Position Description
Position Title: Corrections officer
Reports to: Unit Manager
Service/Group:Prison Services
Location: Various
Date: April 2009
Overview
The Department of Corrections is a core part of New Zealand’s justice sector and manages custodial and community-based sentences imposed by the Courts.
Prison Services is the largest of the Department’s business units, responsible for the management of sentenced and remand prisoners within 20 prisons nationwide, and aims to provide world class prison services that are safe, secure and humane.
Purpose of Position
The Corrections Officer is a custodial position with the Prison Services responsible for the safe, secure and humane containment of Prisoners within or outside the prison and for managing Prisoners consistent with the Prison Services mission, to contribute to reducing re-offending.
Functional Relationships
Internal: Principal and Senior Corrections Officer, Unit Managers, Assistant Prison Managers, Prison Managers, Regional and National Office staff as appropriate
External:Prisoners and prisoner families, Police, Ministry of Justice and Department for Courts, Outside agencies and persons as appropriate.
Key Accountabilities
Security
- Operate within the policies and procedures of the prison and unit
- Apply sentence compliance requirements
- Carry out the daily routine of the unit
- Identify potential risk, minimise likelihood and take remedial action if necessary
- Activate procedures for critical incidents and emergencies
- Ensure Prisoner discipline is in line with each prison/unit’s code of behaviour and legislative requirements
- Supervise Prisoner work groups
Supporting Offender Management
- Undertake sentence management with assigned Prisoners
- Encourage and facilitate participation in rehabilitation programmes
- Support other staff in the application of sentence management
- Facilitate dispute resolution for Prisoner grievances
- Coach Prisoners and apply pro-social modelling behaviours and active management
- Carry out formal “At Risk” & “Immediate Needs” assessments as well as induction interviews
Compliance
- Comply with the Policy and Procedures Manual, Sentence Management Manual and legislative requirements
- Contribute to the establishment of an environment that supports unit quality control
Health and Safety
- Identify and report on health and safety hazards, work related injuries and take corrective action if necessary
- Support the application of the Heath and Safety plan
- Comply with Occupational Health and Safety legislation
- Comply with Emergency Response Procedures
- Provide first aid & basic life support
- Familiarise with hazards identified in hazard register and take necessary precautions
- Contribute to and comply with hazard management plan
Administration
- Prepare reports and complete required documentation in accordance with PPM or administration procedures
- Liaise with other units, related agencies and individuals to establish and maintain unit and overall prison effectiveness
- Identify and report on suggested improvements on work methods to achieve unit’s purpose
Personal Development
- Ensure skill and knowledge relevant to the criminal justice system is maintained and up to date
- Understand the Prison Services mission and goals, and actively work to achieve them, behaving with the highest levels of professionalism and integrity towards Prisoners, colleagues and the community
- Manage and maintain personal wellness
- Complete relevant NZQA Offender Management qualifications
Teamwork
- Act as a positive role model for staff and Prisoners
- Participate in team activities to contribute to the achievement of team goals
- Maintain team communications processes to ensure information is effectively communicated to all unit staff and/or Prisoners
- Contributes to the budget and planning process
Person Specification
Technical Competencies
- Demonstrate the ability to utilise the relevant functions of the Department’s IT system including IOMS
- Appropriate level of computer literacy as a basic requirement to fulfil the above function
- Knowledge of prison policy and procedure and legislative requirements; and to apply them practically
- Demonstrates understanding of compliance requirements
Core Competencies
Offender Management
Provides effective support to Prisoners to achieve their sentence plan objectives and not to reoffend:
- Takes every opportunity to actively manage Prisoners through providing positive feedback, collaborative problem solving, motivational enhancement and pro-social modelling
- Observes and monitors Prisoner behaviour and environment to identify potential/ actual safety breaches, and takes appropriate action
- Co-ordinates and supervises all Prisoner activity in accordance with policy, procedures and legislative requirements
Safety and Security
Works to ensure a safe, secure and humane environment within a dynamic security context:
- Operates within the established safety and security policies and procedures and legislative requirements at all times
- Identifies unsafe situations and implements immediate action to maintain safety and security standards
- Identifies, reports and records all workplace hazards and breaches (potential or actual) of security in accordance with policy and procedures and legislative requirements
Communication
Communicates well with people at all levels:
- Communicates appropriately to a diverse group including Prisoners and their whanau and friends; co-workers, managers and the wider community
- Produces logical, sequential reports that are accurate and concise
- Communicates confidently and clearly
- Enters data correctly into the workplace computer
Teamwork
Works as part of a team encouraging co-operation and contributing to the achievement of team goals:
- Establishes and maintains open, honest and co-operative relationships with affected parties at all levels within the workplace
- Contributes appropriately to the performance of routine tasks
- Contributes effectively to team discussions and decision-making
Self-management
Manage themselves to be positive and professional at work:
- Performs all duties with a positive and professional attitude
- Is well dressed, groomed, with good personal hygiene
- Maintains a professional manner when confronted with hostile or unco-operative interactions and demanding situations
Health
Manages personal wellness and fitness for duty:
- Maintains adequate level of personal fitness to carry out assigned duties
- Has a wellness strategy to maintain personal health
Supports organisational values
Supports the values of the Prison Services and Department of Corrections:
- Acts with honesty and integrity
- Respects others and is responsive to the needs of others
- Takes responsibility for own actions
- Understands, supports and practises EEO principles and policy
- Gives effect to new departmental initiatives and responds constructively to change
Cultural Responsiveness
- Demonstrates an awareness and understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and related departmental policy
- Promotes and supports departmental cultural initiatives that meet the needs of Prisoners, staff and the Community/Iwi
- Attains appropriate NZQA Cultural Unit Standards (once developed and registered)
- Maintains and supports effective working relationships with Tangatawhenua through established networks
- Contributes to and maintains a culturally safe working environment
