Job Description (JD) Band 4 Group Profile - Prison Officer Specialist (POS) Job Description - POS : Casework Young People - Operational Document Ref. OR-JES-518-JD- B4 : POS : Casework Young People - Operational Document Type Management Version 5.0 Classification Unclassified Date of Issue 25/02/15 Status Baselined Produced by Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team Authorised by Reward Team JD Evidence
Job Description Job Title Group Profile Organisation Level Band POS : Casework Young People Prison Officer Specialist Delivery Band 4 Specialist Officer Overview of the job Summary This is role is an operational job with no line management responsibilities The job holder will work as part of the multi agency Casework department within the establishment, ensuring the Casework model delivers appropriate assessment; individual needs-led planning, intervention and resettlement. The case work department is the central hub within a multi-disciplinary Establishment and will be the main point of contact for YOTs and Resettlement Consortia, To work effectively with partner agencies, supervise and support young people ensuring compliance with all of the casework specification, standards and policies. All staff are expected to deliver a service to young people where they are provided with a fully integrated regime to meet their care, offending, education and health needs and that is compliant with Article 3.1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). All staff will work co-operatively, positively and in partnership to help deliver service excellence to the young people in our collective care; ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of young people is of paramount importance. All Staff working within an under 18 YOI are expected to understand their responsibilities to protect and promote the welfare of children in their care and their duty to report concerns appropriately and appropriate child protection referrals are made. Responsibilities, Activities and Duties The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties: Support the delivery of the Service Level Agreement between the Youth Justice Board and the Directorate of Public Sector Prisons. Support the achievement of qualitative and quantitative service standards that are compliant with the Youth Justice Board s National Minimum Standards and the policy on Care and Management of Young People. Ensure compliance with Section 11 duty to safeguard and promote welfare under the Children Act 2004 Ensure compliance with the NOMS/YJB operating specification, and any specific obligations within the operating specification relevant staff within this function, are met Act as the liaison with families or other external family links to ensure positive engagement with the multi agency approach to sentence planning and other reviews each young person may attend Contribute as required, and in line with the Casework Operating Model and associated policy documents, to the establishment wide multi-disciplinary casework model. This may be through a range of mediums, for example providing progress reports or attending sentence planning meetings.
Ensure you link effectively with the Safeguarding department in the establishment to take all reasonable actions to reduce risk to young people Ensure compliance with the following secure estate responsibilities as laid down in National Standards for Youth Justice, Remand management Remands into youth detention accommodation Ensure all assessment information received from the YOT is made accessible and shared with relevant staff in the establishment. Ensure the approved YJB Assessment and Planning tools are updated for each young person.. This includes young people who have been transferred from another establishment. Where the child or young person poses a risk to themselves or others, or is at risk from the behaviour of others, take all necessary actions and ensure that these are recorded ensuring that any necessary safeguards are put in place to protect the young person in accordance with YJB guidance. At the earliest possible point following the identification of a child or young person who poses a risk of harm to themselves or from others, or a risk of causing serious harm to others within the secure estate, convene an urgent risk planning meeting and invite the YOT to attend. If it is not possible for the YOT to attend, the youth caseworker must inform the YOT supervising officer of the outcome of the meeting within 24 hours and make an electronic record on the appropriate system. Meeting minutes should be circulated to all invitees within 24 hours of the meeting s conclusion. Undertake an assessment of each young person admitted to custody within 10 working days of admission. Ensure the appropriate reports/information are collated that cover the health (including consideration of speech, language, communication needs and learning disabilities/difficulties), YOT, social, educational, vocational and any other needs of the young person. Contribute to the initial remand discussion where a young person will appear in court prior to the remand planning meeting. Ensure that a remand planning meeting takes place within eight working days of the initial court hearing. The YOT supervising officer and any other relevant professionals must be invited to this meeting. Provide meaningful support to the YOT in their review of the plan as required. This review must give consideration to bail applications/alternative arrangements to be made. Provide meaningful support to the relevant local authority in undertaking lookedafter child reviews for all remanded young people in accordance with the Children (Secure Accommodation) Regulations 1991 and the Review of Children s Cases Regulations 1991. Where a child or young person is subject to an emergency transfer to a young offender institution (YOI), the Placement Service must be notified, as soon as possible after the event, which in most cases is expected immediately. A retrospective transfer request form must also be submitted to the Placement Service, who will then reassess the ongoing suitability of the young person s placement and issue a Placement Confirmation form accordingly. Ensure that the appropriate reports/documentation is collated for all transfers across the secure estate. These must be made in line with the Placement Service transfer protocol. Risk assessment and management Undertake continual review of young people using YJB approved assessment tools and ensure that all assessment and planning information is recorded. Particular attention must be given to managing the risks associated with offending behaviour, risks to the young person, and harm to others. Information should be updated within an hour of any new information becoming available to ensure that risk is identified
