Specialist Production Instructor (Manufacturing) in Lancaster

Please note, employment is expected to commence no sooner than November 2026. The post holder must demonstrate IT and basic Maths and English skills.

Overview of the job

This is a non-operational instructional job in an establishment. 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 job holder 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 job holders in basic assembly / packing workshops; instead Production Instructor – Enterprises should be used. However, on an exceptional short term basis job holders 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

• 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
• 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

Violence Reduction Incident Reports (VRIR) and Security Information Reports (SIR) will be compiled when required and contribute to Incentive Earned Privileges (IEP) reports. The duties and responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and are 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.

The role requires the 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

• Preferable for candidate to have some supervisory experience.
• Should have experience of using industrial standard machinery and equipment.

Technical Requirements

• Staff will either have or work towards a Level 3 Qualification in their specialism or have the equivalent experience.
• 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.

Ability

• IT Skills
• Basic Maths
• Basic English

Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances

This role requires working regular unsocial hours and a 17% payment will be paid in addition to 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.

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The department 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 sites and/or from home. (This role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate and reviewed regularly.

Equal Opportunity and EEO Statements

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 the Civil Service Commission. The department is a Disability Confident employer and is 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.

Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals and certain family members of Turkish nationals who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Deadline: Please note that this position may close once filled.