Applicants can find further information and apply online via the IMB website https://imb.org.uk/prison-volunteer/prison-volunteer-uk/. In exceptional circumstances a paper copy of the application may be available. Applicants should contact imbrecruitment@justice.gov.uk in the first instance. Please note that interviews take place via Zoom unless in-person interviews are required for reasonable adjustment purposes.
Members needed on Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) in the Immigration Detention Estate
Application deadline 14 October 2024
Contents
Summary
- Organisation
- Independent Monitoring Board of any prison or young offender institution
- Sponsor department
- Ministry of Justice
- Location
- Various
- Sectors
- Judicial, Prisons & Policing
- Skills
- Communication, Regulation
- Number of vacancies
- 15
- Time commitment
- Adhoc
- Length of term
- Up to 3 years with reappointment available up to a maximum tenure of 15 years.
- Application deadline
- 11:59pm on 14 October 2024
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Timeline for this appointment
-
Opening date
9 September 2024
-
Application deadline
11:59pm on 14 October 2024
-
Sifting date
1 November 2024
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Interviews expected to end on
20 December 2024
About the role
Role description
Members for Independent Monitoring Boards - Immigration Detention Estate (IDE)
Inside every place of immigration detention, there is an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) - a group of ordinary members of the public doing an extraordinary job.
IMB’s monitor the day-to-day life in detention, helping to ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained.
You need to be over 18 years of age, enthusiastic, open minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement. Applicants do not need any special qualifications or experience as we will provide all necessary training and support.
The time commitment is approximately 2 to 3 visits per month, although this will be higher in the first year as members go through induction into the role.
We are looking for new members to join the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) in the Immigration and Detention Estate across the UK who live within 40 miles of their nearest Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) or Short Term Holding Facility (STHF).
Immigration detention is the practice of detaining foreign nationals who are subject to immigration control for the purpose of resolving their immigration status. This can then result in individuals receiving permission to enter the country or being deported. Individuals can be detained in Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs), Short-Term Holding Facilities (STHFs) or Residential Short-Term Holding Facilities (RSTHFs).
We are currently recruiting for the following locations:
· Campsfield House IRC: Located in Kidlington, Oxfordshire
· Derwentside IRC: Located in Consett, County Durham
· Dungavel House IRC: Located in Strathaven, South Lanarkshire
· Gatwick IRC: Situated in the grounds of Gatwick Airport, Crawley
· Yarl’s Wood IRC: Located in Milton Ernest, Bedford
· Kent Coast STHF: Kent Intake Unit (KIU) and Western Jet Foil, Eastern Docks, Dover and Manston STHF
· London STHF: London Heathrow and London City Airports
· North East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside STHF: Immingham, Killingholme and Hull seaports; Swinderby STHF; Leeds/Bradford Airport; Leeds Waterside House Immigration Reporting Centre; Vulcan House Immigration Reporting Centre, Sheffield
· North West and Midlands STHF: Holyhead Port; Manchester Airport; The Capital Building Immigration Reporting Centre, Liverpool
· Scotland and Northern Ireland STHF: Aberdeen Airport
· South & East STHF: Luton Airport; Southend airport; Purfleet and Tilbury ports
· South and West STHF: Newhaven port
We encourage applications from people from minority ethnic communities, young people, those of working age, and people with disabilities, as these groups are under-represented on our existing Boards.
This is an unpaid, voluntary position, but we pay your travel expenses and in certain circumstances, some loss of earnings and childcare/carer costs.
Closing date for applications is 14 October 2024.
Recruitment reference: 1299/National IDE/2024
Please visit the IMB website for further information and to apply: https://imb.org.uk/prison-volunteer/prison-volunteer-uk/
Regulation of appointment
Person specification
Essential criteria
Application and selection process
Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.
The assessment process
- Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department.
- An Interview Panel (“Panel”) is convened to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.
- Applications may or may not be shortlisted.
- You will be advised (by email) whether you have been shortlisted and invited to an interview.
- The Panel will interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The names of all appointable candidates are provided to the Minister. It is then for the Minister to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, the Minister may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.
- The Panel’s recommendations will be provided to the Minister in a submission which details the outcome of each interview. They will then be asked to agree on the candidate(s) who should be appointed.
- Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.
In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.
There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.
The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards.
You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:
you are disqualified from acting as a company director (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);
have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;
your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.
When you apply, you should declare if:
you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this.
you are subject to a current police investigation.
You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points.
When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)IMB members have full access to their local prison, immigration removal centre or STHF at any time, day or night. For this reason, all our members must be security cleared. The following security clearance levels apply:
- Young Offender Institutions and Prisons with mother and baby units: Enhanced DBS with a Child Barred List Check
- High Security Prisons: Enhanced Level 2, and CTC (Counter-Terrorist Check)
- All other prisons: Enhanced level 1
- Immigration Estate: Standard DBS and CTC
Additional information for candidates
- ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
- making adaptations to interview locations;
- allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
- giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
- allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
- making provision for support animals to attend.
- any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government;
- any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made;
- and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported;
We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.
Please follow the IMB complaints process to raise your concerns. Your complaint will normally be acknowledged within five working days of receipt and answered as quickly and clearly as possible; at the most within 20 working days of receipt.The IMB’s privacy statement is available here: