Member - Volunteers needed on Independent Monitoring Boards in the North West of England.
- Body
- Independent Monitoring Board (IMB)
- Appointing Department
- Ministry of Justice
- Sectors
- Judicial, Prison & Policing, Prison & Policing, Regulation
- Location
- HMP Altcourse, Brookfield Dr, Liverpool L9 7LH; HMP Haverigg, North Lane, Haverigg, Millom LA18 4NA HMP Kirkham, Freckleton Road, Preston, Lancashire PR4 2RN HMP Lancaster Farms, Stone Row Head, Lancaster LA1 3QZ HMP Liverpool, 68 Hornby Road, Liverpool L9 3DF HMP Manchester, 1 Southall Street, Cheetham, Manchester M60 9AH HMP Preston, 2 Ribbleton Lane, Preston PR1 5AB HMP Risley, Warrington Road, Risley, Warrington, Cheshire WA3 6BP HMP Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4HR ; HMP Thorn Cross, Appleton Thorn, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4RL ; HMP Wymott, Leyland PR26 8LW
- Skills required
- Regulation
- Number of Vacancies
- between 2 – 6 vacancies for each IMB Board listed below.
- Remuneration
- Unremunerated though reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
- Time Requirements
- Approx. 2 to 3 visits per month although this may be slightly higher during the first year of training. This can be flexible depending on the needs of the Board and the individual
- Closing Date
- 22/05/2022
- Interviews
- TBC
Vacancy Description
We are currently looking for new volunteers to join the IMB at 12 prisons within the North West area: HMP Altcourse, HMP Haverigg, HMP Kirkham, HMP Lancaster Farms, HMP Liverpool, HMP Manchester, HMP Preston, HMP Styal, HMP Thorn Cross and HMP Wymott, helping to ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained.
Person Specification
Applicants do not need any special qualifications or experience as we will provide all necessary training and support. Candidates need to be over 18 years of age and live within approx. 25 miles of the prison (30 miles for HMP Haverigg). You need to be enthusiastic, open minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement.
Additional Information
HMP Altcourse is a privately run male Cat B male prison/young offenders in Walton, Liverpool. Recruiters to the board would be joining an experienced, well established board who are able to give plenty of support and mentoring to any newcomers.
HMP Haverigg is a Cat D open men’s prison in Millom, Cumbria. The prison has undergone a transformation both culturally and environmentally and was described by HMIP in a recent visit as being on the way towards being one of the best open prisons in the country. The prison is surrounded by lovely countryside and is close to the shoreline.
HMP Kirkham is a Cat D adult male prison located Southwest of Kirkham in Lancashire.
HMP Lancaster Farms is a Cat C adult male resettlement prison with accommodation for around 560 prisoners. The prison located on the outskirts of Lancaster. Each wing has open communal spaces, and buildings that are reasonably modern and in a state of good repair. The majority of wing accommodation is single cells, although the number of double cells with bunk beds has increased in recent years. There are now four cells specially adapted for prisoners with reduced mobility. HMP Lancaster Farms is a relatively modern prison with four main residential blocks, each divided into two wings
HMP Liverpool is a Cat B local men’s prison due to be re-categorised as a Cat C prison in Walton, Liverpool.
HMP Manchester is a long tern Cat B prison with Cat A function.
HMP Preston is a Cat B men’s prison located in the city centre area of Preston, Lancashire. It is a Local prison with remands from court. It consists of prisoners awaiting allocation and short-term prisoners.
HMP Risley is a Cat C men’s prison located in Risley an area of Warrington, Cheshire. The prison holds vulnerable prisoners (mainly sex offenders) who are not mixed but kept separate from other prisoners. Accommodation is single cell occupancy with sanitation and shower facilities.
HMP Styal is a closed Category prison for female adults in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Can be challenging but rewarding opportunity to ensure fair and equitable treatment for women prisoners.
HMP Thorn Cross is a male Cat D prison . It is located in the village of Appleton Thorn near Warrington.
HMP Wymott is a Cat C men’s training near Leyland, Lancashire. It accommodates both men convicted of sexual offences and other Cat C offenders. The prison holds just over 1000 men at present and the site covers a large area on several levels. There is a limited bus service to the prison.
Inside every prison, there is an IMB – a group of ordinary members of the public doing an extraordinary job. IMB members are independent, unpaid and complete an average of 2-3 visits per month depending on the needs of the Board and the individual. Members are the eyes and ears of Ministers and monitor the day-to-day life in their local prison to ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained.
Your background can be as a student, a person of working age or retired. We welcome applications from people over 18 and are particularly keen to hear from those of working age and individuals from black and minority ethnic communities, since these groups are under-represented on existing Boards. The role is about fairness and decency and is always rewarding, educational and challenging.
Please click on www.imb.org.uk to find out how being an IMB member can benefit you.
How to Apply
Applicants can find further information and apply online via the IMB website https://www.imb.org.uk/join-now/current-vacancies/ In exceptional circumstances a paper copy of the application may be possible applicants should contact imb@justice.gov.uk in the first instance.
Please note that some of our recruitment practices may be adapted in light of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, tours may not be available and interviews may take place via ZOOM. As part of the recruitment process you will be informed about any local arrangements in place to adapt recruitment processes in light of COVID-19.
Reference Number: 1219/North West Cluster/2022 (to be quoted in all correspondence and on application form)