AUM : Learning, Skills and Employment in Maidstone

Overview

This is a management job in an establishment.

Summary

The job holder will be responsible for a range of activities within the Learning, Skills and Employment function.

Staffing numbers will vary depending on the size of the establishment and the nature of work undertaken.

The job holder will implement national policies to suit local needs within the function and will contribute to revisions of local policies and procedures.

The job holder will ensure that the establishment regime meets the needs of offenders and contributes to reducing the risk of re‑offending.

The function provides a strategic focus on the learning, skills and qualifications in all areas of activity, with an emphasis on employability, education and training on release.

The job supports both Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) and non‑OLASS learning.

This is a non‑operational job with line management responsibilities.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

• Responsible for ensuring all staff within Learning Skills and Employment provide a respectful, safe, decent environment for all prisoners and staff.
• Responsible for managing Offenders Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) and non‑OLASS including industries and gymnasium.
• Responsible for assisting in the planning and implementing of quality assurance frameworks within the establishment.
• Co‑ordinate Self‑Assessment Reports (SARs) for the establishment.
• Responsible for managing, promoting, developing and co‑ordinating all learning and skills activity, (including education, vocational training, physical education, library provision) to provide a comprehensive and coherent learning and skills programme for all prisoners.
• Assist in the planning and co‑ordination of Offenders Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) and all other types of learning to form a learner journey from reception to release.
• Responsible for administration of distance learning, further education and Open University and monitoring the quality assurance of prisoners managing their own Individual Learning Plan (ILP).
• Work with other resettlement services, the risk management unit and other functions, to encourage offenders to continue their learning on release – ensuring that appropriate Offenders Pathways are arranged/notified prior to release.
• Responsible for monitoring the Service Level Agreements (SLA) for education, library services and training providers operating within the establishment, to ensure that quality standards are achieved.
• Responsible for the delivery of industries vocational training ensuring the screening assessment and referral processes that determine suitability of prisoners to access learning material and tutor to deliver required skills to achieve target qualification.
• Responsible for ensuring that the Service commissioned is agreed with SFA, Education provider and Advice and Guidance Agency.
• Responsible for chairing quarterly Quality Improvement Group/OLASS Partnership Meetings and attend meetings as required.
• Maintain good working relationship with groups that provide funding including the Learning and Skills council and Youth Justice Board (if in Young Offender Institution (YOI) or Juvenile in estates).
• Responsible for the accuracy of figures generated i. e. hours delivered, to enable the release of funding.
• Responsible for the preparation of material for internal and OFSTED audits and act as OFSTED nominee for the establishment.
• Contribute to prisoner reports including Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) reports and parole reports.

• Undertake other management tasks including

• Manage devolved budgets in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation.
• Responsible for the management of all staff within their area. This includes staff performance, development and annual appraisal through to sickness absence management.
• Ensure all HMPPS standards and Service Delivery Indicators (SDIs) are implemented and managed within the relevant work area.
• Ensure all national and local policies and procedures are implemented and compliant e. g. National Security Framework (NSF), Local Security Strategy (LSS), Finance Manual.
• Attend as directed any relevant boards/meetings and actively contribute, either as chair or team member.
• Provide leadership and direction to managers and staff within their defined work area through briefings, building informal and formal relationships and effective communication.
• Produce relevant reports as required and ensure all correspondence is replied to within agreed timescales.
• Liaise and form good relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage resources to deliver the activities within the defined work area, and contribute to the mid‑to‑long term business planning process.
• Ensure the defined work area and associated activities comply with Health and Safety legislation.

Ensure all risk assessments are undertaken and staff are made aware of their personal responsibility towards ensuring Health and Safety compliance.

• Behaviours
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Technical Requirements

The job holder will have relevant qualifications in the area of work, or be working/studying towards recognised training qualifications or be an NVQ assessor and have specialist knowledge/experience in relevant industry.

Will need to keep up to date of knowledge/working practices in areas of expertise.

Hours of Work

37 hour working week.

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The Mo J 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 Mo J 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 and subject to regular review.

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

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.

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.

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 before taking up post.

All external candidates are subject to six months probation; internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS.

Recruitment Information

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles.

As a Disability Confident employer, Mo J 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.

If you need additional help completing the application, 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, an animated video series is available on the Mo J website.

Eligibility and Nationality

This job is broadly open to 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 relevant family members with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme, and other specified categories.

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

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