Corrections officer recruits studying hard in the Treaty
of Waitangi class at Corrections Staff College.
Since it opened in 1977, Corrections Staff College has seen thousands of graduates pass through its Initial Training Course (ITC), which all new officers are required to complete.
“The learning that takes place during this course is the foundation of every corrections officer’s career,” says Public Prisons Service Training Adviser Paul McCracken.
“Corrections officers must act as role models and are required to be professional in every aspect of their work,” he says.
“We shouldn’t underestimate what a valuable job they do and as such we need to support them with a comprehensive initial programme.”
The training programme for recruits is eight weeks long, consisting of one week for induction, a six week ITC course and one concluding week for on the job learning.
“The first week allows the staff to build up an understanding of how a prison operates and the philosophies behind certain units and policies,” says Paul.
“The next six weeks focus on the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the job. Recruits receive training in areas such as vehicle inspections and conducting musters. They also get specialist instruction in how to handle more sensitive issues such as suicides.
“Senior staff from the field come in to give presentations. Their enthusiasm and willingness to take part adds immeasurable value to the course.”
Paul says the variety of backgrounds of the college’s recruits brings an extra dynamic to the training programme.
“We deal with recruits from across the world, so the diversity and culture of those we train is huge. Our students get the chance to learn about other officers’ cultures, which is fundamental in the understanding of how our prisons operate.”
More Corrections officers are being recruited to staff new facilities and extensions to current sites, and this calls for more trainers to present an increasing number of ITC courses each year.
“We have increased the number of trainers we have here at the staff college, and developed regional training teams to help alleviate the extra demand,” Paul says.
“We’re also undertakting a review of the initial training course to take into account the changing environment that new recruits encounter when they return to their region.”
Despite this extra pressure, it is business as usual at the college.
“Nearly all the feedback we get from the people we train is positive, and everyone says they learn a great deal,” Paul says.
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ISSN 1178-8453