We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
Our Woodwork Industry has 30 workshops across the estate with employment places for 622 prisoners. Woodwork items are not the only things you will manufacture in this life-changing role.
Leading a team of prisoners working in our woodwork workshop you will develop their skills and confidence, and possibly assess accredited vocational qualifications. We will rely on you and your team to ensure our Woodwork products are manufactured to the highest standards, but the work you do with prisoners will have the longest lasting impact – and the most unique challenges. You will set tasks to match their ability, while ensuring safety and production is maintained at all times.
Along the way, you could play a part in innovative products for use in a custodial setting or launching a new range for another government department. You will certainly discover potential for rewarding development of your career.
As well as knowledge and skills spanning Woodwork production techniques, you will need strong communication and influencing skills and a caring, resilient approach.
For more information contact PIrecruitment@justice.gov.uk
Overview of the job
This is a non-operational instructional job in an establishment.
Summary
The job holder will be responsible for providing supervision, knowledge and skills to prisoners in a specialist workshop so they can improve their employment prospects on release with a view to reducing reoffending. The job holder will ensure that all services are provided to a high standard and that security and control is maintained at all times. The jobholder will be able to teach prisoners towards achieving nationally recognised qualifications and may be supported by external organisations such as local colleges.
This job description is not for use by jobholders in basic assembly / packing workshops, instead Production Instructor – Enterprises should be used. However, on an exceptional short term basis jobholders can supervise prisoners in more basic workshops.
This is a non-operational job in an establishment with no line management responsibilities.
Responsibilities, Activities and Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- May participate in the selection process of prisoners for the workshop/area of work.
- Induct prisoners to the workshop/area of work and train them in aspects such as health and safety, Control of Substance Hazardous to health (COSHH), machinery and tools usage.
- Provide support for prisoners where required; tailor learning and training requirements to individual needs.
- Set work schedules and manage targets/quality standards, maintaining delivery of contractual arrangements.
- Assess and evaluate skills of prisoners up to national qualification standards.
- Supervise and maintain discipline of prisoners within workshop/area of work, responsible for performance, motivation, discipline, appraisal and development of prisoners.
- Maintain regular communications via radio net in accordance with Local Security Strategy (LSS).
- Open and complete Assessment Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) forms, Violence Reduction Incident Reports (VRIR) and Security Information Reports (SIRs) when required and contribute to Incentive Earned Privileges (IEP) reports.
- Will conduct a metal detector scan or rub down search of prisoners attending and leaving their own workshops.
- Provide quality assurance against product specification.
- Log attendance and approve prisoner hours worked and wages including recording piece work where appropriate.
- Carry out fabric and tool checks of workshops and maintain security of areas, logging any tool/equipment faults. Undertake planned maintenance programme on machinery.
- Contribute to prisoner reports including parole and sentence planning.
- Complete regime monitoring information and update prisoner training records.
- Contribute to Health and Safety risk assessments relating to the workshop/work of area and specialist areas.
- Request materials and estimate usage in order to meet work targets.
- Initiate product development reviews to maintain workshop/area of work output levels, and to provide variety of work and experience for prisoners.
- Participate in self-audit and in achieving Service Delivery Indicators (SDIs).
- Complete administration activities to support the smooth running of the workshop.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.
Behaviours
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Developing Self and Others
Experience
- Must have relevant work experience in a production environment
- Preferable for candidate to have some supervisory experience
- Should have experience of using industrial standard machinery and equipment
Technical Requirements
- Currently hold or be prepared to work towards Level 3 or equivalent in Woodwork related production
- The ability to read, understand and work from technical drawings
Ability
- IT Skills
- Basic Maths
- Basic English
Hours of Work
37 hour working week (standard).
£28,477
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on ‘modernised’ terms in their current post or onto ‘unmodernised’ MoJ terms if they are on ‘unmodernised’ terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Standard working hours for this post are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid.
If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.
The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate’s Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.
Benefits
Annual Leave
- The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.
Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays
- You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment
Pension
- The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Work Life Balance
HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ
Season Ticket Advance
- After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work
Childcare Vouchers
For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
Training
HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes
- There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts
- All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles
Eligibility
- All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post
- All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS
- All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.