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Press & Communications Unit

The Northern Ireland Prison Service Press and Communications Unit falls within the remit of the Northern Ireland office. Its task is to contribute to the wider political and security objectives of Ministers through the presentation of prisons issues. Its target audiences are the general public, staff, special interest groups, political parties and prisoners. As it is a next steps agency, the NIPS is responsible directly to Ministers, under the Framework Document.

Through effective internal communications it aims to provide staff with the information they need to do their jobs effectively and to encourage individual commitment to Northern Ireland Prison Service’s vision and values and to help maximise staff morale.

OBJECTIVES

1. To project the work of the NIPS, through the media, according to its Statement of Purpose, Vision and Values and to contribute to achieving its Key Targets;

2. To respond to enquiries, informing the public, through the media, of the work of the NIPS in a factual and balanced way:

3. To advise Ministers and senior officials on likely public and political reaction to policy initiatives and to advise on current media coverage;

4. To help establish and maintain public confidence in the Northern Ireland Prison Service;

5. To advise on media handling during emergency situations and following serious incidents;

6. To present the NIPS management team's case to both the public, staff and staff organisations and thereby contribute to furthering management/staff relations;

7. To foster amongst staff an understanding of policy decisions and to encourage their support of policy;

8. To promote a corporate image for the Northern Ireland Prison Service and ensure its consistency;

9. To maximise staff potential by encouraging a corporate spirit and enabling staff to identify their individual contribution to the Service.