Appointment details

Members for Independent Monitoring Boards – Prisons National

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: 40
• Time commitment: Adhoc
• Length of term: Up to 3 years with reappointment available up to a maximum tenure of 15 years.
• Application deadline: 10am on 15 April 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   5 March 2025

2. Application deadline

   10am on 15 April 2025

3. Sifting date

   16 April 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   26 June 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction from the Chair

Inside every prison, short-term holding facility and immigration removal centre is an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB). IMBs are made up of members of the local community to the establishment where they are appointed, who are tasked to monitor the fair and humane treatment of people and that proper standards of decency are maintained.

We are currently recruiting volunteers across the country and are keen to increase membership diversity, especially from under-represented groups such as young people, those of working age and individuals from minoritised groups.

Visit our website for current vacancies

Appointment description

As an IMB member you will have unrestricted access to the establishment you monitor and to everything that happens within them, including meetings, activities and records. Your observations and insights will provide evidence on what is actually happening rather than what is supposed to be happening.

You will monitor what happens to prisoners or people in immigration detention who are segregated or separated from others. You may also be called in to observe serious incidents and record the way in which the situation is handled. Your observations are shared with the prison or immigration detention facility’s management team.

You will be able to communicate with any prisoner or detained person you wish to, out of sight or hearing from staff, so they can voice any concerns. These can be wide-ranging issues such as safety concerns, healthcare, their ability to access the programmes and activities they need, alleged discrimination, lost property, or access to visits from family or friends.

We currently have IMB vacancies across the country, and more details can be found on our website.

Organisation description

The Prison Act 1952 and the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 require the Secretary of State for Justice and the Home Secretary to appoint independent Boards to monitor prisons and places of immigration detention, from members of the local community.

Under the National Monitoring Framework agreed with ministers, the Board is required to:

• make frequent visits
• have access to the records of the establishment
• inform ministers immediately of any abuse
• hear complaints and requests
• produce an annual report

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

To volunteer with us, you must:

• be over 18 years old
• commit to making around 2 to 3 visits a month (this is likely to be more during induction period)
• have the right to work in the UK
• live close to your volunteering location, usually within 30 miles or a travel time of 45 minutes (this could be more in certain locations)
• declare any potential conflicts of interest, for example any family connection with the prison or immigration detention facility, or business involvement in supplying a service to the establishment you are applying to
• declare criminal records (although this won’t necessarily prevent you from becoming a volunteer)

If you have any concerns about a possible conflict, or you have a criminal record, please contact the IMB by email imbrecruitment@justice.gov.uk and we would be happy to discuss this with you.

Desirable criteria

Inside every prison, there is an IMB – a group of ordinary members of the public doing an extraordinary job. IMB members are independent, unpaid and complete an average of 2-3 visits per month depending on the needs of the Board and the individual. Additional visits will be required during new members’ induction year.

We are currently looking for new volunteer members to join the IMB.  Our members help to ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained.

Applicants do not need any special qualifications or experience as we will provide all necessary training and support. You need to be enthusiastic, open minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement.

Application and selection process

How to apply

You can read the full guidance to apply to be an IMB member

Applicants can apply online please Prison volunteering vacancies - Independent Monitoring Boards

In exceptional circumstances a paper copy of the application may be available – please contact  imbrecruitment@justice.gov.uk to discuss.

Please note that interviews take place via Zoom unless in-person interviews are required for reasonable adjustment purposes.

The whole appointments process usually takes around six months, although we try to ensure times are kept to a minimum and keep applicants informed throughout the process, as we understand that the wait can be frustrating.

Overview of the application 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 

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department.  

1. An Interview Panel (“Panel”) is convened to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.  The Panel can also consider wider suitability factors, such as the candidate’s motivation, ability to commit the necessary time to do the role, behaviours that relate to the Seven Principles of Public Life.  

1. Applications may or may not be shortlisted.   

1. You will be advised (by email) whether you have been shortlisted and invited to an interview.  

1. 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.  

1. 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.  

1. 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.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

A number of interview panels will be set up for this campaign.  The chair of the panel will be an existing IMB member from outside the region you have applied to who has been trained to chair the interviews.  Two other IMB members will be on the panel.  They will usually be from the region or the location that you have applied to.

Eligibility criteria

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)

Candidates need to be over 18 years of age and live within a reasonable travel distance (less than 1 hour travel time) from the prison (this is usually 30 miles in suburban and rural areas, but will be much closer within city areas). 

Security clearance

MB 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 Level 1, and 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

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Interview Panel who review applications. against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘essential criteria', we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert. When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme..

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so..

Some examples of common changes are:

• 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.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment..

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• 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; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory appraisals of performance during each term in the post. If re-appointed, the total time served in post will not exceed 15 years.  

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

This is an unpaid, voluntary role, but we pay your travel expenses and in certain circumstances, some loss of earnings and childcare/carer costs. 

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We are able to offer high level feedback to candidates who have reached interview stage, if requested.

How to complain

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. 

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk.Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

The IMB’s privacy statement is available here: 

https://imb.org.uk/privacy-policy/ 

Contact details

General enquiries about our roles or the application process can be directed to IMBrecruitment@justice.gov.uk.