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Summary
The job holder has responsibility for improving the employability of prisoners and supporting prison leavers into employment on release.
Overview of the job
In order to prepare prison leavers for work on release, HMPPS have invested significantly in a variety of activities that give prisoners the opportunity to develop work skills and gain experience.
Within the prison estate employment is managed as part of the reduction of re- offending agenda, which alongside education and a range of other support agencies, specifically provides prisoners with the necessary skills and knowledge to live a law- abiding life after leaving prison.
A key aspect of this service is to support prison leavers into meaningful, sustained employment on release by working with employers in the community.
The New Futures Network (NFN) is a national network of employment brokers and industry leads, who work to establish relationships with a range of sector-based employers. The specific aim is to increase the number of prison leavers entering into employment on release. In order for these employers to benefit from the potential labour pool that exists within UK Prisons, it is essential that work ready candidates are identified pre-release.
The primary function of the Prison Employment Lead (PEL) is to lead on the construction of an end to end Prison Employment pathway, which starts to promote the very real prospect of employment on release to prisoners from the beginning of their journey through the establishment.
The Prison Employment Lead will principally be responsible for:
i. Identifying work ready candidates.
ii. Prioritising actions and services needed to ensure prisoners achieve work readiness.
iii. Matching work ready candidates to suitable vacancies supplied by the New Futures Network and other employment stakeholders within the prison estate.
The role will be establishment based with the expectation that post holders will travel as and when required. This is a non-operational post. The post holder will have line management responsibilities for at least one Band 3 administration staff member, with the potential for additional as and when the work develops.