HMP The Mount - Case Worker - Prison Offender Manager

Group Profile Caseworker

Band 4

Overview of the job The job holder will lead the management and assessment of selected low to medium risk prisoners and prepare, implement, review and evaluate their sentence plans with them. The job holder will build effective, appropriate and supportive relationships with prisoners with the aim of reducing reoffending. The job holder will act in a supportive role only to probation officers in the case management of high risk prisoners. The job holder will have undergone selection and additional training to carry out this specialist delivery job as a Prison Offender Manager to prisoners. This is a non operational job with no line management responsibilities. This role is rotational and will have regular prisoner facing activities.

Summary of tasks

• Supervise, manage, signpost and advise prisoners decently, safely and securely while carrying out all activities.
• Understand, apply and conform to national and local policies.
• Establish, develop and maintain professional relationships with prisoners and staff.
• Maintain and update systems in line with local agreements.
• Prepare relevant documentation for managers for verification/quality checking purposes.
• Attend and contribute to relevant meetings as required.

To assess and manage the risk posed by offenders to protect victims of crime and the general public by:

• Providing information and advice to other criminal justice agencies and partner organisations.
• Contribute to the management of risk.
• Work with other agencies and groups to prevent reoffending and meet the needs of victims and offenders.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

• To undertake the full range of offender management tasks with low to medium risk cases.
• No ownership of high risk cases will be held, but support to probation officers in the case management of high risk prisoners will be given when required.
• As Prison Offender Manager, be involved in all relevant processes in the prison such as ACCT and violence reduction/anti bullying for those within your case load, if applicable.
• Act as the ACCT Case Manager for individuals if appropriate (Prison Offender Managers should not routinely be used as ACCT Case Managers, only when appropriate to do so).
• Interview prisoners within prescribed timescales of their arrival. Set and review targets with prisoners and update case management notes on PNOMIS or relevant IT systems.
• Use the Offender Assessment System (OASys) to identify risks and manage offenders appropriately.
• Obtain further information if required from outside agencies to complete a comprehensive OASys report.
• Lead the sentence planning meeting to prepare and review appropriate plans.
• Coordinate the activities within the sentence plan through liaison with prisoners and other departments and agencies, including gathering and exchanging information and investigating conflicting opinions on prisoner progress.
• Encourage and support prisoners to participate in education, interventions and workshops as defined within the sentence plan. Develop strategies to assist prisoners to overcome reluctance to attend.
• Provide professional advice and assessment, including written reports to criminal justice agencies and partner organisations.
• Liaise with the Community Offender Managers regarding Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) and Home Detention Curfew (HDC). Make recommendations to the Governor on suitability for early release. Inform relevant agencies of release dates and addresses of prisoners considered a risk on release.
• Support Community Offender Managers with the delivery of plans to enable recalled prisoners to be re released.
• Complete all paperwork for the cases, including life and ISP specific paperwork in line with relevant policies, standards and set timescales.
• Highlight any prisoner who gives significant concerns by their behaviour to the Heads of Offender Management or Orderly Officer. Concerns may be for a variety of issues, for example, any prisoner who has presented in the past risk of suicide or self harm, or if there are outstanding concerns with regard to victims or further offences and racial harassment.
• Contribute to and attend Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Boards and work with all relevant external agencies to protect the public when releasing prisoners under MAPPA.
• Liaise with the Foreign National Department or UK Border Agency regarding foreign national prisoners, as appropriate.
• Instigate public protection child contact checks and share relevant safeguarding information with authorities.
• Undertake the role of the resettlement advisor for prisoners in the specific caseload. Forge, develop and maintain the links between the programmes, the progress or otherwise, made by the participants and the prisoner's ongoing path through their sentence.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and maintain effective team relationships, in particular with Key Workers.
• Demonstrate pro social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti social behaviour and attitudes.
• Use computer based systems to produce, update and maintain records and other documentation within agreed timescales.
• Work within the aims and values of HMPPS.

The duties/responsibilities described are current and not 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 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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at PaceManaging a Quality Service

Ability

• Ability to analyse complex information to make assessments and decisions.
• Ability to communicate clearly verbally and in writing with offenders, professionals, and at hearings such as Parole Boards.
• Ability to empathise constructively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Complete all mandatory training as required to support the job role.

Experience

• Working with a diverse range of people who have experienced a range of social/personal difficulties and using tact and discretion when dealing with confidential and sensitive issues.
• Understanding of factors related to offending, e.g. substance misuse, accommodation issues.
• Commitment to the principles of case management.
• Knowledge and understanding of risk management/risk assessment pertaining to offenders and the impact on victims of crime.
• Experience in planning and coordinating work.
• Experience of working with groups or individuals to motivate and change behaviour.
• Experience of working with diverse communities, promoting equality and valuing diversity.
• Knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice system.
• Experience of working with people who have committed offences.
• Received Women Awareness Staff Training (WASP) if working in a female establishment.
• Received Juvenile Awareness Staff Programme (JASP) and child protection training if working in a juvenile establishment.
• Working knowledge of relevant legislation and National Standards.
• Knowledge of evidence based practice and risk/needs assessment tools.

Working Arrangements & Further Information The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non contractual form of flexible working that blends work from your base location, different MoJ sites and/or from home. Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be agreed after completion of pre employment checks.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding unpaid breaks. HMPPS welcomes part time, flexible and job sharing working patterns where they meet the demands of the role, and all applications will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS Flexible Working policy.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and operational needs.

Pension The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

• Equality and Diversity
• Dealing with Challenging Behaviour
• Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes
• Additional opportunities to access promotion programmes.
• Security and diversity training and an individual induction programme.

Nationality Rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway . click apply for full job details