What is the work like?
Prison instructors, or instructional officers, help prison
inmates to gain skills which could help them find employment after
their release.
As a prison instructor, you could provide training in a variety
of subjects from construction skills and engineering to tailoring
and printing. Your work would vary depending on your subject area,
but could include:
- assessing the skills and training needs of individual
prisoners
- planning training sessions
- preparing teaching materials
- providing group or individual instruction
- keeping records on prisoners' progress
- supporting prisoners in working towards qualifications such
as NVQs
- making sure prisoners are supervised at all times
- making sure all tools and materials are accounted for to
avoid security risks.
In some prisons you could work for a private company which is
contracted to the prison service.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
To become an instructor you would need:
- to have, or be working towards, a recognised teaching
qualification – see the Further Education Teacher profile
and the LLUK website for details
- experience in your area of specialism and at least a level 3
qualification such as an NVQ.
You may find it useful in some jobs to have qualifications in
NVQ assessing – see the NVQ Assessor profile for details.
You would also need to meet the usual prison service entry
requirements - check the Prison Officer profile and
HM
Prison Service website for details.
If you are going to work with young people under the age of 18
you will need
CRB (Criminal
Records Bureau) clearance.
What further training and development can I do?
You would usually begin your training with a one-week induction
course at the prison where you would be working.
You could gain extra skills and qualifications, such as an NVQ
in Training and Development, or more advanced further education
teaching qualifications.
Where can I go for more information?
5th Floor
St Andrew’s House
18-20 St Andrew Street
London
EC4A 3AY
Information and Advice Service: 020 7936 5798
Email:
advice@lluk.orghttp://www.lluk.org
Centre Court
Atlas Way
Sheffield
S4 7QQ
http://www.skillsforjustice.com
Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Belfast
BT4 3SU
Tel: 028 9052 5065
http://www.niprisonservice.gov.uk
Recruitment Section
Cleland House
Page Street
London
SW1P 4LN
http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning
adviser, call
0800 100 900 or
use our online
enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at:
www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
Instructors can earn between £17,989 and £23,666 a
year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would usually work a 37-hour, five-day week.
You could work indoors in small factories, workshops or
classrooms, or outdoors, for example if you are teaching farming or
horticultural skills.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- skills in your specialist trade or subject
- good communication skills
- patience
- the ability to build good relationships and gain trust
- the ability to motivate people and help them make the most of
their training opportunities
- the ability to manage groups and deal with challenging
behaviour
- good judgement to assess potentially difficult
situations
- awareness of safety and security.
What opportunities are there?
You could be employed as an instructor by prisons or young
offender institutions. Some colleges and private companies are
contracted by prison services to employ instructors, so you could
also work for one of these.
Vacancies are advertised in newspapers, by Jobcentre Plus and on
prison service websites – see the
HM
Prison Service website for links.
With experience you could progress to senior or principal
officer, or move into other areas of training or instructing.
