The Office of the Chief Executive employs about 60 staff and manages key functions including:
The General Manager of the Office of the Chief Executive is Mike Martelli.
Business Continuity & Emergency Planning (BC&EM)
BC&EM “champions” business continuity and emergency planning in the Department. The role has a national, regional and local responsibility to ensure the Department is well equipped to maintain essential business functions during any emergency at all sites. It includes: ensuring the development of up to date consistent plans, policies, procedures and practices and their availability to staff as well as representing Corrections at relevant BC and EM forums or exercises.
The position includes national co-ordination of the Department’s avian influenza pandemic plan and formulating and implementing general security policy within the organisation.
Corporate Affairs
The Corporate Affairs team is responsible for the development and implementation of reputational strategies, policies and procedures that support achievement of the primary goals and outcomes contained in the Department’s Strategic Business Plan and Statement of Intent. This includes; media and event management, risk management and the development and implementation of communications strategies for major projects managed by other groups and services. A particular focus is on internal communications. Another key function is the provision of services to the offices of the Minister and Associate Minister of Corrections and undertakes a key role in managing quality assurance in terms of official correspondence. Corporate Affairs is responsible for the production of the Department’s publications and safeguards Corrections’ graphic identity.
Inspectorate
The Inspectorate’s role and functions are set out in the Corrections Act 2004. The team reports directly to the Chief Executive on matters which affect the safe, fair and humane containment of offenders and the integrity of the sentence administration. To ensure the independence of its investigations, it sits within the Office of the Chief Executive.
Inspectors regularly visit prisons to view the facilities, interview prisoners and staff, and resolve complaints. The Inspectorate investigates all deaths in custody and may also investigate other serious incidents or allegations of abuse.
The Inspectorate reports to the Assurance Board, which approves the annual inspection programme. It reviews recommendations of relevant reports and monitors any corrections actions that need to be taken.
The Inspectorate also has the delegated authority to carry out reviews of superintendents’ decisions in relation to temporary releases, escorted outings and visitor prohibition orders. An inspector may also dismiss, upon request, disciplinary charges that have not been dealt with in a reasonable time.
An 0800 phone line is operated by the Inspectorate, enabling prisoners’ concerns to be heard directly by an inspector, should they be unwilling or unable to make contact by other means.
Internal Audit
The Internal Audit unit is an independent unit reporting to the Chief Executive and the Department's Assurance Board. It is responsible for helping Corrections achieve its objectives without assuming unacceptable levels of risk. This involves the review of systems and procedures and the provision of timely, independent, objective advice on significant issues.
Services include: operational, financial and IT audits, it undertakes special investigations, provides quality assurance, project and advisory reports and provides advice on internal control and risk management.
The internal audit activity evaluates and reports on risk exposures relating to the organisation's governance, operations and information systems, in relation to: effectiveness and efficiency of operations, reliability and integrity of financial and operational information, safeguarding of assets, and compliance with laws, regulations and contracts. It provides assurance to management and the audit committee that internal controls are effective and working as intended.
Internal Audit operates in a manner that is consistent with the Institute of Internal Auditors Standards of the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, and with professional standards of conduct such as the Code of Ethics of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
How do internal and external auditors differ and how should they relate?
Internal auditors are integral to the organisation and provide ongoing monitoring and assessment of all activities. Internal Audit's scope of work is comprehensive, and is concerned with all aspects of the organisation both financial and non-financial. Internal audit focuses on future events as a result of their continuous review and evaluation of controls and processes. They also are concerned with the prevention of fraud in any form.
External auditors are independent of the organisation and provide an annual opinion on the financial statements. Their approach is historical in nature, as they assess whether the statements conform with generally accepted accounting principles and whether they fairly present the financial position of the organisation.
Legal Services Team
The Legal Services Team provides legal advice and associated legal services at both corporate and operational level including matters relating to public law, contracts, policy and procedure development, legislative changes and dispute resolution. The team also monitors legislative changes, the statutory compliance programme and legal risk for the Chief Executive.
Portfolio Management Office
The Portfolio Management Office is a new function currently under development. The purpose of the Office will be to support the Executive Management Team regarding the alignment of projects across Corrections with the Department’s strategic direction; ensuring resources are used wisely and managing relationships between stakeholders and balancing stakeholder interests at a high level.
Private Secretary to the Minister and Associate Minister of Corrections.
The roles of Private Secretary to the Minister and Associate Minister of Corrections are seconded positions for a fixed term. Acting as a liaison between the Department and the Ministers, their duties include providing timely support and advice to the Ministers, analysing Cabinet papers, briefings and media issues, managing ministerial correspondence, managing oral and written questions and liaising with other Ministers’ offices and other Government agencies.
Professional Standards Unit
The Professional Standards Unit (established in 2007) is staffed by investigators with experience in managing criminal and corruption investigations. The purpose of this group is to undertake proactive or reactive investigations of allegations or instances of suspected corrupt activities, either prior to, or together with, any Police investigation.
The Unit operates under a Charter which gives them their mandate and defines their scope and authority to act.
