12402 - Vocational Instructor (VI) : Life Skills

Ministry of Justice; England; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in the United Kingdom is seeking an instructor responsible for training and managing prisoners. The role involves delivering life skills training, assessing qualifications, and maintaining safety and security standards within workshops. Candidates should demonstrate strong communication skills and the ability to manage discipline among prisoners. This non-operational position focuses on relationship-building and supporting prisoner rehabilitation efforts. Experience in custodial environments is preferred.

Qualifications

• Ability to instruct and train prisoners effectively.
• Experience in evaluating and assessing educational programs.
• Familiarity with security standards in custodial environments.

Responsibilities

• Deliver training in life skills and maintain learner records.
• Assess and evaluate prisoners' skills for various qualifications.
• Induct prisoners in health, safety, and workshop procedures.

Skills

Training delivery

Communication skills

Ability to manage discipline

Assessment and evaluation

Health and safety awareness

Job description

Overview of the job

This is a non-operational instructional job in an establishment.

Summary

The job holder will be responsible for instructing and training prisoners by building effective, appropriate and supportive relationships through managing them in a proactive manner and promoting the decency agenda. Contributes to sentence planning and reducing reoffending. Applies safer custody practices and complies with national and local security standards. Responsible for high level of security, productivity, good order and hygiene within workshops areas.

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:

• Deliver training to prisoners in life skills to cover both the establishment’s needs and aspirations in working towards gaining industry recognised accreditations.
• Maintain and update learner records including their Individual Learning Plan accordingly.
• Assess and evaluate skills of prisoners including OCN Qualifications Entry level and level 1 and other relevant industry recognised qualifications.
• Liaise with Headquarters Learning and Skills staff where required.
• Undertake the registration, supervision, monitoring, assessment and accreditation of learners in accordance with awarding body requirements.
• Maintain awarding body quality standards and contribute towards internal and external verification as required.
• Set learning aims and learning goals, reviewing and providing feedback on prisoner progress.
• Provides support and advice on career opportunities for 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.

Undertake other instructor tasks including:

• Supervise and maintain discipline of prisoners receiving training, education or work experience. Responsible for performance, motivation, discipline, appraisal and development of prisoners.
• 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.
• Carry out prisoner searches on their entry and exit of the training room/ workshop.
• Log attendance and approve prisoner hours worked and wages including recording piece work for individual prisoners in certain workshops.
• Carry out fabric checks of workshops and maintain security of lock, bolts and bars used in the workshop.
• Contribute to prisoner reports including parole, sentence planning and Individual Learning Plan.
• Complete regime monitoring information and update prisoner training records.
• Log any tool/equipment faults, which require maintenance and repair of tools.
• Conduct risk and health and safety assessments on consumables under Safer Custody guidelines.
• Order materials and estimate usage in order to meet work learning targets.
• Participate in self-audit and in achieving Service Delivery Indicators (SDIs).
• Complete administration activities to support the smooth running of the workshop.
• Open up individual learning paths for learners and keep them updated.
• Locate individual learners’ literacy and numeracy levels for their initial assessment and support them in developing their skills further.
• Advise and assist learners in seeking appropriate and relevant employment opportunities upon resettlement.
• Maintain regular communications via radio net in accordance with Local Security Strategy (LSS).
• Supervise, manage and control prisoners decently, safely and securely whilst carrying out all activities.
• Understand, apply and conform to national and local polices.
• Establish, develop and maintain professional relationships with prisoners and staff.
• Attend and contribute to relevant meetings as required.

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.