National Lived Experience LeadMinistry of Justice

HMPPS Band 7

About the Role

The National Lived Experience Lead provides national leadership for lived experience across HMPPS, ensuring the voices, experiences and expertise of people with lived experience influence policy, strategy, service design and operational delivery.

The role leads the national oversight of Engaging People on Probation (EPOP), supports the implementation of the HMPPS Lived Experience Charter, and works with senior leaders to embed meaningful engagement and co-production across the organisation. The postholder provides strategic advice on lived experience, supports the development of peer mentoring and lived experience approaches, and helps build the evidence base demonstrating the impact of lived experience on services, staff practice and organisational outcomes.

This role sits at the centre of HMPPS' ambition to ensure lived experience is not an add-on, but a valued and influential part of policy development, decision-making, service improvement and organisational culture.

About the Rehabilitation Strategy team

The Rehabilitation Strategy Team sits within HMPPS and leads strategic work to improve rehabilitation outcomes and reduce reoffending across prisons and probation. The team works across policy, operational delivery and partnership development to shape national approaches that support people to build positive, crime-free lives.

Working with colleagues across HMPPS, MOJ, sector organisations and people with lived experience, the team develops and delivers programmes, policies and guidance that strengthen rehabilitation, improve services and promote effective resettlement. The team plays a key role in ensuring that evidence, insight and lived experience inform strategic decision-making and service improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the national oversight, development and implementation of Engaging People on Probation (EPOP), ensuring consistent, high-quality lived experience practice across probation.

Support the implementation and ongoing development of the HMPPS Lived Experience Charter and associated standards, guidance and governance arrangements.

Lead or contribute to national programmes, projects and policy initiatives to ensure lived experience is embedded from development through to delivery and evaluation.

Provide strategic oversight, support and advice on peer mentoring and lived experience-led approaches across HMPPS.

Develop and maintain effective relationships with senior leaders, regional teams, partner organisations and people with lived experience to support collaborative working and system improvement.

Support national assurance activity, including oversight of engagement standards and the Engagement Maturity Model, to monitor progress and identify opportunities for improvement.

Promote the use of lived experience as a source of evidence, ensuring insight is captured, analysed and used to inform decision-making and service improvement.

Support workforce development by embedding lived experience within.