Prison Offender Manager (operational)

Ministry of Justice; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Working

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice is seeking an Operational Prison Offender Manager based at HMP/YOI East Sutton Park, a women’s open prison. You will support women in open conditions, manage sentence progression, promote rehabilitation, and coordinate resettlement with partners to reduce reoffending.

You will be a Prison Officer with specialist training in Offender Management, supervising prisoners, and ensuring high standards of service, security and risk management across shifts as required.

Qualifications

• Competent in custodial procedures and risk management.
• Experience with OASys or equivalent offender assessment tools is desirable.
• Strong communication and liaison skills with agencies and prisoners.

Responsibilities

• Interview prisoners on arrival and set targets in case management notes.
• Lead sentence planning discussions and coordinate parole-related information.
• Liaise with agencies to action sentence plans and monitor progress.
• Supervise prisoners and contribute to risk management and safety.
• Attend MAPPA boards and multi-agency planning where required.

Skills

Custodial procedures

Risk assessment

Interpersonal communication

Education

NVQ 3 Custodial Care

POELT completion

Tools

OASys

Job description

This is an Operational Prison Offender Manager post based at HMP/YOI East Sutton Park, a women's open prison. The role focuses on supporting women in open conditions by managing sentence progression, promoting rehabilitation, facilitating resettlement opportunities, and working collaboratively with internal and external partners to achieve positive outcomes and reduce reoffending. The post holder will play a key role in helping women prepare for their safe and successful reintegration into the community while maintaining effective risk management and public protection practices. Overview of the job This is an operational job in an establishment. Summary The job holder will be a Prison Officer who will have additional specialist training in Offender Management processes to carry out this job. They will supervise and support prisoners in a secure custodial setting, ensuring all services are provided to a high standard and that security and control are maintained at all times. They will also be deployed as a Supervising Officer where required. This is an operational job with no line management; however they will have supervisory responsibilities for staff.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

• Interview prisoners on arrival within prescribed timescales, set and review targets with prisoners and update case management notes on the prison database.
• Use the Offender Assessment System (OASys) to identify risks and manage offenders appropriately.
• Leads the sentence planning meeting in order to prepare appropriate plans.
• Coordinate and complete information for Parole Board reports and hearings.
• Liaises with prisoners and other departments and agencies to action the sentence plan, gather and exchange information and understand/investigate conflicting opinions on prisoner progress.
• Check for accuracy of information concerning initial categorisation and recategorisations ensuring assessments are correct and all risks have been covered.
• Encourage and support prisoner to participate in education, interventions and workshops as defined within the sentence plan. Develops strategies to assist prisoners to overcome reluctance to attend.
• Liaise and contribute with probation service and case workers regarding Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL), Home Detention Curfew (HDC) and transfers to other prisons. Make recommendations to Governor on suitability for early release. Inform relevant agencies of release dates and address of prisoners considered a risk on release.
• Engage with Indeterminate Sentence Prisoners (ISP) within the specific timescales as required and complete relevant paperwork.
• Highlight any prisoner who gives significant concerns by their behaviour to the Offender Management Unit manager or Orderly Officer. Concerns may be for a variety of issues for example any prisoner who has presented in the past risk of suicide or self harm, or if there are any outstanding concerns with regards to victims or further offences and racial harassment.
• Send relevant pre-course information to all those attending review.
• Arrange dates, venues and special needs arrangements for the Post Programme Progress Reviews.
• Chair post programme review in accordance with guidelines.
• Produce and distribute post programme review minutes, ensuring these minutes reflect compliance with audit baselines.
• Obtain further information if required from outside agencies to complete a comprehensive OASys report.
• Contribute to and attend Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Boards and work with all relevant external agencies to protect the public when releasing prisoners under MAPPA.
• Liaise with the Foreign National department or UK Border Agency regarding foreign national prisoners as appropriate.
• Complete lifer and ISP paperwork as directed by manager in compliance with standards and set timescales.
• If working in a YOI or Juvenile estates facilitate multi-agency planning meetings which are inclusive of Young People and their parents/carers to assess needs and risks posed by the Young Person to him/herself or others during custody and upon release into the community.

Undertake other tasks including:

• Supervise, manage and control prisoners decently, lawfully, safely and securely whilst carrying out all activities.
• Exercise the powers of a Constable.
• Conduct searches on prisoners, staff and visitors as required.
• Undertake external escorts.
• Undertakes 'first on scene' incident response.
• Maintain and update systems in line with local agreements.
• Prepare relevant documentation for managers for verification/quality checking purposes.
• Attend and contribute to relevant meetings as required.
• Complete and update Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan.
• Establish, develop and maintain professional relationships with prisoners and staff.
• Understand and comply with national/local policies and legislation.

When required act as a Supervising Officer (SO) as per the following job descriptions:

• SO : Safe, Decent and Secure / YP
• SO : Operations / YP
• SO : Special Unit
• SO : Category A Escorts
• SO : Nights / YP
• SO : Regime
• SO : PEI

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.

Staff moving from a closed 39 hour pay structure will be eligible for the two protected pensionable additional committed hours (ACHP). They will work a 39 hour week consisting of the standard 37 hour week and a further 2 additional hours (ACHP) paid at plain time pensionable rate.

This role requires working regular unsocial hours and a 17% payment will be paid in addition to your basic pay to recognise this. Unsocial hours are those hours outside 0700 - 1900hrs Monday to Friday and include working evenings, nights, weekends and Bank/Public holidays.

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 full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS' Flexible Working policy. 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.

A sift based on the lead behaviour, Working Together, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.

Behaviours

• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Level of security checks required DBS Enhanced

An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

Essential Experience

• Must be competent in custodial procedures, including dynamic risk assessments.

Technical requirements

• Successful completion of POELT and probationary period.
• Must have Custodial Care National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) 3.
• Must be trained in restraint techniques.
• Must successfully complete OASys for assessors and Offender Supervisor Foundation training once in post, and then other specialist training as required.
• When transferring to a Young Persons establishment the job holder will be required to successfully undertake an assessment to demonstrate suitability to work with Young People.

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.

Recruitment Process

• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [e-mail]);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([e-mail]);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces. For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.