and that steps to manage the risk are being taken by staff. Ensure that risk assessment and planning information is shared with internal and external partners (where appropriate) and accessible to those who need it,, working as a multi disciplinary team, to manage the risk presented by the young person. Where instances of self-harm or suicide attempts occur, ensure that healthcare is provided in accordance with section 1.7 of NICE clinical guideline 16 (self-harm). All other assessments Collate assessment information prior to the initial planning meeting. This assessment must incorporate: 1. a full education assessment, including, but not limited to, literacy and numeracy levels and learning difficulties (education department) 2. a full substance misuse assessment in line with the Public Health England publication, Substance Misuse Interventions within the Young People s Secure Estate: Guidance Principles for Transferring Commissioning Responsibility from the YJB to Local Partnership Areas. (Healthcare/Substance misuse department) Where secure establishment staff deem it necessary for the purposes of sentence planning, undertake further assessments (in addition to those mandated above) to supplement the information contained in the young person s youth justice assessment information. Record additional information identified on the electronic case management system, and share with the YOT case manager prior to the sentence planning meeting. Planning Gather relevant information from key sources within the secure establishment to inform all planning meetings and ensure that the relevant secure estate staff and the young person attend. Administration and dissemination of the plan Ensure after any planning meeting, distribute the appropriate information to thel relevant individuals or agencies within a reasonable timescale. Responsible for ensuring that appropriate information regarding a young person is recorded in any information management system used by the establishment and that it is of sufficient quality and clearly articulates an up to date overview of a young person care. Intervention and delivery Deliver the plan with the active support of all appropriate agencies, including sharing all relevant information with other agencies as required, and working actively to support the young person s resettlement into the community. Instigate relevant procedures where self-harm concerns exist and/or a care plan/vulnerability management plan where there are concerns about risk of harm to the young person from themselves or from others. At the earliest possible point following the identification of a child or young person who poses a risk of harm to themselves or from others, or a risk of causing serious harm to others within the secure estate, convene an urgent risk planning meeting and invite the YOT to attend. If it is not possible for the YOT to attend, the caseworker must inform the YOT supervising officer of the outcome of the meeting within 24 hours and make an electronic record on the appropriate system. Meeting minutes should be circulated to all invitees within 24 hours of the meeting s conclusion.
Contribute meaningfully to YOT-led reviews of assessments of the young person delivered in line with the standards outlined in National Standard 4. In conjunction with the YOT practitioner, identify key transition points (e.g. transfer to different establishments and ensure that these are planned for. Where ROTL is being considered, in conjunction with the YOT case manager, undertake a full risk assessment to include consideration of victim issues, specifically communication to victims. Ensure that all of the data requested/collated to complete transfer requests comply with the Placement Service transfer protocol prior to submission.. Where a child or young person is transferred between establishments (on a planned or an emergency basis) coordinate and update (where responsible) all assessment information and make it available to the receiving establishment in advance of the transfer wherever possible, but in all cases no later than one hour following the transfer. Release preparation Ensure the young person s views on their resettlement arrangements are gathered and considered at the meeting. Review progress against the agreed plan objectives/targets and resettlement arrangements and agree any further actions required in the release preparation form. Ensure the young person understands all the resettlement arrangements that are in place, including their responsibilities to comply with the terms of their post-release supervision. Post-release supervision Attend the first post-release review meeting in the community arranged by the supervising YOT officer. Transition to the adult estate Manage the transition of young people between the youth and adult secure estates in accordance with the Transition from the Under 18 Estate to the Young Adult Estate framework for custodial transfers. Long-term custodial sentences (sections 90/91 of Powers of Criminal Court (Sentencing) Act 2000 and sections 226/228 of Criminal Justice Act 2003) Organise MALRAP/MARAP meetings as necessary no later than eight weeks from the young person s arrival in the custodial establishment and ensure that the key agencies are invited. Complete the MARAP/MALRAP (LISP 