Job Description (JD)
Band 8
Group Profile: Head of Function Complex (HOFC)
Job Description: HOFC: Education, Skills and Work
Document Ref.
OR-JES-3093-JD-B8 : HOFC : Education, Skills and Work v1.0
Document Type
Management
Version
1.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
5 December 2022
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
OR-JES-3093-JD-B8 : HOFC : Education, Skills & Work v1.0
Job Description
Job Title
HOFC: Education Skills and Work
Group Profile
Head of Function Complex
Organisation Level
Functional Management
Band
8
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.
Summary
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,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities
Activities and Duties
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. This will include, but not be limited to, 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
License (ROTL): and develop strategy to support higher volumes of prison
leavers into employment on release.
OR-JES-3093-JD-B8 : HOFC : Education, Skills & Work v1.0
• 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.
• Dependant on operational accreditation, will undertake some or all other
operational management tasks including, but not exclusively:
•
• Acting as the Governor's representative by chairing adjudications and taking
charge of day-to-day establishment operations as Duty Governor.
• Promoting the Prison Service policy in all activities and behaviours e.g.,
promote decency, safety, diversity and inclusion and reducing re-offending
agendas.
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
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8.
Experience
• Experience of 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 EIF (Education Inspection Framework)
and further education and skills criteria.
• Experience of working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders including
senior leaders, external organisations, staff and students.
• Significant experience of developing and delivering effective and engaging
curricula for a wide range of learners.
• Experience of using data to set clear education outcomes and monitor progress
towards these.
• Experience of implementing change within an educational context.
• Knowledge and understanding of how Ofsted/Estyn’s Education Inspection
Framework apply to a prison setting.
OR-JES-3093-JD-B8 : HOFC : Education, Skills & Work v1.0
• 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 of implementing strategies to support learners secure meaningful
‘next steps’ (e.g., further training, employment).
Please note role holders may be required to complete further training once they take
up post.
Technical
• PGCE, Cert Ed or Level 5 in Education and Training.
requirements
If Operational
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 be
required to successfully undertake an assessment to demonstrate suitability to
work with Young People.
Ability
• Demonstrable evidence of innovation and impact in an educational context.
• Strong written and excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
Minimum Eligibility
Please do not alter this box
• 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 HMPPS consider to be racist.
Hours of Work
37 hour working week.
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
Required Hours Allowance (operational post holders only) - To be confirmed by
Recruiting Manager.
This role requires working regular unsocial hours and a payment at the current
approved organisation rate will be made in addition to your basic pay to recognise
this. Unsocial hours are those hours outside 0700 - 1900hrs Monday to Friday and
include working evenings, nights, weekends and Bank/Public Holidays.
OR-JES-3093-JD-B8 : HOFC : Education, Skills & Work v1.0
Success Profile
Strengths
Behaviours
It is advised strengths
Ability
Experience
Technical
are chosen locally,
recommended 4-8
Leadership
Demonstrable evidence
Experience of operating at a middle
PGCE, Cert Ed or Level 5 in Education
of innovation and
or senior level in a Primary,
and Training.
impact in an
Secondary, or Post-16/Adult
educational context
education setting; including
community and voluntary sectors.
Working Together
Strong written and
Detailed knowledge of
If Operational
excellent verbal and
OFSTED/Estyn’s EIF (Education
Must be successfully accredited by
non-verbal
Inspection Framework) and further
passing the Head of Function
communication skills.
education and skills criteria.
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.
Changing and Improving
Experience of working collaboratively Successful completion of the
with a range of stakeholders
workbook.
including senior leaders, external
organisations, staff and students.
Making Effective Decisions
Significant experience of
When transferring to a Young Persons
developing and delivering effective
establishment the job holder will be
and engaging curricula for a wide
required to successfully undertake an
range of learners.
assessment to demonstrate suitability
to work with Young People.
Experience of using data to set
clear education outcomes and
monitor progress towards these.
OR-JES-3093-JD-B8 : HOFC : Education, Skills & Work v1.0
Experience of implementing change
within an educational context.
Knowledge and understanding of
how Ofsted/Estyn’s Education
Inspection Framework apply 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 of implementing
strategies to support learners
secure meaningful ‘next steps’ (e.g.,
further training, employment).
Please note role holders may be
required to complete further
training once they take up post.
OR-JES-3093-JD-B8 : HOFC : Education, Skills & Work v1.0