Departmental Senior Manager – Safer Custody and Violence Reduction

Salary: £54,348

Mitie Care & Custody (C&C) is driven by a bold vision: to establish HMP Millsike as a place of restoration and rehabilitation, where prisoners can unlock their full potential and make meaningful, positive changes in their lives. We are excited by the opportunity Millsike presents: a blank canvas on which we can paint a bright future for our prisoners. Our mission is clear: to create an environment that empowers, inspires, and supports individuals to re-enter society with hope, purpose, and a life plan. To achieve this, we will set a culture of rehabilitation and restoration underpinned by integrity and high expectations. Prisoners will experience a dramatic shift from traditional prison environments. Millsike will be a vibrant, bustling community, teeming with industry, activity and opportunities for personal growth. Above all, we will ensure our approach offers a deep sense of safety/respect, through a supportive, uplifting environment, that helps prisoners to see their potential and that unlocks a brighter future for all.

Are you currently working as a Custodial Operational Manager (COM), Custodial Manager (CM), Prison Custodial Manager (PCM) or any other operational first line management role in the prison sector and looking for your next career move? This exciting new role is the perfect opportunity for you! It combines elements of first-line management with deputy duties for the 'head of function,' acting as a crucial link between the two. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to receive mentorship and development that will prepare you for the future.

Job objectives and responsibilities

The position of Senior Manager within the Safer Custody & Violence Reduction Function involves ensuring compliance with contractual requirements, company policies and procedures, and HMPPS standards, policies, and procedures where applicable. This role includes oversight and delivery of services across the Care and Separation Unit, Safer Custody and Violence Reduction, Equality & Diversity, Use of Force, Transitional Support Unit, Assisted Living Unit and Faith Services, with line management of Prison Custody Managers. Additionally, the role involves undertaking the responsibilities of Duty Director and Chair Adjudications.

The Senior Manager will support, supervise, motivate, and monitor staff to ensure effective service delivery across the prison. They will lead the delivery of a safe, secure, and decent environment, fostering a rehabilitative and restorative culture for both staff and prisoners.

In this role, you will support the Head of Functions, Deputy Director and Director, in developing and delivering strategic priorities in line with Company values. You will ensure that prisoner care meets the highest standards and supervise performance within your function according to the contract and Mitie Care and Custody's broader requirements.

You will lead effective risk management within your function, implementing proactive strategies to support performance improvement and demonstrating agility and resilience in response to competing priorities. You will manage complex operational incidents and participate in incident management as needed. Additionally, you will represent the prison in the wider community, developing meaningful stakeholder networks.

With guidance from senior leadership, you will develop policies and procedures for the effective operation of the prison. You will also carry out the role of Duty Director and undertake on-call duties, including evenings and weekends.

As a member of the Senior Management Team, you will undertake additional duties to contribute to the effective operation of the prison. You will contribute to the delivery and achievement of all performance measures, contract outcomes, and locally agreed targets, including KPIs and CDIs. You will ensure that operational and administrative duties, including data collection and maintenance, are completed in accordance with prison policies and procedures. Additionally, you will contribute to key people metrics to create a supportive environment for employees, focusing on turnover, attendance, compliance training, performance reviews, health and safety, and employee engagement.

Person Specification

Candidates must have previous relevant experience in a custodial or secure environment. They should also have managerial experience leading a team of 5 to 15 staff members. Basic to intermediate IT skills are required, including proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook, along with some experience in updating central data systems.

Preferred candidates will have operational experience in prisons and technical knowledge of relevant prison legislation, policies, standards, inspection, and audit processes, as well as an understanding of the wider criminal justice system. Additional preferred qualifications include Silver Command training, successful completion of incident and hostage management training, and adjudication training.

Candidates with qualifications or relevant experience equivalent to Level 3 or above are preferred. This includes A levels, Advanced Apprenticeships, AS Levels, International Baccalaureate diplomas, Level 3 Awards, Certificates and Diplomas, and Level 3 NVQ accreditations.

As a business, Mitie Care & Custody is committed to diversity and inclusion and we would welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds including veterans, those looking for a career change, and people who have experience in social care or a learning environment. Full training will be given where applicable, and we would encourage anyone who might be thinking about a role in a secure establishment to get in touch.

Our purpose: our expertise, care, technology, and insight create amazing work environments, helping our customers be exceptional every day.

Our promise to our people: a place to work where you can thrive and be your best every day.

Our promise to our customers: a trusted partner creating exceptional environments for your customers and people, adding value every day.

Our culture – our core values and how we behave:

We are one Mitie: we work as one to deliver a seamless, unrivalled service. We are all in it together, if we can help a customer or colleague in any way, we will. We are one Mitie.

We are built on integrity and trust: integrity and trust are at the heart of all we do. We are the face of the company. We treat others as we would like to be treated. We are proud to work for Mitie.

We go the extra mile: whether its keeping things running smoothly in a safe environment, looking for new ways to do things better or fixing problems, going the extra mile for our colleagues and customers, and keeping our promises is in our DNA.

Our diversity makes us stronger: we are immensely proud of our rich and diverse culture and backgrounds. Our diversity creates ideas and insights. Everyone at Mitie has a voice and is treated as an equal.

Our customers' business is our business: we are a partner, trusted for our expertise and for putting our customers at the heart of everything we do.