HMP Cookham Wood and Learning and Skills Manager

HMP Cookham Wood and Rochester are looking for a Learning and Skills Manager (LSM), likely to be predominantly based at HMP Rochester. This role will give the successful candidate a wealth of experience in Education, Skills and Work and Reducing Reoffending and an opportunity to have whole-prison impact.

This is a management job in an establishment.

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 be implementing 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 reoffending.

The function provides a strategic focus on the learning, skills and qualifications in all areas of activities, 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. This role is non-rotational.

• 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, 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 coordinating all learning and skills activity, (including education, vocational training, physical education, library provision) in order 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…