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Prison should lead to more than a return visit

Cheyane, 2022 cohort

Prison should lead to more than a return visit

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#Training & Performance

We believe that the right training and support can radically accelerate the time it takes for a frontline workforce to make a difference. Weaving practical and theoretical learning, we support and develop outstanding individuals who excel in their roles, take on additional responsibilities, and influence best practice on and off the landings. We have developed
a model that other more established programmes in this country are already copying.

Over half (53 per cent) of officers currently on the programme have been promoted or taken on additional responsibilities already.

These responsibilities include hostage negotiation, mental health training and new roles, such as foreign national officers, offender management officers, pregnancy and mother-baby liaison officers and equality officers

An initial intensive residential course compresses all standard prison officer training into six weeks. Extensive pre-reading, as well as longer days and weeks, means more hours of learning than in the standard 10-week course.

Play the video “Building the Unlocked curriculum”
Building the Unlocked curriculum

Practitioner skills are the focus of Summer Institute. As well as the procedures and skills necessary to be an officer, there is a strong emphasis on values, de-escalation, and evidence-based therapeutic techniques – ensuring our participants are day-one-ready to start on the landings.

Participants are developed into exceptional prison officers who make a real difference to prisoners’ choices, through carefully crafted skills in resilience, problem solving and communication.

I think Unlocked is starting to influence how we too recruit and support. It is also attracting some brilliant people into the prison service as officers in other roles.

Prison Governor

#Mentoring

We recruit experienced, mission-aligned prison officers to work as mentors throughout the two-year programme. Seconded from the prison service, they are trained to provide both support and challenge to participants. The role is designed to increase the recognition of those who are outstanding at the craft of being a prison officer, bringing new skills to the uniformed ranks in the prison service and building long-term capability.

Meet our mentors

#Master’s degree

Our officers complete a two-year master’s degree that reflects the complexities of the prison officer role, broadens their expertise by focusing on the theory behind the practice and offers an academic angle to eliminating cycles of reoffending. Our academic partners have extensive experience in delivering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

Almost half (42 per cent) of Ambassadors who are still working in prisons are in middle or senior leadership positions.