Job Description (JD)
Band 7
Group Profile: Head of Function Standard
Job Description: HOFS: Education, Skills &
Work
Document Ref.
OR-JES-3095-JD-B7 : HOFS : Education, Skills & Work
v2.0
Document Type
Management
Version
2.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
14th April 2025
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
OR-JES-3095-JD-B7 : HOFS : Education, Skills & Work v2.0
Job Description
Job Title
HOFS: Education Skills and Work
Group Profile
Head of Function Standard
Organisation
Functional Management
Level
Band
7
Overview of the
This is a functional management job within an establishment.
job
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.
All staff have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the
welfare of children. The post holder must undertake the
appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that
they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of
the organisation.
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.
This is either an operational or non-operational job with line
management responsibilities. If operational, please see
technical requirements. This role is non-rotational.
OR-JES-3095-JD-B7 : HOFS : Education, Skills & Work v2.0
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following
Activities and
responsibilities, activities and duties:
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.
• 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 & 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
OR-JES-3095-JD-B7 : HOFS : Education, Skills & Work v2.0
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.
• 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).
OR-JES-3095-JD-B7 : HOFS : Education, Skills & Work v2.0
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
Please do not alter this box
Eligibility
• 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-3095-JD-B7 : HOFS : Education, Skills & Work v2.0