The Civil Service Commission allow short-term appointments to be made without open and fair competition to unemployed people on the Government's New Deal programme.

The Prison Service has a national agreement with the Employment Service to employ staff on the New Deal. There is also an agreement with Prison Service Trade Union Side. The Service has given a commitment to participate in programmes designed to:-

• improve the prospects of remaining in employment for 18 to 24 year olds who have been claiming Job Seeker's Allowance for six months or more
• employ over 25 year olds who have been claiming Job Seeker's Allowance for 2 years or more The Service is also committed to playing an active part in other New Deal schemes.

All recruiting units must have a nominated New Deal co-ordinator who will act as a link between the unit, the Employment Service and Headquarters.

There is no guarantee of permanent employment with the Prison Service for people employed on such short-term appointments - this is only achievable through success in open competition, if and when the opportunity arises. The aim of the scheme is to provide relevant work experience, develop transferable skills and in some cases qualifications with a view to preparing the New Deal participant for open competition for permanent posts either within or outside the Prison Service.

For 18-24 year olds the Prison Service will act as an employer for the subsidised employment option that is providing full or part time work, with compulsory training towards a recognised qualification. Training should be the equivalent of one day per week during the first six months of employment for which a subsidy of up to £60 per week for 6 months together with £750 towards training costs is payable - for more information about subsidies and accounting arrangements click here.

For people over 25 employed from the New Deal programme there is a subsidy of up to £75 per week for 6 months, for more information click here. There are no formal training requirements, however, 25 year old New Dealers will be expected to develop and enhance their skills "on the job" and through usual internal training offered to all other staff.

Appointments on the programme within the Service:-

• are restricted to the administrative assistant and operational support grades only
• must be made as fixed term appointments up to a maximum of 18 months only
• cannot be extended beyond the 18 month maximum or converted to permanency unless the applicant applies and is successful through external fair and open competition
• will normally only be open for people to work full time. However, vacancies offering between 24 to 29 hours, including the equivalent of one day a week training for 18 to 24 year olds, may be made available although these will attract a reduced subsidy. Vacancies may be made available for over 25 year old New Dealers for between 16 and 29 hours a week, again at a reduced subsidy.

When a vacancy at AA level arises then the post may be filled by someone from the New Deal programme, subject to a maximum of 2 AAs per workplace. Any OSG vacancy that arises may be filled by someone from the New Deal programme. Local management will need to decide whether it is appropriate for either an AA or an OSG post to be filled by someone under the New Deal arrangement or whether the post should be filled by normal Recruitment means. To ensure compliance with the requirements of the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code, each recruiting unit must ensure that New Deal appointments make up no more than 5% of all AA appointments, and 5% of all OSG appointments, in each business year. Where it is agreed that the post can be filled by a New Deal employee then contact should be made with the New Deal Advisor in the local branch of the Employment Service who should be informed that the Prison Service has a single national agreement for the Recruitment of all New Deal staff. The Employment Service will identify a number of potentially suitable candidates who will be asked to complete the normal application form for the job. When selecting candidates the following basic principles apply: -

• normal Trade Union consultation must be adhered to when appointing a New Dealer
• selection must be demonstrably fair
• New Deal candidates must compete with other New Deal candidates for jobs
• selection criteria used in any sift and interviews must be relevant to the job
• anyone appointed under New Deal arrangements is subject to the normal pre-appointment checks into health, nationality, character, identity and national security before an appointment can be confirmed, however, the normal education qualifications are not required
• normal procedures for selection of candidates must be followed including keeping a full record of reasons for selection at each stage of the process

Details of anyone appointed through the New Deal programme must be recxorded on the local exceptions register.

All New Deal appointees:-

• Must be issued with standard New Deal appointment letter appointment letter together with a schedule detailing terms and conditions of employment.
• For a copy of the letter and schedule for OSGs click here.
• For the Administrative assistant letter and schedule click here. Each AA letter must be accompanied by a copy of the PCS agreement on New Deal available here.
• Must be subject to regular assessment of performance including whether they should continue on the programme
• will be eligible to participate in any open competition for permanent posts in any grade. However, they will be exempt from the Home Office Advertising Vacancies Scheme and cannot transfer from one prison location to another. However, as with other staff, internal moves within Groups and Units or within the same prison may be arranged locally to meet management need and the developmental needs of the New Dealer.
• must be treated the same way as any new employee to the Service and line managers have the same responsibilities for dealing for performance management as for other staff
• are not eligible for substantive promotion during their fixed term appointment.
• who have not secured a permanent post during their maximum 18 month period action must be taken to terminate their employment in line with normal arrangements for completing a fixed term appointment.
• who successfully obtain a permanent job, the period of employment spent as a New Deal employee will count as qualifying and reckonable service for pay, leave and all other purposes.
• should be offered help to prepare for interview boards and be offered mock interviews where appropriate.