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National Offender Management Service: Training

Volume 494: debated on Monday 15 June 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what training is provided for first line managers in the National Offender Management Service; (278557)

(2) how many first line managers in the National Offender Management Service have been offered appropriate training; and how many and what proportion of first line managers in the National Offender Management Service have undertaken this training;

(3) what plans for further training the National Offender Management Service has for first line management.

National Offender Management Service (NOMS) probation leadership and management development at first line manager level has to date largely been delivered at a local level in areas and trusts, through training consortia or areas and according to local need. A full audit and review of management development on the probation side is currently being undertaken through NOMS headquarters to inform planning for future delivery. In the interim, all NOMS managers (probation and prisons) have access to the NOMS tool, “My Leadership Potential”, a new e-learning management development package launched in April 2009. This provides an opportunity for managers to develop their skills and knowledge on a self-managed learning basis. In addition, first line management development activities are run locally by some probation areas and trusts according to need.

Data on how many and what proportion of probation first line managers have undertaken training has not historically been collected centrally, as first line management development has largely been organised and delivered locally. The current audit and review will provide information on which to base decisions on future interventions.

On the prisons side, the standard offering is the level 3 award in first line management, the introductory certificate in management, which has been offered to all first line managers since 2005. Until April 2009, all first time, first line managers with line manager support were eligible for this programme. In the region of 500-600 have participated annually during this time. This represents on average approximately 45 per cent. of the total number of newly promoted first line managers on an annual basis and 12-14 per cent. of the total number of first line managers. In April 2009, the programme was temporarily closed pending review of continuing fitness for purpose and an updated version or a comparable level 3 nationally accredited programme will be re-launched in October 2009.

With regard to plans for further training and development, on the probation side, the audit and review will provide information on which decisions will be made about future interventions. For prisons, the appropriate level 3 programme will be launched in October 2009.