Head of the National Oversight Mechanism

Want to develop Scotland's scrutiny model?

A new oversight body named the National Oversight Mechanism (NOM) is being established to strengthen learning, transparency and accountability following deaths in prison custody in Scotland. Initially hosted within HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS), the NOM will be functionally independent from Scottish Government, focused on strengthening transparency, accountability and system-level learning to support improvement and reduce the risk of future preventable deaths in prison custody.

This is a rare opportunity to lead the creation of a new national function from the outset. As Head of the National Oversight Mechanism, you will shape its vision, design its operating model and establish its reputation as a credible and independent source of learning and oversight, ensuring it delivers meaningful system-wide improvements.

The NOM will not investigate individual deaths or duplicate existing investigative, judicial or scrutiny processes. Its purpose is to identify system-wide learning, to help strengthen organisational accountability and support continuous improvement across the prison system.

The postholder will recruit and lead a small multidisciplinary team which will be hosted within HMIPS and work closely with Ministers, the Scottish Government, justice and health organisations, scrutiny bodies, and organisations representing bereaved families and people with lived experience. The role requires strategic leadership, political awareness, sound judgement and the ability to work effectively in a sensitive and complex environment.

This includes persons temporarily absent from a prison establishment but still in custody, for example, under escort in hospital or in a court custody unit.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the design, establishment and phased implementation of the National Oversight Mechanism, ensuring clarity of remit, operating principles, governance and working arrangements.
• Develop and maintain a clear, deliverable work programme aligned to the NOM’s implementation, operations and future development.
• Ensure the NOM operates in line with its core principles of independence, proportionality, transparency, trauma-informed practice and evidence-led decision making.
• Shape the strategic development of the NOM, contributing to decisions on its future scope, governance and long-term operating model.

Learning, Oversight and Improvement

• Collate, analyse and monitor recommendations arising from Fatal Accident Inquiries, investigations, reviews, inspections and other relevant post-death processes.
• Identify recurring themes, systemic risks and barriers to improvement across organisations and sectors.
• Track and report on progress made in responding to recommendations and implementing learning.
• Publish evidence-based findings that promote transparency, organisational learning and accountability.
• Identify and articulate systemic-wide learning and opportunities for improvement across establishments, agencies and partners, with a focus on prevention and reducing future risk.
• Provide constructive challenge and support to accountable parties to strengthen accountability, organisational learning and continuous improvement.

Reporting and Independent Scrutiny

• Lead the production of robust, evidence-based reports and publications, including annual reports, to support transparency, accountability and parliamentary and ministerial scrutiny.
• Provide independent, strategic advice to Ministers on the effectiveness, impact and future development of the NOM.
• Develop and present independent evidence, analysis and findings to inform policy development and governance decisions relating to deaths in prison custody.

Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and maintain effective relationships with justice, health and scrutiny bodies to support the effective operation of the NOM.
• Work constructively alongside existing oversight, inspection and investigatory organisations.
• Ensure that the experiences and perspectives of bereaved families are appropriately reflected in system-level learning and improvement activity.
• Engage and influence senior leaders across organisational boundaries to support improvement and learning.

Governance, Independence and Leadership

• Recruit, lead and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary team.
• Establish proportionate governance, reporting and quality assurance arrangements for the NOM.
• Ensure the NOM operates independently while being supported through HMIPS hosting arrangements.
• Establish effective governance arrangements that promote a culture of integrity, transparency, evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement.

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