Five jobs that are making an impact

What kind of career makes an impact?

Fixing the prison system is one of the biggest challenges facing society today.

Unlocked Graduates is working to change the way we develop society’s future leaders and how we think about prisons and prisoners – by focusing on rehabilitation and addressing the terrible damage and cost of reoffending.

Our leadership development programme recruits outstanding graduates and career changers to become exceptional prison officers. The skills and experience you gain leading reform on the frontline will help make an impact.

Unlocked participants begin their career in the prison service as a Band 3 Prison Officer, but throughout their time on the programme and beyond, there are infinite opportunities for participants to specialise within their prisons.

We recently caught up with some of our participants from the 2020 cohort to discuss the impact that they have had in their new job roles.

Laura: Negotiator

Laura expressed her interest for the highly sought-after negotiator role at HMP Woodhill and has since been successful in being selected for a negotiator training course.

“Negotiators need be available whenever they are on shift at their home establishments and can be on call for incidents in other jails. Being a negotiator means I can be called to a range of incidents, including hostage situations, incidents at heights and barricading. Being involved in these incidents has been challenging. However, you are always part of a team of 3 negotiators during incidents.”

“Both incidents I have been involved in ended peacefully, and it was amazing to see the vital role negotiators play in de-escalating incidents.”

Zac: Foreign National Officer

Zac began his career on a wing at HMP Risley which consisted of predominantly foreign national offenders (FNOs). A year ago, the wing became an official Foreign National Wing.

Zac explained to us how “FNOs lack family contact as their close contacts are abroad and in different time zones, hindering visits and phone calls. They also face language barriers, isolation and deportation.”

“I had an idea to translate a few pertinent applications, relevant to FNOs, into different languages. I translated several applications into the six main languages spoken in Risley, and my managers liked it so much they made me the Equalities / Foreign National Officer for the wing. I decided to run a FNO forum once a month to raise the voices of FNOs and get an insight into their needs and feelings. This has been a success and I work with the equalities governor to try and put action towards the points made in the forums.”

“In essence, I am a champion for the FNOs at HMP Risley, working with immigration, management, other officers and FNOs to make incarceration more equal and fair.”

Katie: Equalities Officer

Katie started her work at HMP Buckley Hall on the Alpha Unit. Upon starting the programme, Katie had a limited knowledge of the realities of prison life. Yet, the challenge of covid spurred her on to identify room for rehabilitation on her wing and to apply to the Safer Custody Equalities Officer.

“It’s all about changing the culture. In February, I ran an LGBTI+ History Month event to raise awareness, and I am now creating and running seven prisoner-led sessions focussed on different strands of equalities. I’m finding people who relate to each strand of equalities to come and speak about their experiences. They’re all quite excited about it!”

“We also created a newsletter which goes out on the wings to detail the different events we’re running each month. I include lots of interactive tools in them, which prisoners use for support. They are normally reluctant to this kind of thing because they think it makes them look ‘weak’, but it has been a really successful way of communicating and engaging the prisoners.”

“I feel so lucky to have moved into this role. It’s a big risk to take, you have to learn to really appreciate the small wins, because they’re actually huge wins for me. If you let yourself, those wins can happen every day.”

“This role and the opportunities it has given me has massively transformed my relationships with the prisoners. When I walk on the wings now, the welcome I get is different. I’m challenging the stereotype of prison officers.”

Andrew: Disability Advocacy Wellbeing Network (DAWN) Representative

While working on Alpha wing at HMP Bedford, Andrew noted the need for increased support to accommodate disabilities in prison. He was asked to take up the position of DAWN Representative at his prison. Andrew now runs monthly open forums where he aims to highlight key issues faced by people with hidden disabilities.

“It’s open to discussion at first, and they experience a few of the challenges that people with hidden disabilities have, and then they come up with solutions of how to help them. I opened up the thought process and highlighted a lot of the big issues. I’m now trying to change the culture on Alpha wing. “

“I want to set up a culture steering towards mental health, towards a trauma-informed approach to how we treat prisoners and each other.”

Beth: Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) Practitioner

Beth came across the TRiM Practitioner role at HMP/YOI Downview after doing her Mental Health First Aid training with Unlocked Graduates. As she was inspired to apply for the TRiM practitioner training, wanting to use the role to help staff to deal with trauma.

“During the first aid training, we talked about a range of mental health issues and ways in which we can support ourselves, and also how to support people in our care. Being able to go into a situation and help after staff have dealt with a traumatic incident is something that is really needed.”

“You have to make sure that everyone is safe and well before people go about their day. You can’t look after other people if you haven’t been able to address your own issues first.”

“Everything we do is for the residents, and that’s how it should be, but equally you do have to fit your own oxygen mask before you help somebody else.”

————————————

Our 2020 cohort have made a real difference in their roles, working to have meaningful conversations, find impactful processes and projects and create a rehabilitative environment in their prisons.

If you’re up for the challenge and want to lead change from the inside like our 2020 cohort, applications for our Unlocked Graduates Leadership Development Programme are currently open!