Job Summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job Description

Overview of the Job

This is a specialist administrative role within an establishment to support the needs of Foreign National Offenders (FNO) as part of Offender Management function. FNOs often need support to understand and manage both their custodial and immigration journey, particularly if they are subject to deportation action. In this role the job holder will identify and inform Home Office (HO) such as FNO Returns Command (FNORC) of FNOs who wish to comply with their removal from the UK and this will enable the job holder to contribute towards HMPPS work of managing prison capacity.

The role will provide a critical link to the Home Office, promoting awareness of Home Office returns and re-integration schemes and ensuring Home Office staff have access to FNOs for timely case progression. The job holder will proactively build (HO) relationship and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders including Offender Management Unit, Equalities, National HMPPS FNO team, Immigration Prison teams (IPT) and third sector organisations.

In this role the job holder will analyse data on the FNO cohort in the prison including remand FNO cohort; compliant FNOs for removal; FNOs within their Early Removal Scheme (ERS) window, and number of FNOs released to the UK/deported/released to Immigration Removal Centres (IRC). The job holder will disseminate this information to the prison’s Senior Management and to HMPPS FNO Team for evaluation and decision-making purposes.

This is a non-rotational, non-operational post that will involve prisoner contact.

Summary

The job holder will provide specialist support to FNOs and prison staff as the central contact for FNOs and Home Office Casework and IPT. They will update FNOs of the progress of their specific case and inform them of any changes to relevant processes and policies, including the ERS.

The job holder will ensure processes and systems are appropriately embedded for the fair and decent management of FNOs. They will use effective communication skills (specifically using translation services where required) to address the specific challenges faced by FNOs, thereby reducing isolation, and improving wellbeing.

Dependent on individual prison tasking, this role may incorporate the prompt service of Immigration paperwork on behalf of the HO, ensuring the FNO understands the content, and return relevant documents swiftly to support Home Office case progression. The job holder will ensure that FNO information is correctly recorded and updated in prison systems to support analysis and decision making.

Responsibilities, Activities And Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Provide specialist support to FNOs and guidance to prison staff as the establishment’s central contact for FNOs and Home Office Immigration Prison Teams.
• Build collaborative relationships and share good practice with a range of internal and external teams including Home Office Immigration Prison Teams, Embassies Offender Management Unit, Key Workers, Resettlement, Safer Custody and Equalities and FNO charities, for the effective management of FNOs.
• Promote staff awareness of FNO-specific topics; FNO resources from the Foreign National Offender information Hub and translation and interpretation services.
• Meet with FNOs newly arrived at the prison and provide support with specific challenges including language barriers, understanding immigration status and awareness of removal schemes.
• Through collaboration with key teams including FNORC organise and lead the FNO Forums on a regular basis; attend relevant meetings such as ACCT reviews.
• Identify and inform the HO FNORC of any FNOs who wish to voluntarily depart from the UK and highlight any vulnerability or barriers.
• Engage and support the Home Office to deliver immigration surgeries and provide access to FNOs in custody, including via CVP, where possible.
• Ensure swift service of immigration paperwork promptly on behalf of the Home Office, checking that the FNO understands the content and return relevant documents swiftly to support Home Office case progression.
• Issue time served FNOs being held in immigration detention in prison with relevant information, including accessing free legally aided legal advice and special weekly payments.
• Collate and analyse data for trends on the FNO cohort in the prison including remand FNOs who may be of Home Office Interest, compliant FNOs for removal, FNOs within their ERS window, and number of FNOs released to the UK/deported/released to Immigration Removal Centres.
• Complete regular accuracy checks on P-NOMIS, ensuring all information is accurately recorded such as FNO Nationality, language spoken and immigration status. Ensure relevant alerts are completed and any inaccuracies and gaps in information are rectified.