Request to increase the Prison establishment by two Civil Servant posts.

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A decision made (14/05/2007) regarding: Request to increase the Prison establishment by two Civil Servant posts.

Subject:	Request to increase the Prison establishment by two Civil Servant posts
Decision Reference:	MD-HA-2007-0038	Exempt clause(s):
Type of Report (oral or written):	Written	Person Giving Report (if oral):
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?		Report File ref:		HAD/PRI 1
Written Report – Title:	Request to increase the Prison establishment by two posts	Written report – Author:		Steven Guy-Gibbens Prison Governor
Decision(s): The Minister approved the request to increase the establishment of the prison by two to provide support to the Head of Learning and Skills; a post we have recently appointed to on a secondment basis to establish a Secure Learning Centre at HM Prison, La Moye.
Reason(s) for decision: The approval of these two posts will enable the recommendations highlighted in the Training Needs Analysis to begin to be put into effect offering prisoners a positive learning environment in which to address attitudinal, educational and vocational deficits.
Action required: Steven Guy-Gibbens, Prison Governor, to arrange for this decision to be communicated to the Minister for Treasury and Resources.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision: 14 May 2007

Request to increase the Prison establishment by two Civil Servant posts.

8th May 2007

Ref: Educ/estab/May07

Senator Wendy Kinnard

Minister for Home Affairs

REQUEST TO INCREASE THE PRISON ESTABLISHMENT BY TWO POSTS

1. The Purpose of the Report

1.1 The report seeks the Minister’s approval to increase the establishment of the prison by two Civil Servants to provide support to the Head of Learning and Skills; a post we have recently appointed to on a secondment basis to establish a Secure Learning Centre at HM Prison, La Moye.

2. The Issue

2.1 A Training Needs Analysis was undertaken in August 2006 by an experienced Head of Learning and Skills from the Prison Service of England and Wales. The report gave an analysis of how the Prison could develop learning opportunities for prisoners to give them skills that would more adequately assist them to reintegrate into society. The activities would complement the ethos of resettlement and rehabilitation by offering prisoners a positive learning environment in which to address attitudinal, educational and vocational deficits. The report identified the need to recruit additional staff to achieve the recommendations highlighted in the report.

2.2 One of the posts needed is a Deputy Head of Learning and Skills. This post will support the Head of Learning and Skills to manage, develop and improve the learning opportunities for prisoners and ensure that provision is consistent with criteria determined by the Adult Learning Inspectorate. The post holder will: advise on resource allocation, coordinate and manage delivery of the basic skills curriculum, provide direct educational support for prisoners, manage the coordination of vocational training across the prison and have contact time and responsibility for life skills and pre-release. This post is suited to a graduate who possesses an appropriate academic or vocational skills background. Should the post be agreed then there is a need for urgency: the deadline for resignation for any current teacher who may apply for this post is the 2 June and the current teacher employed to support education and skills at the prison is leaving at the end of June.

2.3 The other post is an Administrative Support post to support the Head of Learning and Skills by providing clerical and administrative assistance to develop and improve education and training opportunities for prisoners. The post holder will: complete the literacy, numeracy and IT induction assessments, manage the administration of individual learning plans for all prisoners, assist in the day to day management of the learning and skills activities, monitor and support the management of the learning and skills resources, maintain records of all learning and skills activities in the prison and liaise with other agencies such as Probation, Workwise, Highlands College and the Library Service as directed by the Deputy Head of Learning and Skills.

3. Recommendation

3.1 The proposal is that permission is sought to obtain the additional posts for the prison to enable the recommendations highlighted in the Training Needs Analysis to begin to be put into effect. The vocational training needs that were highlighted in the report are currently being assessed and it is envisaged that further posts will be required to meet those needs.

3.2 The Minister is asked to agree to these additional posts so that a recommendation can be forwarded to the Minister for Treasury and Resources.

Steven Guy-Gibbens

Governor