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Prison should lead to more than a return visit

Siobhan, 2021 Cohort

Prison should lead to more than a return visit

On-the-job support Back to top

Throughout the two-year programme, while working as a full time prison officer for HMPPS, you will receive mentoring and supervision from a highly experienced prison officer. They are seconded to Unlocked for the duration of the programme as a Mentoring Prison Officer. Meet some of our current and recent mentors here.

Mahlon Hector

Mentoring Prison Officer

Photo of Mahlon Hector

Mahlon joined Unlocked in June 2022. He currently works as a Mentoring Prisoner officer for the 2022 and 2023 cohorts at HMP Onley and HMP Bedford.

He was attracted to the MPO role as he is passionate about contributing to positive changes within the custodial environment, based on his experience of working on the frontline. Mahlon started working in the prison service at HMP Leicester, where he had a fundamental part with TRIM Practitioners and changing cultures within the Prison Environment.

Craig Bathgate

Mentoring Prison Officer

Photo of Craig Bathgate

Craig first joined Unlocked Graduates in 2019 as a participant working at HMP Huntercombe a category C male foreign national specialist prison in Oxfordshire. Whilst on the program he completed his dissertation focusing on the impact of food in prisons. He has worked at Huntercombe ever since, spending the majority of this time working within the prisons Segregation Unit whilst also spending an extended period of time on detached duty at HMP Norwich.

He has experience working across a number of different establishments and is especially passionate about improving the outcomes for those who experience segregation whilst in custody. Craig also competes as part of the HMPPS triathlon team. He wanted to become an MPO as he recognised the hugely important role that his own MPO played during his time on the program.

Alan Clark

Mentoring Prison Officer

Photo of Alan Clark

Alan’s journey into HMPPS started by joining Unlocked as a participant in 2019, having previously worked as a learning mentor in the education sector. He completed the Programme at HMYOI Feltham on the A-side, which is part of the Youth Secure Estate, working with a young population aged 15-18. His dissertation focused on understanding the effect of the pandemic-related restrictions on wellbeing in the Youth Estate, particularly in relation to self-harm rates. After working on a standard residential unit for a year, Alan joined the team working on the Platinum community, where he was drawn to supporting prisoners on a one-to-one basis through the Custody Support Plan scheme. After completing the Programme, Alan returned to standard residential duties to oversee the reopening of a wing following refurbishment, providing on-the-job training to the new starters assigned to his team. He then spent several months working as both a prison officer and life skills workshop instructor delivering the bespoke Cadets course.

After three years at Feltham, Alan joined Unlocked as a Mentoring Prison Officer in 2022 to pursue his passion in developing and supporting new and current staff. He has been mentoring participants at HMP Bedford and HMP Woodhill throughout his first year as an MPO and is now also doing so at HMP Bullingdon.

Harry Francis

Mentoring Prison Officer

Photo of Harry Francis

Harry joined Unlocked Graduates in June 2022. He is currently working as the Mentoring Prison Officer for the 2021 and 2022 cohorts at HMP Buckley Hall and HMP Wealstun.

Harry started his career at HMP Leeds working on the Incentivised Substance Free Living wing which helped him to build his skills on the landings, he then proceeded to work within the Reducing Reoffending Unit to support prisoners gaining qualifications and employment skills so they can lead productive lives once released.

He joined Unlocked Graduates as he recognises the importance of how prison officers can help shape and change the lives of those in custody and he wanted to give back by supporting staff to help push the change that is needed.

Jessica Bent

Mentoring Prison Officer

Photo of Jessica Bent

Jessica joined Unlocked Graduates in March 2022 as a Mentoring Prison Officer and has worked across HMP Brinsford, Featherstone, Onley, and Berwyn. She started her career with HMPPS in 2007 and has functioned in a variety of operational roles since. Most recently Jess worked in a residential Supervising Officer role at HMP Stafford. This role embedded the importance of staff wellbeing and operating collaboratively within a team into her working framework, motivating her to transition into a mentoring-focused role as an MPO for Unlocked.

Jess believes that working to support staff formally and encouraging their growth and development gives the most positive outcomes for those within their care.

Jessie Thorp

Mentoring Prison Officer

Photo of Jessie Thorp

My name is Jessie and I joined Unlocked November 2022. I am currently working as a Mentoring Prison Officer for the 2021 Cohorts at HMP Belmarsh (Male estate) and HMP Downview (Female estate) and HMPYOI Cookham Wood (Youth estate). They are all completely different prisons and therefore bring about their own sets of challenges for the officers that work there.

I started as an officer at HMP Wandsworth. I have been a member of the staff care team at Wandsworth for 5 years. I was also mentor to several of the new officers on my landing. I found I naturally wanted to guide and help them be the best officers that they can be. I feel privileged to join Unlocked and be an MPO and provide support for the amazing officers on the programme that are creating change for the better in the prison service.

Kat Gartland

Mentoring Prison Officer

Photo of Kat Gartland

Kat joined HMPPS in 2020 as an Unlocked graduate working in Swinfen Hall HMP/YOI. She worked as an Associate trainer at SI, helping to train Unlocked participants and currently works as the Mentoring Prison Officer for HMP Wormwood Scrubs and HMP/YOI Isis.

Kat is passionate about improving the standard of support for prison officers, which is what attracted her to this role. She is keen to be part of a much-needed culture shift within the prison service, to guarantee a better environment for both prisoners and staff. It is for this reason she continues to work with and strive towards Unlocked mission.

Sarah Gibbs

Mentoring Prison Officer

Photo of Sarah Gibbs

Sarah joined HMP Leeds in 2019 and has worked on Residential Units, in the Segregation Unit, and Reducing Reoffending. She joined Unlocked Graduates in 2023 as an MPO as she is passionate about the future of the prison service and believes that new staff in the service can be at the heart of positive change.

Sarah currently mentors the 2022 cohorts at HMP Liverpool and HMP Risley, and is excited to support others on the frontline.

Tanya Turner

Mentoring Prison Officer

Photo of Tanya Turner

Tanya joined HMPPS at the start of 2020 in a female establishment called HMP Send. Spending over two years on the most demanding wings and then spent the last year as the POELT Mentor which she thoroughly enjoyed. Tanya has completed lots of training courses in that time and her highlight has been completing the ‘Negotiator’ and ‘Negotiator at Heights’ training.

Tanya is very passionate about supporting new Officers in their role from the very first day they start in everyway possible to allow them to be the best Officers they can in a very challenging but rewarding environment.