Prison Employment Lead

Job Introduction

HMP/YOI Peterborough are currently recruiting a Prison Employment Lead to improve the employability of prisoners and supporting prison leavers into employment on release. As the Prison Employment Lead, you will 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. 

HMP/YOI Peterborough is the country’s only purpose-built prison for both male and female prisoners (kept separate at all times), including a 12-place mother and baby unit. We are committed to offering education and development programmes to provide residents with the skills required to enter employment on release, so reducing the chances of further offending. Providing creative outlets, such as workshop activities, helps to equip those in custody for when they are released. We use ‘Restorative Approaches’ to bring people in conflict into dialogue. Using a skilled and structured process, those who have been harmed have an opportunity to be heard and those that have caused the harm are held to account for what they have done. We have strong links with the community outside through a variety of partnerships, including our outreach activity Outside Links’ offering support and advice to both residents and their families.

Want to find out more? Come along to the HMP Peterborough Open Day on Saturday 25^th June, 10am – 2pm. If you have any queries regarding the Open Day, please contact us at pb.hr@sodexogov.co.uk

For more information on Sodexo Careers please visit Sodexo Careers and Careers in Justice

Role Responsibility

The role of the PEL is to improve employment outcomes for prison leavers. In order to achieve this, they will:  

• Engage with stakeholders within the prison to establish a system that identifies work ready prisoners and highlights actions needed to support prisoners to achieve work readiness including potential ROTL placements. 

• Work with prison staff and stakeholders to match work ready candidates to job opportunities brokered on behalf of the prison by the New Futures Network, DWP and other employment agencies. 

• Support contracted IAG, Career Centre and Education providers to ensure the prison induction process properly:  

• promotes employment, education, and skills training opportunities to prisoners upon arrival at the prison 

• effectively captures information relating to prisoner education, work experience and skills  

• encourages prisoners to develop personal and social skills that improve employability  

• Manage an Employment Hub/Career Centre which centralises employment support services within the prison and promotes live vacancies to prison leavers within the resettlement period. 

Please see attached job description for further information regarding the role requirements.

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience of working across stakeholder groups and Other Government Departments and excellent influencing skills, showing the ability to deal effectively with conflict and deliver objectives.  

• Commercial experience and an understanding of contract management. 

• Previous experience/understanding of recruitment processes/legislation (desirable) 

• Resilience under pressure, ability to articulate and defend decisions on behalf of HMPPS.  

• Strong written and excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills.  

• Strong team building and working skills.

Package Description

£35,112 Per annum

We also offer Sodexo Discounts site promoting discounted mobile phone tariffs, savings across restaurant chains and days out, where you and your family can save money on everything from your weekly food shop to the latest cinema blockbuster and much more.

Post holders will be subjected to an advanced DBS check, a prison security check (level 2) prior to being employed.

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs around 30,000 people, and partners with clients in many sectors across business and industry; schools and universities; sports and leisure; energy and resources; government and agencies; healthcare; justice and defence.

Sodexo’s connected; people-centric approach brings together a diverse range of expertise. The breadth of services it offers ranges from food and hospitality; cleaning; reception; concierge (Circles); security; property management and technical services through to data driven workplace strategy and design (Wx); employee engagement and recognition services (Sodexo Engage) and personal home services through Prestige Nursing + Care and the Good Care Group.

Sodexo is committed to being an inclusive employer; we welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults within a regulated activity. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and/ or Disclosure Scotland.

Please note all roles within Sodexo Justice are subject to security and recruitment checks which may include a Social Media Check. You will also be asked to provide 5 years’ worth of references and request employment history details from the HMRC.