19117 - Human Resources Business Partner

General Information

Salary

£42,914 - £46,182

Working Pattern

Full Time, Part Time, Flexible Working

Vacancy Approach

External

Location

Bristol

Region

South West

Closing Date

07-Jul-2026

Post Type

Permanent

Civil Service Grade

SEO

Number of jobs available

1

Reserve List

12 Months

Job ID

19117

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Human Resources Business Partner

Grade SEO x1

Team/Directorate: MoJ People and Capability - HR Business Partnering (HMPPS)

Location: Regional - South West - HMP Bristol

Overview of the role:

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is responsible for everything that goes into running the UK's criminal and civil justice systems, creating the foundations for a safe, fair and prosperous society. We are one of the largest government departments with over 88,000 staff based across England and Wales. We are responsible for 500 courts and tribunals, 122 prisons, the policies underpinning the system and much more.

MoJ People and Capability supports the organisation by enabling its people to be the best that they can be. We are continuously reviewing and enhancing the services we provide to ensure the delivery of high-quality services for our customers. MoJ People and Capability has over 1,400 committed and capable professionals delivering people services across the Justice family. At the heart of delivering these services are our people.

This is an exciting opportunity to provide strategic HR partnering to senior leaders in HM Prisons and Probation (HMPPS). You will be critical ensuring HMPPS meets it aims in protecting the public and reducing reoffending and gain unique experience which will enable you to progress in your career. This role sits within the HR Business Partner (HMPPS) Team which is the front facing arm of the People & Capability Function supporting a number of business units across HMPPS.

The post holder will partner closely with the Governor and Senior Management Team at HMP Bristol, playing a key role in delivering people priorities within the establishment. Working collaboratively with senior leaders, the role will support the business to achieve its objectives through effective people management and workforce strategies.

Acting as a trusted HR partner, the post holder will facilitate access to central services and work alongside the business to implement practical, innovative people initiatives that drive performance and engagement.

As a qualified (or aspiring) HR professional, you will draw on your generalist HR knowledge, professional expertise and interpersonal skills to provide insight, challenge and support to senior leaders, ensuring alignment between people priorities and operational delivery.

You will join a friendly and diverse HR team working across Prison and Probation stakeholders in the Southwest. Alongside your work with HMP Bristol, you will have the opportunity to lead on a regional strand of the people strategy, offering valuable scope for professional development and career progression.

The post holder will be required to bring together the people priorities for their prison and probation customer group or National Services at a senior level. They will support on the underpinning activities to enable;

• Solving: Provide strategic input on HR topics and help leaders develop effective people solutions
• Connecting: Help the organisation draw on appropriate People Function Services and shared service support
• Coaching: Coach leaders on how to manage people issues and drive the people agenda effectively

With links to the wider HR specialist functions within MoJ People and Capability, the post holder will facilitate access to the right services to deliver relevant people initiatives.

Key Delivery Strands:

Change Management

• Understanding the business and the drivers for change to be able to support the business with the people elements of change implementation.
• Support the business through reorganisation, restructures and redeployment.

Resourcing & Retention

• Working in partnership with the business and finance to understand the current and predicted workforce picture based on attrition and recruitment forecasting.
• Support in the execution of interventions to address resourcing and retention challenges and facilitating access to the right services across MOJ People and Capability.
• Provide support and advice on resourcing vacancies, ensuring compliance with Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

Management & Leadership Capability

• To understand the line manager and leadership capabilities within the business unit, support the business to access centrally run learning through the learning and development team and/or helping to develop the right learning interventions.
• Supporting senior leaders with the development of their leadership teams.

Attendance & Performance

• Help build management confidence and capability in managing absence, performance, conduct and grievance cases ensuring the right advice can be accessed.
• Work with the business to understand the casework picture and support senior leaders to drive action to progress cases within policy timelines, supporting in the access of advice.
• Work between HR and the business to ensure the policies are understood and embedded
• Understand the role of the unions and support managers with union engagement related to people activity.

Employee Experience and Staff Engagement

• Working with the senior leaders to analyse and identify the right people priorities through the annual Civil Service People Survey. Bringing in other workforce and people data as required to enable the business area to bring together an appropriate engagement delivery plan.
• Supporting the stakeholder group to implement the right employee engagement interventions, accessing the right support from within the people group drawing on best practise and central offers.

