The job holder will be a Supervising Officer with specialist Physical Education Instructor training to carry out this role. The holder provides day‑to‑day supervision and support for Physical Education Instructors, co‑ordinates the delivery of the regime and activities within the Physical Education (PE) function, and ensures all activities comply with Health and Safety legislation and National Governing Body requirements.
Responsibilities
- Supervises resources to deliver Physical Education in accordance with agreed delivery specification.
- Uses specialist PE knowledge to coach and mentor PE officers and support their development in line with key competencies and training needs.
- Collects, collates and analyses data concerning PE and produces reports for the Custodial Manager, ensuring action plans are implemented.
- Contributes to the PE delivery plan and planned hours document.
- Provides advice and guidance on purchasing specialist equipment.
- Supports the Custodial Manager in developing links with external organisations, stakeholders, local community partners and other HMPPS establishments.
- Ensures compliance with statutory requirements and national and local policies relating to PE provision, managing all risk assessments, Safe Systems of Work and incidents as per guidelines.
- Ensures prisoners are appropriately supervised, inducted and trained within PE, maintaining discipline, safer custody, decency and Health and Safety practices.
- Ensures the delivery of a varied PE programme that complements the prison regime and reflects the competencies/qualifications of the PE staff.
- Provides specialist knowledge and guidance in implementing, monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the PE regime including accredited/offending behaviour programmes.
- Supervises, manages and controls prisoners in a decently, safely and securely manner while carrying out all activities.
- Understands, applies and complies with national and local policies.
- Establishes, develops and maintains professional relationships with prisoners and staff.
- Maintains and updates systems in line with local agreements.
- Prepares relevant documentation for managers for verification/quality checking purposes.
- Attends and contributes to relevant meetings as required.
Other Supervisory Tasks
- Supervises all staff within their area of responsibility, ensuring they are briefed on the work for the day.
- Prepares and delivers team briefings and handovers as appropriate.
- Supervises and prioritises activities in line with local procedures, ensuring workload/regime is delivered and escalating issues to the Custodial Manager when required.
- Promotes Prison Service policy in all activities and behaviours by encouraging diversity, decency, safety and reducing re‑offending agendas.
- Supports Prison Officers and other staff when dealing with prisoner applications and other issues raised by prisoners.
- Supports Prison Officers with actions arising from Standard Audit, HMIP Action Plans, Managing Quality of Prison Life surveys including local self‑audit action plans.
- Co‑ordinates paperwork for the Incentive and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme, submitting relevant documentation to the Custodial Manager.
- Supports and creates a safe working environment for staff, prisoners and visitors by adhering to Health and Safety legislation and following Safe Systems of Work and risk assessments, reporting incidents to the Custodial Manager.
- Coaches and mentors staff including new recruits and arranges for other staff to provide mentoring support for POELT and new graduates.
- Co‑ordinates and collates data concerning their area of work.
- Coordinates initial staff response at the scene of an incident until a Custodial Manager is present.
- Contributes to the development and application of local policy, procedures and practice.
- Contributes to staff appraisals, providing relevant performance information to Line Managers.
- Allocates daily staff resources to activities within their unit where appropriate.
- Manages a caseload of Assessment Care in Custody Teamwork (ACCTs) within their work area.
- Discharges prisoners subject to local risk assessment.
- Conducts checks as required, including those for Cell Sharing Risk Assessment (CSRA) and Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP).
Essential Experience
- Must be competent in custodial procedures, including dynamic risk assessments.
Technical Requirements
- Successful completion of POELT and probation period.
- Must have passed the Physical Education Instruction Pre‑selection assessment.
- Must be trained in restraint techniques.
- Must have completed a Physical Education Instruction qualification; if not, must successfully complete it on interview and pass a fitness test.
- When transferring to a Young People establishment, must successfully undertake an assessment to demonstrate suitability to work with Young People.
Behaviours
- Managing a Quality Service
- Developing Self and Others
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
- Annual leave calculated on a pro‑rated basis; 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) of bank, public and privilege holidays are added to the annual allowance.
- Work life balance: flexible working arrangements subject to managerial approval.
- Season Ticket Advance: after two months’ service, eligible to apply for a season ticket advance for travel between home and workplace.
- Childcare vouchers and other childcare supports where available.
- Training: staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme; various further development opportunities are available.
- Employer pension scheme: choice of two Civil Service pension schemes.
We are committed to diversity and equal opportunities and are a Disability Confident employer.
