NIPS commits itself to ‘Make a Difference’

The Northern Ireland Prison Service is committed to the challenge of serving a rapidly changing community, Prisons’ Minister Paul Goggins said today.

The Minister was speaking at the launch of the NIPS Diversity Strategy 2008-2010, entitled ‘Make a Difference’.

Mr Goggins said that recognising the importance and value of diversity was an important step for the Prison Service.

“ ‘Make a Difference’ marks the beginning of a significant change in the culture of the Prison Service in moving towards an organisation that is more reflective of the community it serves.

“Across the criminal justice sector all organisations are taking a fresh look at diversity and how they can improve the delivery of services and current approaches to managing offenders.

“I welcome the opportunity to speak at the launch today and I fully endorse and embrace this new diversity strategy”.

The new strategy encourages staff to recognise and acknowledge the rich differences among people in the course of their dealings with other staff and service users.

It recognises that each member of staff has a unique and valuable contribution to make to the Prison Service and that a workplace which challenges behaviours and demonstrates fairness and respect will become an employer of choice to individuals from across the whole of society.

The Prison Service acknowledges and is confronting the issues of under representation by thinking creatively about recruitment campaigns and through more outreach work with communities, schools and colleges to make the Prison Service a much more accessible career option for young people in Northern Ireland.

Prison Service Director Robin Masefield, who also spoke at the launch, said;

“This is another important development for the Prison Service. We know that a better understanding of diversity will have a positive impact on all areas of our work.

“Make a Difference is about recognising and utilising our differences and individual skills and experiences to deliver a high quality service to prisoners and to ensure that all staff are valued for the contribution they make to the Prison Service.”


Notes to Editors:

1. The Make a Difference Strategy has four main aims: (i) it seeks to improve the working experience of NIPS staff by valuing their contribution to the organisation and offering opportunities for development; (ii) it reinforces our robust stance against discrimination and harassment at work; (iii) it offers key business benefits in terms of the improved service we are able to deliver to prisoners and their families; and (iv) it will be significant in attracting an evermore diverse, committed and talented applicant pool to the Service.

2. The Strategy sets the context for the diversity agenda and sets out a comprehensive action plan for 2008 – 2010. The Prison Service Management Board (PSMB) has endorsed the strategy and will monitor progress against the Diversity Action Plan.

3. The Strategy document was produced by Priz ‘n’ Press, the newly established Prisoner-led Print Unit based at the Resettlement Unit in Foyleview at Magilligan Prison.


4. A copy of Make a Difference can be obtained in different formats, including large print; Braille; on audio cassette and on disc. It can also be downloaded from NIPS website www.niprisonservice.gov.uk or by contacting the Website Manager at info@niprisonservice.gov.uk for further details.

5. For photographs of the launch, contact Press Eye on 02890 669229.

Related Publication - Make a difference NIPS Diversity Strategy 2008 - 2011(2).PDF

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