Inclusion & Well-being

• Ensure diversity and inclusion runs through all people strategies and action plan.
• Facilitate access to products and services to help support networks to improve delivery.
• Support the business to access the necessary wellbeing services for staff. Bringing together all that is available through the People Function to provide the right well-being package or service dependent on the need.

Essential Criteria

• The ability to confidently build and manage a diverse range of relationships, including senior stakeholders. (assessed via behaviour Working together)
• Experience of delivering in a HR team; (assessed via Seeing the Big Picture)
• Experience of delivering HR plans, people management, and supporting others to optimise performance of their staff. (assessed via behaviour Managing a Quality Service)
• Excellent communication skills, both in verbal and written formats. (assessed via behaviour Communicating and Influencing)
• Ability to analyse and understand data to ensure evidence based decisions support business delivery. (assessed via behaviour Managing a Quality Service)

Base Location and Travel Requirements

This role will partner prisons in the South West and will be based at HMP Bristol,19 Cambridge Road, Bristol. BS7 8PS

The successful candidates will be required to travel occasionally to Prison and Probation sites across the South West region.

All applicants should be aware that business partnering arrangements are subject to change and postholders will be expected to accommodate changes in partnering arrangements in line with business need to include providing cover and support for other business areas when required.

Application process:

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.

Sift

Behaviours

Please provide examples of how you have met each one of the behaviours listed below:

• Seeing the Big Picture (Lead Behaviour)
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Experience

Please submit an anonymous copy of your CV.

Qualification

You will have completed and achieved your Chartered MCIPD (or have an equivalent HR qualification) or be willing to work towards it and actively demonstrate Continuous Professional Development.

Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on the lead behaviour of Seeing the Big Picture. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths.

Interview:

At interview you will be assessed using the below behaviours and strengths from the Success Profiles.

• Seeing the Big Picture (Lead Behaviour)
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Please note that interviews will be held virtually.

If you have any questions regarding the role please contact -anna.biddle@justice.gov.uk

Additional Information

Job Description

Job Title: Human Resources Business Partner

Grade SEO x1

Team/Directorate: MoJ People and Capability - HR Business Partnering (HMPPS)

Location: Regional - South West - HMP Bristol

Overview of the role:

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is responsible for everything that goes into running the UK's criminal and civil justice systems, creating the foundations for a safe, fair and prosperous society. We are one of the largest government departments with over 88,000 staff based across England and Wales. We are responsible for 500 courts and tribunals, 122 prisons, the policies underpinning the system and much more.

MoJ People and Capability supports the organisation by enabling its people to be the best that they can be. We are continuously reviewing and enhancing the services we provide to ensure the delivery of high-quality services for our customers. MoJ People and Capability has over 1,400 committed and capable professionals delivering people services across the Justice family. At the heart of delivering these services are our people.

This is an exciting opportunity to provide strategic HR partnering to senior leaders in HM Prisons and Probation (HMPPS). You will be critical ensuring HMPPS meets it aims in protecting the public and reducing reoffending and gain unique experience which will enable you to progress in your career. This role sits within the HR Business Partner (HMPPS) Team which is the front facing arm of the People & Capability Function supporting a number of business units across HMPPS.

The post holder will partner closely with the Governor and Senior Management Team at HMP Bristol, playing a key role in delivering people priorities within the establishment. Working collaboratively with senior leaders, the role will support the business to achieve its objectives through effective people management and workforce strategies.

Acting as a trusted HR partner, the post holder will facilitate access to central services and work alongside the business to implement practical, innovative people initiatives that drive performance and engagement.

As a qualified (or aspiring) HR professional, you will draw on your generalist HR knowledge, professional expertise and interpersonal skills to provide insight, challenge and support to senior leaders, ensuring alignment between people priorities and operational delivery.

You will join a friendly and diverse HR team working across Prison and Probation stakeholders in the Southwest. Alongside your work with HMP Bristol, you will have the opportunity to lead on a regional strand of the people strategy, offering valuable scope for professional development and career progression.

The post holder will be required to bring together the people priorities for their prison and probation customer group or National Services at a senior level. They will support on the underpinning activities to enable;

• Solving: Provide strategic input on HR topics and help leaders develop effective people solutions
• Connecting: Help the organisation draw on appropriate People Function Services and shared service support
• Coaching: Coach leaders on how to manage people issues and drive the people agenda effectively

With links to the wider HR specialist functions within MoJ People and Capability, the post holder will facilitate access to the right services to deliver relevant people initiatives.

