The effective management of individuals, teams and situations is essential to the success of any business organisation and this module will require students to consider this concept within offender management services. They will be introduced to theoretical models and concepts of individual and team development, and evaluate the effectiveness of tools designed to assess individual, team and organisational performance. They will explore techniques and strategies designed to promote development and build and maintain effective teams. Individuals and teams in this context may refer to colleagues, offenders or clients and management may involve caseload and situation management within offender management services.

Students will also consider the particular challenges to effective management and team working within offender management services, including inter-agency and multi-occupational working and the potential for conflict relating to funding, policy, personal responses, characteristics or beliefs, and specific incidents. They will explore why and how conflict may develop within a workplace, and the effectiveness of strategies designed to minimise and resolve it. Students will also have the opportunity to reflect on their individual approach to management and team working within the guiding legislation and Prison Service Guidance.

The learning strategy for this module requires students to commit 150 learning hours (including assessment). This will include 24 hours of class support and 126 hours of independent and self directed study.

The class sessions will include formal lectures, case study analysis and group discussions based on student experiences in the subject area. Students will be encouraged to integrate their work based experiences with new knowledge and skills developed in the classroom as the module progresses

Staffordshire University electronic resources and off-campus library facilities
Module website

Bennett, J., Crewe, B., Wahidin, A. (2007) Understanding Prison Staff, Willan Publishing.
Bryans, S. (2007) Prison Governors: Managing Prisons in a Time of Change Willan Publishing.
Clutterbuck, D. (2007) Coaching the Team at Work, Nicholas Brealey.
Wheelan, S.A. (2009) Creating Effective Teams, Sage.

Group presentation (20 minutes) (50%) (Learning Outcomes 1-3)

Work in small groups to prepare and deliver a presentation (including time for questions) based on an identified case study. The presentation should last no longer than 20 minutes (including time for questions and discussion), be supported by PowerPoint or similar audio visual resources, and the submission of printed PowerPoint slides (or similar), and notes demonstrating research and preparation with a full bibliography presented in the Harvard style.

Individual reflection on the research that underpinned the group presentation. (500 words) (25%) (Learning Outcomes 4)

Individual written assignment (1,000 words) (25%) (Learning Outcome 4). Students will produce an individual written statement in which they reflect on; their personal approach to management within their work, volunteering or work-based learning environment; their approach to team working, their contribution to the group presentation and their team performance during the assessment.

Formative feedback

Students will receive formative feedback from peers and tutors during class-based tasks and discussions. They will also receive formative feedback regarding the assignment during personal tutorials.