2) form containing the meeting minutes (to be included in the young person s parole dossier). For young people subject to determinate sentences explain the criteria for being released on licence and the young person s progress towards it at the initial planning meeting and all subsequent reviews. Prior to the annual review complete and update the Sentence Planning for Parole L, D, E, F and G forms. Provide the young person with access to, and assistance in, understanding the parole dossier so that he or she has the opportunity to make representations to the Parole Board. Forward the completed parole dossiers to the Parole Board in line with the timescales outlined in the YJB s release and recall guidance. Explain the contents of the licence to the young person and ensure that the young person understands the licence (taking into account any mental health problems, learning difficulties, speech, language and communication needs the child or young person has) and signs it. Release and recall
In relevant cases, attend the first post-release review meeting in the community arranged by the supervising YOT officer. Other Responsibilities: Encourage and support young people to participate in education, health,, interventions and activities as defined within the sentence plan. Develops strategies to assist young people to overcome reluctance to attend Ensure compliance with the appropriate outputs relating to Case Management in the following specification/policies: Manage the Custodial Sentence, Victim Liason Specification, YJB Keep Restorative Justice, NOMS Better Outcomes (Restorative Justice) Management of Young people at risk of Harm to self or Others, Rehabilitation Services Specification, YJB National Standards (As above) Drug Rehabilitation Requirements Specification, Support Delivery of Alcohol Treatment Requirement, Support Mental Health Treatment Requirements Deliver Activity Requirements, Immigration, Repatriation and Removal Specifications, Young people Employment, Training and Skills Specification, Early Days Inductions Specification, First Night in Custody Other policies may come on line that have relevance to Case Management that will also require compliance with, Prepare relevant documentation for managers for verification / quality checking purposes Complete and update Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan Establish, develop and maintain professional relationships with young people and staff Understand and comply with national/local policies and legislation Undertake the following tasks if the role is performed by an operational member of staff: Supervise, manage and control young people decently, lawfully, safely and securely whilst carrying out all activities Exercise the powers of a Constable Conduct searches on young people, staff and visitors as required Undertake external escorts Undertakes first on scene incident response Maintain and update systems in line with local agreements Prepare relevant documentation for managers for verification / quality checking purposes Attend and contribute to relevant meetings as required Complete and update Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan Establish, develop and maintain professional relationships with young people and staff Understand and comply with national/local policies and legislation When required act as a Supervising Officer (SO) as per the following job descriptions: SO : Safe, Decent and Secure / YP The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re examination under the Job Evaluation scheme and shall be discussed in
the first instance with the Job Holder Competencies All of the competencies in the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Competency and Qualities Framework are relevant to this group profile. For the purpose of selection the following competencies will be measured: 4. Leading and Communicating 9. Managing a Quality Service 11. Achieving a Safe and Secure in Environment 12. Showing Drive and Resilience 13. Caring 14. Persuading and Influencing 15. Acting with integrity Minimum Eligibility All members of the Civil Service must fulfil the nationality criteria and be free from immigration control and have indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the Prison Service considers to be racist Essential Skills/ Qualifications/ Accreditation/ Registration Band 4 Officer: The job holder must have been accredited as a Prison Officer by successfully completing Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT) or will have been in post prior to 2007. The job holder must have successfully completed their probationary period including having achieved the Custodial Care National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) 3 When transferring to a Young Persons establishment the job holder will be required to successfully undertake an assessment to demonstrate suitability to work with Young People. Any member of staff working within the under 18 YOI estate will be expected within one year of taking up post to have completed the first two of the following WYPC modules; need will be assessed locally for the further two modules WYPC - Child Protection and Safeguarding (plus e-learning and 3year refresh cycle) WYPC Adolescent Development (plus e-learning) WYPC Speech Language and Communication Needs WYPC Emotional and Mental Wellbeing Hours of Work and Allowances 37 hour working week (standard). NOMS Staff on closed pay structures only: Additional Conditioned Hours Pensionable (ACHP)
Staff moving from a closed 39 hour pay structure will be eligible for the two protected pensionable additional committed hours (ACHP). They will work a 39 hour week consisting of the standard 37 hour week and a further 2 additional hours (ACHP) paid at plain time pensionable rate. Unsocial Hours Working: This role requires working regular unsocial hours and a 17% payment will be paid in addition to your basic pay to recognise this. Unsocial hours are those hours outside 0700-1900hrs Monday to Friday and include working evening, nights, weekends and Bank / Public holidays.