Key Delivery Strands:

Change Management

• Understanding the business and the drivers for change to be able to support the business with the people elements of change implementation.
• Support the business through reorganisation, restructures and redeployment.

Resourcing & Retention

• Working in partnership with the business and finance to understand the current and predicted workforce picture based on attrition and recruitment forecasting.
• Support in the execution of interventions to address resourcing and retention challenges and facilitating access to the right services across MOJ People and Capability.
• Provide support and advice on resourcing vacancies, ensuring compliance with Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

Management & Leadership Capability

• To understand the line manager and leadership capabilities within the business unit, support the business to access centrally run learning through the learning and development team and/or helping to develop the right learning interventions.
• Supporting senior leaders with the development of their leadership teams.

Attendance & Performance

• Help build management confidence and capability in managing absence, performance, conduct and grievance cases ensuring the right advice can be accessed.
• Work with the business to understand the casework picture and support senior leaders to drive action to progress cases within policy timelines, supporting in the access of advice.
• Work between HR and the business to ensure the policies are understood and embedded
• Understand the role of the unions and support managers with union engagement related to people activity.

Employee Experience and Staff Engagement

• Working with the senior leaders to analyse and identify the right people priorities through the annual Civil Service People Survey. Bringing in other workforce and people data as required to enable the business area to bring together an appropriate engagement delivery plan.
• Supporting the stakeholder group to implement the right employee engagement interventions, accessing the right support from within the people group drawing on best practise and central offers.

Inclusion & Well-being

• Ensure diversity and inclusion runs through all people strategies and action plan.
• Facilitate access to products and services to help support networks to improve delivery.
• Support the business to access the necessary wellbeing services for staff. Bringing together all that is available through the People Function to provide the right well-being package or service dependent on the need.

Essential Criteria

• The ability to confidently build and manage a diverse range of relationships, including senior stakeholders. (assessed via behaviour Working together)
• Experience of delivering in a HR team; (assessed via Seeing the Big Picture)
• Experience of delivering HR plans, people management, and supporting others to optimise performance of their staff. (assessed via behaviour Managing a Quality Service)
• Excellent communication skills, both in verbal and written formats. (assessed via behaviour Communicating and Influencing)
• Ability to analyse and understand data to ensure evidence based decisions support business delivery. (assessed via behaviour Managing a Quality Service)

Base Location and Travel Requirements

This role will partner prisons in the South West and will be based at HMP Bristol,19 Cambridge Road, Bristol. BS7 8PS

The successful candidates will be required to travel occasionally to Prison and Probation sites across the South West region.

All applicants should be aware that business partnering arrangements are subject to change and postholders will be expected to accommodate changes in partnering arrangements in line with business need to include providing cover and support for other business areas when required.

Application process:

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.

Sift

Behaviours

Please provide examples of how you have met each one of the behaviours listed below:

• Seeing the Big Picture (Lead Behaviour)
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Experience

Please submit an anonymous copy of your CV.

Qualification

You will have completed and achieved your Chartered MCIPD (or have an equivalent HR qualification) or be willing to work towards it and actively demonstrate Continuous Professional Development.

Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on the lead behaviour of Seeing the Big Picture. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths.

Interview:

At interview you will be assessed using the below behaviours and strengths from the Success Profiles.

• Seeing the Big Picture (Lead Behaviour)
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Please note that interviews will be held virtually.

If you have any questions regarding the role please contact anna.biddle@justice.gov.uk

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference

Job Description Attachment

• 1. BC288- Job Description - HR Business Partner SW June 26 readvert - Final.docx (Job Description Attachment)

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Application form stage assessments

Behaviours

A sift based on the lead behaviour, Seeing the Big Picture, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.

Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit

250

Seeing the Big Picture

Communicating and Influencing

Managing a Quality Service

Working Together

Experience

We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods

CV or Work History

Evidence of Experience

CV or Work History

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates

Expected in August

Behaviours

Seeing the Big Picture

Communicating and Influencing

Managing a Quality Service

Working Together

Strengths

Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.

Level of security checks required

Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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