We are excited to have the Irish Prison Service exhibit at Jobs Expo again. Their recruitment team will be available to chat and take in CVs between 10am and 4pm on Saturday, 14th May, at Cork City Hall. This is a free event and you can register to access this careers fair right here.
The Irish Prison Service (IPS) is responsible for the provision of safe and secure custody, dignity of care and rehabilitation to people in custody for safer communities. The IPS operates as an executive office within the Department of Justice and Equality (“the Department”). It is headed by a Director General supported by a number of Directors. The IPS is a key component in our country’s Criminal Justice System. It employs some 3,200 uniformed and civilian staff.
Currently, the IPS estate (the Estate) is made up of 12 prisons; 10 closed Prisons (Arbour Hill, Castlerea, Cloverhill, Cork, Dochás, Limerick, Midlands, Mountjoy, Portlaoise, and Wheatfield) and two Open Centres (Loughan House and Shelton Abbey). Typically, the IPS manages approximately 4,000 people in custody at any one time, both male and female, aged 18 and over.
Providing safe and secure custody, dignity of care and rehabilitation to prisoners for safer communities.
Vision
A safer community through excellence in a prison service built on respect for human dignity.
Values
TEAM WORK – Achieve more by working together more than individuals working alone.
INTEGRITY – Must always have the courage to do the right thing, the decent thing, even when no one else is watching .
POTENTIAL – Everyone has the potential to be a better person and IPS actively seek to provide staff and those in custody with opportunities to realise and achieve this.
SAFETY – Actively contribute to maintaining an environment in which staff and those in their custody feel emotionally and physically safe and ultimately, contribute to a safer community .
SUPPORT – Actively seek to provide supports to staff and support rehabilitation of those in custody .
There are excellent career progression opportunities open to all IPS Staff.
Via internal competitions, subject to meeting eligibility criteria, Recruit Prison Officer grades can progress through the various prison grades up to an including Governor grade. Prison grades contain various career streams eg: Trades Officer, Work Training Officer Gym, Assistant Chief Officer Bakery, which can offer new recruits into the organisation the opportunity to utilise existing skills and/or qualifications.
The IPS also supports staff engaging in further study and/or continuing professional development in order to gain new skills or qualifications. Staff can avail of the ‘Refund of Fees’ scheme and official study leave.
Sick Leave
Pay during properly certified sick absence, provided there is no evidence of permanent disability for service, will apply on a pro-rata basis, in accordance with the provisions of the sick leave circulars.
Uniform
The Irish Prison Service is a uniformed organisation. Staff are obliged to comply with standards relating to dress, appearance and deportment, which are a critical element of pro-social modelling.
Social Media and Mobile Phones
Prisons are secure environments and as such Prison Officers are legally prevented from bringing certain personal possessions into their workplace on a daily basis including mobile phones and other electronic forms of communications.
Superannuation and Retirement
The successful candidate will be offered the appropriate superannuation terms and conditions as prevailing in the Civil Service at the time of being offered an appointment.
The Irish Prison Service is committed to a policy of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, and welcomes applications for position within the organisation, from across a broad spectrum of society.
Name: Mark Delaney
Rank: Chief Officer II Work & Training Irish Prison Service College Dublin.
Organisation:Irish Prison Service.
Hometown: Ferbane Co Offaly
Education. :HCCC Sligo IT, BA (Hons) Law & Admin of Justice Whitaker School of Government & Management
Current Role: I joined the Irish Prison Service inOctober 2007.He has served inWheatfield, Mountjoy, Castlerea, Portlaoise,and Midlands Prisons. From Basic Grade officer to Work Training officer and now Chief Officer.
Mark is currently assigned to the Irish Prison Service College in Portlaoise where he is Chief Officer II Work & Training. His current role is primarily the training of Specialist Grade Officers, Trades/Work & Training, ACO’s & CO’s.
Furthermore, he assists with delivery of The Higher Certificate of Arts in Custodial Care, the HCCC, is a bespoke 2 year programme, designed, developed and delivered by the Irish Prison Service and Waterford Institute of Technology to give Recruit Prison Officers the skills, knowledge and competencies to work with prisoners in the prisons.
The Irish Prison Service College is also responsible for the delivery of CPD, Continuous Professional Development Training, to all established staff.
