The Institute of Technology, Sligo is at the cutting edge of the development and delivery of work-based learning programmes in Ireland. An excellent example is the 2 year Higher Certificate in Custodial Care that has been developed in conjunction with the Irish Prison Service [IPS] and which is completed by all new recruits to the prison service. IT Sligo teaching staff, and colleagues from the IPS Training and Development Unit, are currently conducting over 250 work place visits at prisons in Dublin. Each visit lasts approximately one hour, and provides the Recruit Prison Officer with an opportunity to describe their professional competence and personal development.
Mary Clarke, Lecturer, IT Sligo discusses the programme with staff from the Irish Prison Service Training & Development Unit during a recent work place visit
“As the HCCC is a work based learning programme, it is essential that students are visited in their workplace”, explained Fergus Timmons, Programme Manager. He continued, “The idea of the visits is to make obvious the links between what is learned in the classroom, and how this can be applied to the work of each prison officer. The visits allow us time to explore these areas in some detail.”
Programme lecturer Paula Kenny commented, “Recruit Prison Officers are really getting to grips with the modules, and are planning the course that they would like their career to take within the IPS. Others have demonstrated excellent critical analysis of their own professional and personal development, and the Irish Prison Service’s competency framework”. Paula has conducted over 40 visits in three prisons – Cloverhill, Mountjoy and Dóchas.
As Chief Officer Richie Roche of the Irish Prison Service pointed out, “The majority of RPOs I have spoken to formally and informally, have said that the Work Place Visits have had a lot of relevance to them, as they see them as placing a value on their job performance. They have also allowed staff from IT Sligo to visit a range of prisons, thereby providing an opportunity to improve on their existing considerable understanding of how prisons work.”
Members of the Irish Prison Service get to grips with course material as they study the Higher Certificate in Custodial Care
IT Sligo is continually breaking new ground with this programme. The organisation and completion of so many meetings within the prison environment has been a challenge – but one that has contributed greatly to the relevance, quality and uniqueness of this work-based learning experience.
For further information please contact
Fergus Timmons
Programme Manager
Higher Certificate in Custodial Care
Phone: 071 9155499
Email: timmons.fergus@nullitsligo.ie