Head of Education, Skills and Work - HMP Winchester

Overview of the job

This is a functional management job within an establishment.

Responsible for delivering high‑quality education, skills and work provision, in line with prisoner need and aligned with regional, national and Ofsted standards and frameworks, to support prisoners into employment upon release.

This is either an operational or non‑operational job with line management responsibilities. If operational, please see technical requirements.

This role is non‑rotational.

The job holder will be responsible for setting and leading the strategic direction for all of education, skills and work within the prison.

This will involve developing a coherent approach to all areas of Education, Skills and Work, ensuring that sequencing of activities is purposeful and directed towards maximising prisoners’ opportunities to access employment, education and training on release.

The job holder must ensure that all Education, Skills and Work activities are structured around the 5 pillars of the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework, supporting other function heads within the prison to maximise this approach in areas of prisoner residence and social interaction.

They will work with education providers, prison industries and local private enterprise to make the most appropriate use of workshops and all other prisoner places of work, providing prisoners with the learning and skills required to compete for and achieve employment within the local labour market.

As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the job holder will contribute and implement their Function’s objectives as defined in the establishment’s Business Plan.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

• Responsible for setting and leading the strategic direction for all of education, skills and work within the establishment.
• Responsible for creating effective approaches to learning and teaching in line with HMPPS’ education vision and values, as well as regional and national directives and developing a coherent, evidence‑based, strategy for all education, skills and work so that the learning, skills and qualifications gained in prison work to maximise opportunities for employment on release.
• Responsible for delivery of the following related functions/pathways in a prison in line with national frameworks and guidance, and in a way which meets user needs: Education, Neurodiversity, Employment on Release, Work in Prison/Industries, Farming & Gardens.
• Work in strategic partnership with the Head of Reducing Reoffending and other Head of Functions across each of their respective responsibilities to maximise education, skills and work opportunities, to reduce reoffending and support with effective prisoner resettlement.
• Work with the Governing Governor to maximise Release on Temporary Licence and develop strategy to support higher volumes of prison leavers into employment on release.
• Responsible for managing the quality of education, skills and work (ESW) provision using Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework criteria, including providing guidance and expertise to the prison’s senior leadership team to ensure the requirements of Ofsted’s inspection framework are prioritised.
• Responsible for leading on inspections, including preparation, and driving forward the delivery of actions arising from them.

This includes Standard Audit, His Majesty Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP), OFSTED/Estyn, Action Plans and Managing Quality of Prison Life (MQPL) surveys.

• Responsible for ensuring that a culture of employment is maintained within the prison, and responsible for prisoner outcomes in relation to employment post release.
• Responsibility for guiding the Prison Employment Lead (PEL) to embed this culture, utilising the Employment Hub (EH) and maximising the prison’s relationships with New Futures Network, Probation Service, Community Rehabilitation Service providers and other education/employment stakeholders and networks who support prison leavers.
• Responsible for ensuring the delivery of Prison Industries, Retail, Catering and PE Services (IRCPE), New Futures Network and local private enterprise work within prison workshops.
• Responsible for the line management and development of staff within the function, including creating a culture of high expectations and taking appropriate action when performance is unsatisfactory.
• Operational Tasks (Where Applicable)
• Act as the Governor's representative by chairing adjudications and taking charge of day‑to‑day establishment operations as Duty Governor.
• Promote Prison Service policy in all activities and behaviours, e. g., promote decency, safety, diversity and inclusion and reduce re‑offending agendas.

Experience

• Experience operating at a middle or senior level in a primary, secondary or post‑16/adult education setting, including community and voluntary sectors.
• Detailed knowledge of OFSTED/Estyn’s Education Inspection Framework and further education and skills criteria.
• Experience working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders including senior leaders, external organisations, staff and students.
• Significant experience developing and delivering effective and engaging curricula for a wide range of learners.
• Experience using data to set clear education outcomes and monitor progress towards these.
• Experience implementing change within an educational context.
• Knowledge and understanding of how Ofsted/Estyn’s Education Inspection Framework applies to a prison setting.
• Knowledge and understanding of OFSTED/Estyn’s further education and skills criteria for prisoners with Additional Learning Needs and how these apply in the prison context.
• Experience implementing strategies to support learners secure meaningful next steps (e. g., further training, employment).

Note that role holders may be required to complete further training once they take up the post.

• Technical Requirements
• PGCE, Cert Ed or Level 5 in Education and Training.
• Additional (Operational) Requirements
• Must be successfully accredited by passing the Head of Function Assessment Centre (HFAC), or prior to 2016 be accredited as an Operational Manager (or in post as a G5 prior to 1999).

Where HFAC accreditation was gained from 2018, the Incident Management Silver Command (IMSC) assessment must also be passed to be eligible for operational Head of Function roles.

• Successful completion of the workbook.
• When transferring to a Young Persons establishment the job holder will need to undertake an assessment to demonstrate suitability to work with Young People.
• Abilities
• Demonstrable evidence of innovation and impact in an educational context.
• Strong written and excellent verbal and non‑verbal communication skills.
• Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances

Required Hours Allowance (operational post holders only) – To be confirmed by Recruiting Manager.

This role requires working regular unsocial hours (outside 0700–1900 hrs Monday to Friday, including evenings, nights, weekends and bank/public holidays).

A 20% payment will be paid in addition to basic pay to recognise this.

Working Arrangements & Further Information

Mo J offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows.

This informal, non‑contractual form of flexible working blends working from your base location, different Mo J sites and/or from home.

Some roles may not be suitable for hybrid working.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate will be appointed to a Mo J office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office.

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.

Benefits

• Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays – 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes). Some public and bank holidays may be required to be worked, subject to shift pattern and operational needs.
• Pension – choice of two Civil Service pension schemes.
• Season Ticket Advance – eligible to apply after two months’ service to purchase a quarterly or longer‑period season ticket between home and work.
• Training – opportunities for staff development in areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti‑Bullying programmes.
• Work‑Life Balance – flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and other conditions.
• Eligibility

The following groups are eligible to apply

• 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 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 who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the EUSS
• Individuals with limited 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
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