Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to improve the (a) recruitment, (b) morale and (c) retention of prison officers.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
We are continuing to recruit prison officers, and our recent campaigns have delivered at unprecedented levels. We continue to ensure advertised roles appeal to candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds with the relevant skills. We have introduced a new assessment process, making full use of digital technology, based on current best practice which includes tests for strengths, behaviours and resilience and have improved our access to information about the role and expectations of applicants. Full details of the recruitment process can be found via the careers website (Prison officer application tips | HM Prison & Probation Service (prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk).
Ensuring prison officers stay and progress their careers is a priority. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is working hard to retain and to develop clear career paths for operational staff. We have recently introduced a new direct progression route from Operational Support Grade (OSG) to prison officer and are continuing to invest in our people through the introduction of the Custody and Detention apprenticeship, which will help prison officers develop the confidence and competence to undertake their role, while growing talent and a motivated, skilled, and qualified workforce. All prison officer apprentices are supported by an apprenticeship coach who will oversee and support every learner.
The Civil Service People Survey contains personal wellbeing questions which allows us to compare wellbeing levels within the Civil Service and other sectors. We have also created a retention framework which is linked to wider activities around employee experience, employee lifecycle and staff engagement at work. In parallel, we are looking at leaver trend data and using exit interview outcomes to establish the drivers of attrition in HMPPS. This work consists of reviewing existing policy, process and benefit arrangements for staff and establishing how best to optimise them to retain a leading presence in the labour market.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the completion rate for individuals undertaking a staff apprenticeship delivered by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
HMPPS has made 20 apprenticeships available to staff since 2017.
There are plans to expand the number of apprenticeships offered to staff across the Ministry of Justice and its agencies, including Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.
To date, HMPPS have not met their annual apprenticeship targets due to the need to delay the Prison Officer apprenticeship launch until annual recruitment levels make this operationally feasible. HMPPS forecast to meet their annual target from 2020-21 onwards.
There are currently no apprenticeship completions within Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. Completion data will be available as appropriate from providers.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service is on target to deliver its share of the 30,000 apprenticeships by 2020, as part of the Civil Service Apprenticeship Scheme.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
HMPPS has made 20 apprenticeships available to staff since 2017.
There are plans to expand the number of apprenticeships offered to staff across the Ministry of Justice and its agencies, including Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.
To date, HMPPS have not met their annual apprenticeship targets due to the need to delay the Prison Officer apprenticeship launch until annual recruitment levels make this operationally feasible. HMPPS forecast to meet their annual target from 2020-21 onwards.
There are currently no apprenticeship completions within Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. Completion data will be available as appropriate from providers.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to expand the number of staff apprenticeships offered by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
HMPPS has made 20 apprenticeships available to staff since 2017.
There are plans to expand the number of apprenticeships offered to staff across the Ministry of Justice and its agencies, including Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.
To date, HMPPS have not met their annual apprenticeship targets due to the need to delay the Prison Officer apprenticeship launch until annual recruitment levels make this operationally feasible. HMPPS forecast to meet their annual target from 2020-21 onwards.
There are currently no apprenticeship completions within Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. Completion data will be available as appropriate from providers.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many apprenticeships Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service has made available to staff since 2017.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
HMPPS has made 20 apprenticeships available to staff since 2017.
There are plans to expand the number of apprenticeships offered to staff across the Ministry of Justice and its agencies, including Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.
To date, HMPPS have not met their annual apprenticeship targets due to the need to delay the Prison Officer apprenticeship launch until annual recruitment levels make this operationally feasible. HMPPS forecast to meet their annual target from 2020-21 onwards.
There are currently no apprenticeship completions within Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. Completion data will be available as appropriate from providers.