23649 - Textiles Garment Manufacturer - Specialist Production Instructor (SPI): HMP Wakefield

Ministry of Justice UK • National City, CA

13d

About The Position

This is a non-operational instructional role in an establishment, with no line-management responsibilities. The postholder supervises prisoners in a specialist textiles and garment manufacturing workshop, providing knowledge, skills, and training to improve their employment prospects on release and help reduce reoffending. The postholder maintains high service standards and security and control, and may teach prisoners toward nationally recognised qualifications, potentially with support from external organisations such as local colleges. On an exceptional short-term basis, the postholder may supervise prisoners in more basic workshops.

The role includes training prisoners in workshop practices, health and safety, COSHH, and machinery and tool use; adapting learning to individual needs; managing production schedules, targets, quality standards, and contractual arrangements; and assessing skills against national qualification standards. It also involves maintaining workshop security and discipline, completing prisoner and security records, conducting searches, checking and maintaining tools and machinery, supporting health and safety assessments, managing materials, and completing administrative and quality-assurance work.

The standard working week is 37 hours. The post is permanent and full-time, based in Wakefield. The Ministry of Justice may allow hybrid working where business needs permit, although arrangements are subject to discussion and review and this role may not be suitable for hybrid working. Some public and bank holiday work may be required depending on shift patterns and operational needs.

Requirements

• Relevant work experience in a production environment.
• Experience using industrial-standard machinery and equipment.
• Currently hold, or be prepared to work toward, Level 3 or equivalent in a textiles-related subject.
• IT skills.
• Basic maths skills.
• Basic English skills.
• Ability to fulfil spoken aspects of the role confidently in English, or Welsh where specified in Wales.
• If transferred to a Young Persons establishment, successfully complete an assessment demonstrating suitability to work with young people.

Nice To Haves

• Some supervisory experience is preferable.

Responsibilities

• May participate in selecting prisoners for the workshop or area of work.
• Induct prisoners and train them in health and safety, COSHH, and the safe use of machinery and tools.
• Provide support to prisoners and tailor learning and training to individual needs.
• Set work schedules and manage targets and quality standards while maintaining contractual arrangements.
• Assess and evaluate prisoners’ skills up to national qualification standards.
• Supervise prisoners and maintain workshop discipline, including responsibility for performance, motivation, appraisal, and development.
• Maintain regular communications by radio in accordance with the Local Security Strategy.
• Complete ACCT forms, VRIRs, and SIRs when required, and contribute to IEP reports.
• Conduct metal detector scans or rub-down searches of prisoners entering and leaving their workshops.
• Carry out quality assurance against product specifications.
• Record attendance and approve prisoner working hours and wages, including piecework where appropriate.
• Carry out fabric and tool checks, maintain workshop security, log tool and equipment faults, and undertake planned machinery maintenance.
• Contribute to prisoner reports, including parole and sentence-planning reports.
• Complete regime-monitoring information and update prisoner training records.
• Contribute to health and safety risk assessments for the workshop and specialist work areas.
• Request materials and estimate usage to meet work targets.
• Initiate product-development reviews to maintain output and provide prisoners with a variety of work and experience.
• Participate in self-audit and work toward Service Delivery Indicators.
• Complete administration required for the smooth running of the workshop.

Benefits

• Annual leave entitlement, calculated on a pro-rata basis where applicable.
• Nine days (66 hours and 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public, and privilege holidays, added to the annual leave allowance.
• Choice of two Civil Service pension schemes.
• Flexible working options, subject to business needs and satisfactory probationary and NVQ requirements.
• Season ticket advance eligibility after two months’ service.
• Staff development and training opportunities, including equality and diversity, dealing with challenging behaviour, suicide prevention, and anti-bullying programmes.
• Opportunities to access promotion programmes and role-appropriate training.
• Security and diversity training and an individual induction programme.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed