What makes a successful corrections officer? According to recently retired Corrections Staff College Manager Janet Castell, it’s the ones who believe they can make a difference.
“They need to have a fundamental humanity if they want to make it in this job,” says Janet. “People who come into it for the wrong reasons are unsafe – for themselves, and their colleagues. If they have the wrong attitude they won’t succeed.”
Janet should know. In the two years since her appointment, 1,058 new recruits have passed through the gates to attend the college’s Initial Training Course (ITC).
As well as corrections officers, recruits include CIE instructors and Assets and Property staff whose duties include direct management of prisoners. Each has graduated with a thorough understanding of their role and the basic skills and knowledge needed to perform frontline core duties. Graduates are armed with clear guidelines for achieving the expected outcomes in the first six months of their career.
Janet comes from a military background and has run the facility with military precision. The former Arohata Prison Manager was seconded to the college in 2006. She quickly stamped her mark on the role, securing strong support for the college and in particular, for the Assessment Centre which Janet established.
The Assessment Centre sees experienced staff role-playing as prisoners in specific scenarios while recruits respond to the situation using the skills, techniques and insights learnt during the course. This allows Janet and her team to assess each recruit’s ability.
Christchurch-based Senior Corrections Officer “Rocky” Rockhouse has attended seven of the eight Assessment Centre courses, each time taking staff with him. Some were so committed they took annual leave in order to participate.
“I have played the prisoner and I have also been the team leader assessor,” says Rocky. “I believe the Assessment Centre concept is very beneficial to new staff. Students tell me they are very glad the initiative was put in place. They feel better prepared for their role and the training does deliver a better prepared, more confident recruit to the Department.”
Janet believes the college instils a sense of professionalism and integrity. “These virtues are at the heart of what makes an effective corrections officer,” she says. “The strength of the College is its place as a centre of excellence for the Department. It’s here where we embed these virtues into Prison Services.”
And what’s next for Janet? Quiet retirement, she says with a smile.
The Initial Training Course is a six-week residential course covering the wide diversity of what it means to be a frontline officer.
Along with learning the fundamental aspects of the job, such as safety standards, addiction awareness, gang management, control and restraint techniques and procedures for transferring and escorting a prisoner, corrections officers also learn about:
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ISSN 1178-8453