What you need to become a Prison Officer

Prison Officer - Cog 2a

Salary Range: $39,075 - $50,179 (80 hour fortnight)

Date: 1.10.2007

Reports to: Prison Supervisor

Department

The Department of Justice and its Secretary are responsible to four Ministers covering six portfolios:

1. Attorney-General
2. Minister for Police and Emergency Services
3. Minister for Corrections
4. Minister for Consumer Affairs
5. Minister for Gaming
6. Minister for Racing

The Department brings together Government activities concerned with reform, administration and enforcement of the law in Victoria, including:

• Police and prosecution functions
• Administration of the court system
• Provision of the prison system
• Administration of various tribunals and programs to protect citizens' rights
• Provision of emergency services
• Regulation of gaming, racing, liquor licensing and trade measurement
• Drafting of legislation, and
• Provision of legal advice to Government

Business Unit – Correction Victoria

Corrections Victoria is responsible for the direction, management and operation of Victoria's corrections system, which incorporates prisons and Community Correctional Services.

As a service agency within the Department of Justice, Corrections Victoria develops and implements policies, programs and services that ensure the safe and secure containment of prisoners, and that seek to rehabilitate offenders by addressing the underlying causes of offending behaviour.

Corrections Victoria manages some 50 Community Correctional Services locations across the state and is responsible for managing Victoria's 11 public prisons and overseeing the contracts relating to the management of two privately operated prisons. In doing so, Corrections Victoria delivers a safe and secure corrections system that actively engages offenders and the community to promote positive behaviour change.

Prison Services

Corrections Victoria currently has 11 prisons operating across the state, two of which cater for female prisoners. Each prison location is classified as either maximum, medium or minimum security. The 11 prisons are as follows:

Men's Prison Locations

• Maximum Security
• Melbourne Assessment Prison
• Barwon Prison, located in Lara
• Metropolitan Remand Centre, located at Ravenhall

• Medium Security
• Ararat Prison
• Loddon Prison is located at Castlemaine
• Marngoneet Correctional Centre, located in Lara

• Minimum Security (Prison Farms)

• Dhurringile Prison is located near Murchison
• Langi Kal Kal Prison is located on the Western Highway at Trawalla
• Beechworth Correctional Centre

Women's Prison Locations

• Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, located in Deer Park, is a maximum security prison. It also offers prisoner reception, medium security and specialist accommodation for remand and sentenced female prisoners.
• Tarrengower Prison, located at Maldon, is a minimum security prison farm.

Prison Officer

A prison officers' role encompasses custodial and security responsibilities and offender management. Custodial duties involve prisoner searches and escorts, surveillance, observing and assessing prisoner behaviour, operating a variety of security equipment, collating information and preparing reports.

Prison Officers are responsible for the day to day management of prisoners within the facility. Offender Management involves working in a team environment with other professionals to optimise the opportunities for rehabilitation through all aspects of the day to day routines, services and programs of the facility. Prison Officers model and reinforce behaviour and thinking that assists the individual prisoner's ability to change their behaviour and contribute in a positive manner to the community upon release.

Offender management also involves responsibility for appropriate note-taking, documentation and reports around working with and directly supervising prisoners within their Individual Management Plans (IMP). This includes direct offender management interactions with each prisoner to review progress and regular liaison with program staff to ensure the prisoner's program participation aligns with their needs.

Prison Officers also prepare prisoner assessments and provide advice and recommendation to prison-based committees, as well as participating in programs and a variety of prisoner activities.

The role of a Prison Officer will include:

1. Working with all members of the prison to ensure the safety and security of prisoners, staff and visitors. This includes maintenance of the integrity of both the external and internal security of the facility, appropriate levels of surveillance and interaction within the facility, and ensuring compliance with security and safety procedures.
2. Manage a case load of offenders in accordance with the requirements of offender management practices, liaising with the various Clinical, Vocational, Personal Development and Reintegration Service staff, to develop individual case plans to meet the identified needs of offenders.
3. Communicate with and give directions to offenders in a pro-social and motivational manner, respond to offender complaints or requests and provide pro-active assistance and guidance to offenders when required.
4. Observe and assess offender behaviour, refer offenders to services or programs as appropriate and actively participate in offender programs and activities as required.
5. Ensure familiarity and compliance with procedures in all areas of security and correctional services.
6. Maintain high quality documentation in relation to case files, offender assessments, and report preparation to provide advice and recommendations to prison based committees and external bodies as required.
7. Conduct searches and seize contraband ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures
8. Assist in the development, implementation and review of offender programs and security procedures.
9. Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, including staff and offender meetings, Operational Support meetings, accommodation and program management meetings and multidisciplinary professional development and de-briefing forums.
10. Participate in processes of continuous improvement and solution implementation, to address local issues and problems.
11. Create and maintain accurate records and registers as required.
12. Perform duties as directed in accordance with Local Operating Procedures.
13. Assist Corrections Victoria in achieving its Mission to deliver safe and secure corrections systems.
14. Assist Corrections Victoria to pursue its Vision of Confidence in Corrections.

Key Selection Criteria

1. Displayed behaviors that reflect the Department of Justice's values to Serve the Community, Work Together, Act with Integrity, Respect other People, and Make it Happen.
2. Have successfully completed the Prison Officer training course.
3. Demonstrated capacity to perform offender management tasks, and contribute to program development and service delivery to contribute to providing opportunities for reducing re-offending
4. Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary team environment to contribute to program and service delivery, enhance an environment for continuous improvement and professional development and strengthen the offender management capabilities of the location to reduce re-offending.
5. Maturity, sound judgement and the ability to apply practical problem solving skills in a rehabilitative environment
6. Ability to exercise strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills in varied work environments
7. Relevant and up to date knowledge of legislation, rules and policies pertaining to the role of a custodial officer in a unit management environment.
8. Ability to work effectively in a Correctional environment and demonstrated absence of a relevant offence history.

Other Relevant Information

1. Corrections Victoria values people who show initiative, are positive and enthusiastic, are creative and flexible, are co-operative and tolerant, are friendly, caring and respecting of others, relate well to people and enjoy their work.
2. Knowledge of unit management principles.
3. Understanding of the requirements of a rehabilitative environment and enthusiasm for a multidisciplinary team approach to achieve program outcomes
4. Knowledge and understanding of Corrections Victoria's operations, policies and procedures
5. A commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity and Occupational Health and Safety principles and practices.
6. Commitment to Continuous Improvement and customer focussed quality service delivery.
7. The employee shall be required to perform shift work and weekend work as part of a 24 hour, 7 day a week roster.
8. Annual leave will be subject to prison rosters, although the wishes of the employee may be taken into account.
9. You need to disclose any pre-existing illness or injury you know about which could be reasonably foreseen to be affected by the described work duties. Pursuant to section 82(7) of the Accident Compensation Act, failure to disclose such a condition will mean that, if employed, you will not be paid compensation for that condition.

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