17724 - CW : Caseworker : Offender Management (Non Operational) in Ford

The role of Prison Offender Manager involves leading the management and assessment of selected low to medium risk prisoners. The job holder will prepare, implement, review and evaluate sentence plans, build supportive relationships with prisoners to reduce re‑offending, and support probation officers in the case management of high‑risk prisoners. This non‑operational, rotational role carries no line‑management responsibilities and involves regular prisoner‑facing activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise, manage, signpost and advise prisoners safely and securely while carrying out all activities.
• Understand, apply and conform to national and local policies.
• Establish, develop and maintain professional relationships with prisoners and staff.
• Maintain and update custodial systems in line with local agreements.
• Prepare documentation for managers for verification and quality checking purposes.
• Attend and contribute to relevant meetings as required.
• Assess and manage the risk posed by offenders to protect victims of crime and the general public by providing information and advice to other criminal‑justice agencies and partner organisations, supervising offenders during custodial sentences, contributing to risk management, and working with other agencies to prevent re‑offending and meet the needs of victims and offenders.
• Carrying out the full range of offender‑management tasks with low to medium risk cases.
• Provide support to probation officers in case management of high‑risk prisoners when required.
• Involve in prison processes such as ACCT and violence‑reduction/anti‑bullying initiatives; act as ACCT case manager for individuals when appropriate.
• Interview prisoners within prescribed timescales of arrival, set and review targets, and update case‑management notes on PNOMIS or relevant IT systems.
• Use the Offender Assessment System (OASys) to identify risks and manage offenders appropriately, obtaining further information from outside agencies to complete comprehensive OASys reports.
• Lead sentence‑planning meetings to prepare and review appropriate plans.
• Coordinate activities within the sentence plan through liaison with prisoners and other departments or agencies, gathering and exchanging information and investigating conflicting opinions on prisoner progress.
• Encourage and support prisoners to participate in education, interventions and workshops as defined within the sentence plan; develop strategies to assist them in overcoming reluctance to attend.
• Provide professional advice and assessment, including written reports to criminal‑justice agencies and partner organisations.
• Liaise with Community Offender Managers regarding Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) and Home Detention Curfew (HDC); make recommendations to the Governor on suitability for early release and inform relevant agencies of release dates and addresses for prisoners considered a risk on release.
• Support Community Offender Managers with the delivery of plans to enable recalled prisoners to be re‑released.
• Complete all paperwork for the cases, including licence and ISP‑specific paperwork, in line with relevant policies, standards and timetables.
• Highlight prisoners who show significant concerns by their behaviour to the Heads of Offender Management or Orderly Officer, including concerns about suicide, self‑harm, victim impact or further offences and racial harassment.
• Contribute to and attend Multi‑Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) boards; 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.
• Instigate public‑protection child‑contact checks and share safeguarding information with authorities.
• Undertake the role of resettlement advisor for prisoners in the specific caseload, forging, developing and maintaining links between programmes and prisoner progress through to the end of their sentence.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, maintaining effective team relationships, particularly with Key Workers.
• Demonstrate pro‑social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro‑social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti‑social behaviour and attitudes.
• Use computer‑based systems to produce, update and maintain records and documentation within agreed timescales.
• Work within the aims and values of HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).

Qualifications

Applicants should have undergone selection and additional training to carry out this specialist delivery job as a Prison Offender Manager. Prior experience in custodial settings and a strong understanding of risk assessment and offender management are essential.