HMP Acklington

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• HMP Acklington

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Description

• HMP Acklington
• Is a category C training prison for sentenced,
  adult males. It is the most northerly prison in
  England and was opened in 1972 after conversion
  from an R.A.F station.
• The Certified Normal Accommodation of the prison
  is 946.
• The estate Split between main location prisoners
  and vulnerable prisoners (VPs)
• Main contacts
• Governor Mr Mick Lees
• Head of resettlement Governor Paul Alderton
• Enterprise Manager Elaine Llewellyn

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Qualifications and Training opportunities

• Ten years ago the C.N.A at Acklington was 682.
• Prisoners had the option of tailors, textiles a
  couple of noddy shops, laundry, furniture craft
  and paints. Only the prisoners in furniture craft
  and paints were offered the chance to gain a
  recognised qualification.
• Acklington would hide its high unemployment
  figures by placing prisoners on a work roll with
  no chance of being called for work.

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Last year the following qualifications were
offered in the workshops

• Performing manufacturing operations level 1.
• Performing manufacturing operations level 2.
• Performing Engineering operations level 1.
• Performing Engineering operations level 2.
• Guild of launderers and cleaners technicians
  certificate.
• European computer driving licence.
• I.T essentials level 1.
• I.T essentials level 2.
• Certificate /diploma in I media.
• Panduit Network Infrastructure Essentials.
• Level 1 certificate in waste management.
• Fashion Design level 1.
• Fashion Design level 2.
• Basic cutting skills.
• Pattern Construction

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And through an external partner we were able to
offer

• Utilities

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Utilities
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Overview

• The industries team at Acklington in partnership
  with E.U skills decided to run a series of
  courses. This was funded by the LSC with employer
  engagement for the telecom industry.
• We would train prisoners to the required standard
  so that when they left prison they would have the
  skills and qualifications to enter the job
  market. At no time were they guaranteed a job
  they were however guaranteed a two week work
  trial and interview if they successfully
  completed the course. The rest was down to them
  to prove they were worth employing.

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Selection

• It was decided that the prisoners on the course
  would ideally be eligible for release or tagging
  within a few months of completing the course..
• We had employer engagement right from the outset
  and they were part of the recruitment and
  selection process.
• Prisoners had to apply to come on the course
  security would vet them and any prisoners that
  posed a security risk were removed.
• Those that were left were invited to a selection
  day that consisted of E.U skills, Enterprise PLC,
  and the training provider with prison industries
  facilitating the day.
• Applicants had to undertake aptitude tests in the
  morning. From these tests a short list was
  generated and these were then invited back for a
  formal interview in the afternoon
• The best eight candidates were selected.
  Prisoners were then notified in writing if they
  had been successful or not we also had a couple
  of reserves in case of dropouts.

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Course content

• Day 1 get them up a pole to check they have a
  head for heights
• Cable jointing this involved everyone on the
  course working on cable.
• Testing the cables through an exchange to a
  telephone.
• Cabinets and boxes.
• N.R.A,S.W.A.
• Overhead working.
• Drop wires.
• Pole insertion and extraction.
• Fault finding and testing.
• First aid.
• Use of abrasive wheels.
• Customer care.
• Health and safety.

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Qualifications awarded

• Prisoners are awarded on completion Open College
  Network Qualifications in the following.
• Level 2 in pole erection.
• Level 3 in overhead cabling.
• Level 2 in D side cable jointing.
• Level 3 in D side cable testing and fault
  finding.
• I.O.S.H or site safety passport.
• And a New road and street works card.

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Things that worked well

• The course built a team spirit.
• Whilst in the prison we could ensure that
  prisoners attended.
• We had someone come from E.U skills to see the
  people on the course every two weeks.
• The external trainers were good and delivered the
  same course in prison as outside.
• The course was hands on with plenty of practical
  work outside.
• A commitment by some prisoners to ensure they
  completed the course.
• Industries management ensuring it was a success.

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Things that did not work so well

• Security.
• Reluctance from some of the senior management
  team to undertake the project.
• Prison regime.
• Prisoners commitment upon release
• Employer participation.
• Getting external trainers to look at things from
  a prison point of view.
• H.D.C.
• Probation.
• Job centre.
• One course to many.

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Drivers
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Prison / Internal Partnerships

• I. A. G workers

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Internal PartnershipsEducation
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Internal Partnerships

• Job centre plus

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External Drivers

• Employers

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Biggest driver

• Money

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What next
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Ex offender employment Strategy Group

• A Coalition between
• North East employers federation
• HMP Acklington
• HMYOI Castington
• Job Club
• Aims
• Getting Ex offenders into work by employer
  engagement during their time in custody.
• Identify employer champions
• Pre Employability training as well as vocational
  training for prisoners.

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Areas we are looking at

• Engineering
• An area that we are already working in with our
  engineering shop.
• Hospitality
• This is an area we identified with our job centre
  questionnaire.
• It will also link in with our catering courses
  run in the education department, prison kitchen
  and staff mess
• Motor trades
• Tyre and exhaust centres this is an area that YOI
  Castington are training prisoners in

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Whats else
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Dry stone walling is still a skill shortage area