Prison Textile Workshop Training Instructor

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a national charity and creative social enterprise with an international customer base. 

The role of Workshop Training Instructor provides sewing machine training in our production workshop in HMP Littlehey, Perry. This is a part-time role, for three mornings per week, totalling 12 hours.

As an integral part of the wider FCW Workshops team, this role includes at least one day per month in the London office, therefore spending less time in prison that week.

The successful candidate will be an ambitious self-starter with extensive knowledge and understanding of textiles, specifically product construction, fabric cutting, and sewing machine skills. 

They will be accurate in their attention to detail, working independently to respond to areas of organisational need and prioritising their own workload accordingly, communicating with the team in London as necessary. Reasonable travel costs will be covered. An ability to understand and adapt to individual learning needs and styles will be essential. 

They will support and promote FCW’s mission and vision, demonstrating our organisational values in all aspects of this exciting and varied role.

Principal Accountabilities for the Core Job

1. Deliver sewing machine and production training at HMP Littlehey FCW textile workshop in line with FCW production standards and targets.
2. Deliver bespoke Open College Network accredited training modules in Machine Stitched and Soft Furnishing and Hand Stitching Techniques, ensuring the quality of teaching and assessment is of the highest standard.
3. Represent FCW to the highest standard, maintaining positive and professional relationships whilst working alongside prison staff in the workshop.
4. Ensure prison safety and security policies and procedures are always followed and adhered to and ensure appropriate conduct in the workshop environment.
5. Foster a culture of support and learning between FCW, prison staff, and workshop stitchers through role modelling organisational values in support of our wider mission.
6. Support the smooth running of a positive, productive workshop space.
7. Maintain regular communication with the FCW Production Manager to ensure quality control and that appropriate work is being offered to match the current skillset of the workshop.
8. With the Production Manager, ensure workshop production targets and commission requirements are integrated into training arrangements in the prison workshop.
9. Work with the FCW Design Committee to develop workshop made products appropriate to the skill set of a training workshop.
10. Attend both online and in-person meetings on production, new products, new design development, sampling and commissions with the FCW Workshops Manager, the Design and Commissions Specialist and the Production manager.
11. Be involved in the creative process and construction of sampling new products and prototypes where necessary.
12. Promote and support referrals to FCW’s post-release programme, Open The Gate, to all workshop stitchers and people nearing their release.
13. Provide regular written progress and monitoring reports to production and management teams.

Core Job Context

For 28 years, Fine Cell Work has been transforming the lives of people in prison through training in high quality, creative, commercial needlework. Handmade products, finished in our prison and post-release workshops, are sold to public and to designers, artists, and heritage organisations, many of whom commission bespoke pieces.

Our largest production hub is located at HMP Littlehey in Perry, Cambridgeshire, where we work with up to 30 workshop stitchers at any one time. The partnership was established more than ten years ago. 

The role of Workshop Training Instructor is equipping workshop stitchers with professional textile and production skills, and the opportunity to contribute to society through the making of FCW products. 

This work further contributes to the building of self-belief and a non-criminal identity and thus, reduces the risk of offending on release. 

The successful candidate will work with level of flexibility, adaptability, and resilience to work successfully as part of the prison regime. 

We are a small, lively and ambitious team and look forward to welcoming you.

The following skills and experience have been identified for the role

Essential

• Experience in construction of textile products and interiors.
• Machining experience.
• Project management and time management skills.
• Training and teaching experience.
• A non-judgemental attitude towards prisoners and prison leavers, and positive mindset about rehabilitation.
• Organised and pro-active.
• A flexible and creative approach to workload.
• Ability to prioritise and remain calm when working under pressure.
• Confident working as part of a wider organisational team.
• Ability to work proactively and independently.
• Driving Licence and access to a vehicle
• Ability to undergo prison security vetting processes.
• Willingness to undertake further prison related induction and training as necessary.

Desired

• Previous experience working within a textile production team, manufacturing industry or tailoring.
• Experience of delivering training in the voluntary and public sector.
• Experience working with marginalised groups.
• An interest in the criminal justice system.
• Proven track record to deliver on target.
   

Fine Cell Work is committed to the principle of equality. 

No job applicant, employee, volunteer or worker is discriminated against either directly or indirectly on the grounds of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religious belief, sex, marital or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy status, age or disability and we will maintain a neutral working environment in which no employee or worker feels under threat or intimidated.