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Your opportunity to become a new kind of leader

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Em, 2022 Cohort

Your opportunity to become a new kind of leader

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Programme structure Back to top

Our award-winning two-year Leadership Development Programme will accelerate your development as an inspirational and supportive leader.

It’s an intense two years which starts with our Summer Institute…

  1. Year 1
    Summer institute
    The scheme kicks off with an intensive six week residential course where you will cover all elements of standard prison officer training as well as starting your Master’s studies. This will include university and prison-based learning. You will receive full salary and all accommodation costs will be covered.
  2. Year 1
    Mentoring
    You will be assigned an experienced prison officer as a mentor for the duration of the programme. Your mentor will be on site at your prison for two days a week to assist with your continual professional development.
  3. Year 1
    Master’s degree
    As part of the programme you will complete a fully-funded, bespoke Master’s degree. Drawing on the latest research in the field, and led by top academics, your studies will give you the chance to step back from the day-to-day and learn the theory to drive system change on the frontline.
  4. Year 2
    Work placement
    You’ll have the chance to undertake a two-week work placement with one of many brilliant organisations: from KPMG and PA Consulting to the Ministry of Justice and the African Prisons Project. You’ll also have the option to spend two weeks as a prison officer in a different prison, broadening your frontline experience.
  5. Year 2
    Research project
    You will have the opportunity to carry out an applied research project based on your professional interests, with the chance to publish your research paper in the Prison Service Journal. This year, research papers looked at subjects including mental health in prisons, prison leadership and officer wellbeing.
  6. Year 2
    The future
    Our commitment to your development doesn’t end when the two years are over. Our team and alumni network will support your next steps – whether you decide to stay and advance within the prison system, or seek career opportunities elsewhere.

Does this sound like the programme for you? Read on to learn more about our Master’s degree, the mentoring support you will receive and the opportunities you will have to influence policy.

As a mentor you build up that rapport with your participants, you build up that level of trust and they know that support is there. I think throughout the programme the benefit for participants is that if they experience situations where they are unsure, they can always contact us.

Pete Sturman, Mentoring Prison Officer
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