Vocational Instructor

Ministry of Justice; Wolverhampton; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Civil Service pension

Annual leave and travel concessions

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice in the UK is seeking a dedicated instructor to train prisoners, build constructive relationships and support sentence planning while promoting decency.

You will deliver practical training in workshops, assess progress against NVQ levels 1 and 2, and ensure safety and security in learning environments while supporting resettlement opportunities.

Hybrid working arrangements apply where possible and flexible working patterns may be considered.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering practical training in a custodial or similar setting.
• Ability to tailor learning to individual prisoners' needs while maintaining safety.
• Knowledge of H&S, COSHH, risk assessment and safeguarding in learning environments.

Responsibilities

• Deliver BICS training to prisoners and support learning needs.
• Assess and record progress against learning plans and qualifications.
• Maintain security, discipline and safe operation of workshops.
• Complete administration and learning records to support resettlement.

Skills

Instructing

Training delivery

Health and safety

Record keeping

Education

NVQ Level 1

NVQ Level 2

Job description

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 with no line management responsibilities. The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

Responsibilities

• Deliver BICS training to prisoners to cover both the establishment's needs and aspirations in working towards gaining industry recognised accreditations.
• Participate in the selection process of prisoners for the workshop/area of work undertaking prisoner learning need assessments.
• 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.
• Maintain and update learner records including their Individual Learning Plan accordingly.
• Assess and evaluate skills of prisoners including National Vocational Qualification levels 1 and 2 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.
• 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.
• 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 learner and keep them updated.
• Locate individual learner's 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 when possible.
• Conduct roll checks of prisoners within the workshops.
• Carry out workshop searches and ensure all tools, equipment and raw materials are safe, secure and properly accounted for.
• Arrange maintenance and repair of tools and equipment.
• 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.

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. 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. 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.