Workshop Instructor in Lancaster

Employment is expected to commence no sooner than November 2026.

This is a non-operational job in an establishment. The job holder will be responsible for providing supervision, knowledge and skills to prisoners in non-specialist workshops where no qualifications are being delivered and nor is the job holder deployed in training prisoners up to the required level to gain qualifications. This job description is not designed for use by job holders in specialist workshops as the role will not be required to be qualified in a specialist area or to train prisoners up to the required level to gain qualifications. In these circumstances Specialist Production Instructor should be used. Although this is a non-operational job in an establishment with no line management responsibilities the job holder will have workshop and prisoner management responsibilities. This is a rotational role.

The job holder will be committed to prison workshops being places of structure and discipline. The job holder will, as far as reasonably practicable, provide the prisoner with a work experience in workshops that better mirrors the employment experience outside of prison. The job holder will ensure that all services are provided to a high standard and that security and control are maintained at all times.

On an exceptional short term basis, job holders can supervise prisoners in more specialist workshops. For example, emergency, an unforeseen or sudden occurrence, Ad-Hoc use of an Instructor in staffing HMPPS workshops only and not workshops or classrooms normally staffed by employees of any provider other than HMPPS. Short Term, timeframe 1-5 days, to allow management to put in alternative measures to resolve a workshop staffing problem that did not exist more than 48 hours before.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

• Participate in the selection process of prisoners for the workshop.
• 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. Ensuring all tools, equipment and raw materials are safe, secure and properly accounted for.
• Provide support for prisoners where required; tailor learning and training requirements to individual needs. Setting work schedules and manage targets/quality standards, maintaining delivery of contractual arrangements.
• Supervise, manage and control prisoners decently, safely and securely whilst carrying out all activities, with responsibility for their performance, motivation, discipline, appraisal and development. Conduct a metal detector scan or rub down search of prisoners attending and leaving their own workshops.
• Initiate product development reviews to maintain workshop/area of work output levels, and to provide variety of work and experience for prisoners.
• Contribute to risk and health and safety assessments on consumables and Health and Safety risk assessments relating to the workshop/area of work and specialist areas.
• Actively contribute to prisoner reports, parole and sentence planning, Assessment, Care in Custody & Teamwork (ACCT) and Security Information Report (SIRs) by providing information to case managers. 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.
• Contribute to prisoner reports including parole and sentence planning, regime monitoring information and update prisoner training records.
• Maintain regular communications via radio net in accordance with Local Security Strategy (LSS).
• Request materials and estimate usage in order to meet work targets whilst providing quality assurance against product specification.
• Log attendance and approve prisoner hours worked and wages including recording piece work where appropriate.
• Attending and contributing to relevant meetings as required.
• Providing administrative support for workshop activities. Preparing relevant documentation to managers for verification/quality checking purposes. Maintaining and updating systems in line with local agreements.

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.

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Hours and Arrangements

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. 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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are 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. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

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.

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'. MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service 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)
• 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

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles. Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance.

Level of security checks required

DBS Standard

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.