*Closes 20th January*

The role of an Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody Member (IAPDC) is to:

  • Lead discrete pieces of work identified with the IAPDC Chair and Ministerial Board on Deaths in Custody as priority issues requiring expert advice and research;
  • Work with panel members to identify the most effective means of reducing the number and rate of deaths in custody, and communicate them authoritatively to Ministers and operational service leads;
  • Work with external organisations, individuals with lived experience and bereaved family members to ensure that advice is drawn from a range of expert providers; and
  • Represent the IAPDC at external forums.

Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody Member

Time commitment x 36 day(s) per annum

Remuneration – £10000 per annum

Length of term x 3 years

Organisation description

The IAPDC is a non-departmental public body and was established in 2009, following publication of the 2008 Fulton Report. The IAPDC is jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Home Office (HO) and forms part of the Ministerial Council on Deaths in Custody in England and Wales (“the Council”).

The Council is formed of three tiers – The Ministerial Board on Deaths in Custody (“the Ministerial Board”); the IAPDC; and a practitioner and stakeholder group. The Council considers all deaths in state custody (including prison, approved premises, police, immigration removal and those detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act).

The role of the IAPDC is to provide independent advice and expertise to the Ministerial Board, the first tier of the Council, with the central aim of preventing deaths in custody. The IAPDC provides guidance on policy and best practice across sectors and makes recommendations to Ministers and operational services. It assists Ministers to meet their human rights obligations to protect life. The IAPDC’s aim is to bring about a continuing and sustained reduction in the number and rate of deaths in all forms of state custody in England and Wales.

The IAPDC’s main roles are to:

  • Act as the primary source of independent advice to ministers and service leaders (both through the Ministerial Board and where appropriate directly) on measures to reduce the number and rate of deaths in custody;
  • Consult and engage with Ministers and the Ministerial Board to identify the key areas of advice and research to enable the operational services to reduce the number and rate of deaths in custody;
  • Consult and engage with relevant stakeholders in order to collect, analyse and disseminate relevant information about deaths in custody and the lessons that can be learned from them;
  • Commission relevant research;
  • Carry out thematic enquiries into areas of concern, in co-operation as appropriate with the relevant oversight and investigative bodies;
  • Issue formal guidance (and where appropriate set common standards) on best practice for reducing deaths in custody, both on its own authority and where appropriate under the authority of the Ministerial Board;
  • Monitor compliance with such guidance and standards; and
  • Where appropriate, make recommendations to ministers for changes in policy or operational practice, which would help to reduce the incidence of death in custody.

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

  • Demonstrable knowledge of the work of service providers (for example the police service, the prison and probation service, immigration removal centres or secure hospitals/mental health services) or those working on behalf of individuals detained by the State or their families;
  • Ability to build strong relationships with national operational organisations, professional bodies or interest groups;
  • Knowledge, expertise, or experience in one or more of the following areas in the context of custodial environments or similarly related fields:
    • Human rights and how they relate to deaths in custody (first preference);
    • Epidemiology, applied research, legislation or legal practice, organisation/cultural learning, operational or frontline experience in a detention setting, lived experience of a detention setting and/or experience of working with those with lived experience, experience working in third sector, charitable, or other civil society organisations or experience of and expertise in strategically influencing key stakeholders in creative ways.

Desirable criteria

  • The ability to identify research opportunities, complete projects in a timely way and make clear recommendations based on evidence gathered; and
  • The skills and knowledge needed to confidently and effectively communicate specialist or technical information to ministers, service leaders and stakeholders.

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on ‘apply for this role’ and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

  • a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • a supporting statement
  • equality information
  • information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.