
can be found here.
This is an
exciting opportunity to lead the Lay Observers, at a time when independent
scrutiny, is high on Ministerial agendas.
The Lay
Observers role is to inspect conditions in which detained persons are
transported or held by escort and custody contractors in England and Wales and
we require a voluntary, part-time Chair to provide strategic oversight to the
organisation. Lay Observers operate independently of Government and are part of
the UK’s National Preventive Mechanism, under the United Nations Optional
Protocol to the Convention Against Torture, (OPCAT).
There are
currently 48 Active Lay Observer members, excluding the Chair, who operate in
England and Wales. Lay Observers are
unpaid public appointees appointed by the Secretary of State under the Criminal
Justice Act 1991 (section 81(1)(b)).
This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the
Commissioner’s website 