Waste Management and Recycling - Non-Vocational Instructor (NVI) in Sheerness

This is a non-operational job in an establishment. The job holder will be responsible for providing supervision to prisoners in the waste management and recycling environments within an establishment. They will be required to transfer knowledge and skills to prisoners to ensure safe and effective waste collection and appropriate disposal.

Some waste management units (WMU) deliver qualifications (or training to an equivalent level). This work will be delivered by a Specialist Production Instructor (SPI) and not be undertaken by the job holder. Advising the establishment on waste/recycling practices, legislation and disposal, as well as compliance with the Circular Economy and Data Submissions, should also be completed by the SPI. Prisoners working towards a qualification in this area will be assessed by Specialist Production Instructors. However, the job holder may be required to input supportive statements into assessments.

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 non-rotational role.

The job holder will be able to brief prisoners within the Waste Management Unit on what is required of them. They will be expected to build effective, appropriate and supportive relationships with the prisoner workforce 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, good order and hygiene within workshops areas.

• Supervise and escort prisoners to collect, process and dispose of waste/recycling from all areas inside the establishment.
• Comply with all Health and Safety policies, procedures and legislation to ensure a safe working environment.
• Accurately record all waste removed from site, including weight, cost, and revenue.
• Contribute to control measures for restricted waste and shredding of confidential waste.
• Monitor, maintain, and account for all workshop tools, equipment, and raw materials, ensuring safety and security at all times.
• Open and manage the workshop area, issue tools, supervise and escort prisoner work parties, and oversee the quality of their work in line with local procedures.
• Participate in the selection, induction, and training of prisoners for the workshop, covering health and safety, COSHH, machinery and tool usage, WMU objectives, workshop discipline, manual handling, and PPE.
• Provide tailored support, learning, and training to prisoners, set work schedules, and manage targets and quality standards.
• Supervise and control prisoners to ensure their safety, security, motivation, discipline, appraisal, and development, including conducting searches as required.
• Contribute to prisoner reports, parole and sentence planning, and complete relevant documentation such as ACCTs, SIRs, IEPs, regime monitoring, training records and Progress books/trackers.
• Manage workshop resources by requesting materials, maintaining stock levels, logging attendance, approving prisoner hours and wages, and providing administrative support including liaison with contractors.
• Maintain effective communication and security by operating radio equipment, supporting local contingency plans, escorting technical contractors, acting as banksman, and driving estates vehicles and plant equipment as required.

Apply all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or, when specified in Wales, Welsh.

• Communicating & Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Bigger Picture

May have completed manual handling, basic security awareness and be trained in break‑away techniques.

• Demonstrate basic knowledge of the Waste Hierarchy
• Understand what Waste Permits and Exemptions are
• Will comply with the relevant Health & Safety policies and regulations such as COSHH.

• Basic Maths
• Basic English

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 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.

After two months’ service, you will 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.

• Pension: The Civil Service offers two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
• Work Life Balance: HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period.
• 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. Obligatory working on some public and bank holidays may apply subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment.

Interview Dates: To be confirmed.

• Demonstrate basic knowledge of the Waste Hierarchy
• Understand what Waste Permits and Exemptions are
• Will comply with the relevant Health & Safety policies and regulations such as COSHH.

DBS Standard

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. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.