Instructional Officer (Band 4) Industrial & Mobile Cleaning

Job Description & Person Specification

Grade: Band 4
Location: HMP Manchester-
Department: Industries / Education Skills and work / Reducing Reoffending
Reporting To: Industries Manager

Job Purpose

The Band 4 Industrial & Mobile Cleaning Instructional Officer leads and delivers high‑quality industrial and mobile cleaning services across the prison. The role provides skilled vocational training, supervises prisoners in purposeful activity, ensures compliance with health, safety, and security standards, and contributes to the wider Reducing Reoffending strategy.

The postholder is responsible for managing daily workflow, maintaining specialist cleaning equipment, and ensuring all cleaning operations meet the operational standards expected within a secure environment. The role also supports prisoners to gain accredited qualifications, develop employability skills, and adopt pro‑social working behaviours.

Key Responsibilities

1. Training & Instruction

• Deliver structured training programmes in industrial cleaning, including the use of machinery, chemicals, and specialist techniques.

• Plan and deliver training that aligns to BICS or equivalent accredited standards.

• Assess prisoner competence, provide clear feedback, and support progression toward vocational accreditation.

• Adapt training to different learning needs, ensuring inclusive and safe instruction.

2. Leadership & Supervision

• Lead and supervise a prisoner workforce undertaking industrial and mobile cleaning tasks across the establishment.

• Plan and allocate daily work schedules, ensuring resources are available and work is completed to required standards.

• Promote a positive, respectful, and safe working culture.

• Maintain strong dynamic security, challenge inappropriate behaviour, and respond appropriately to incidents.

3. Operational Service Delivery

• Ensure all cleaning areas meet required hygiene standards, monitor the quality of cleaning work carried out by learners across designated prison areas.

• Maintain and oversee the safe use of machinery such as scrubber dryers, buffers, extraction equipment, and specialist tools.

• Monitor standards through regular quality checks and audit participation.

4. Health, Safety & Compliance

• Lead on compliance with COSHH, Health & Safety at Work legislation, infection control procedures, and establishment‑specific SOPs.

• Complete and maintain risk assessments and ensure safe systems of work are followed at all times.

• Maintain secure storage and correct usage of chemicals and equipment.

• Ensure all relevant paperwork meets audit, quality assurance, and regulatory requirements.

5. Administration & Resource Management

• Maintain accurate records relating to attendance, training progress, stock usage, equipment maintenance, and productivity.

• Support procurement and stock control of cleaning supplies.

• Contribute to internal and external audits, inspections, and continuous improvement plans.

6. Rehabilitation & Reducing Reoffending

• Provide prisoners with structured, purposeful work that builds confidence and transferable skills.

• Encourage engagement, motivation, punctuality, and teamwork.

• Support prisoners to gain recognised qualifications that improve employability upon release.

• Actively contribute to sentence planning and cross‑departmental rehabilitation efforts where appropriate.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

• Proven experience in industrial, commercial, or facilities cleaning.

• Strong knowledge of COSHH, Health & Safety, and safe systems of work.

• Ability to instruct, supervise, or train others in a formal or workplace setting.

Desirable

• BICS qualification or equivalent industry standard.

• IOSH Managing Safely or similar health & safety training.

• Assessor qualification (A1/TAQA) or experience delivering accredited training.

• First Aid at Work or willingness to undertake training.

Experience

Essential

• Experience supervising teams in an operational environment.

• Demonstrable experience using industrial cleaning equipment and managing cleaning operations.

• Experience enforcing safety procedures and conducting risk assessments.

Desirable

• Experience within a secure, regulated, or high‑risk workplace.

• Experience delivering accredited vocational training.

• Experience working with individuals from diverse or challenging backgrounds.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Strong leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to manage a diverse prisoner workforce.

• Clear and confident communication skills, including the ability to challenge and correct unsafe or non‑compliant behaviour.

• Strong organisational skills, including planning, prioritisation, and task management.

• Ability to maintain accurate records and follow audit processes.

• Effective problem‑solving skills, especially in operational and safety‑critical situations.

• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and uphold prison security requirements.

Desirable

• Skilled in adapting training to different learning levels.

• Confident delivering structured group training sessions.

Personal Qualities

• Professional, resilient, and safety‑focused.

• Calm under pressure with the ability to manage unpredictable or challenging situations.

• A positive role model who promotes equality, respect, and good working practice.

• Integrity and commitment to ethical conduct.

• Motivated by supporting rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.

• Team‑focused with the ability to work collaboratively across operational departments.

Security & Compliance Requirements

• Ability to work safely and confidently within a secure custodial environment.

• Full compliance with security policies including key/tool handling, personal safety procedures, and safeguarding.

• Commitment to confidentiality and appropriate handling of sensitive information.