Correctional Services Manager

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as a Correctional Services Manager. A Correctional Services Manager manages and coordinates activities within correctional facilities and environments by ensuring effective safe custody, rehabilitation, and social reintegration of offenders in accordance with all applicable Legislation including engagement of stakeholders. A qualified learner will be able to: • Manage general operations of the correctional facility to ensure the rehabilitation, development, safe custody, and effective social re-integration of those entrusted in the care of correctional services. • Manage general security of the correctional facility in line with the pillars of security (personnel, physical security measures, technological security measures, information, operational security measures and management supervision), to contribute to maintaining and protecting a just, peaceful, and safe society. • Manage finances and supply chain related activities to comply with the Public Finance Management Act and to avoid irregular, unauthorised, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. • Manage human resources and administration to enhance service delivery and accountability.

The Correctional Services Manager is intended for experienced practitioners, supervisors, or managers seeking professional recognition and deeper expertise. If you have a passion for this field and want to turn that passion into a profession, this programme will give you the tools and credentials to succeed. It is also suitable for employers who wish to upskill their workforce to meet industry standards.

The Department of Correctional Services contributes towards a safer South Africa through the effective incarceration, rehabilitation, care, and social reintegration of persons who have transgressed against communities and families within society and who are incarcerated in correctional facilities. To achieve this, there is a need to develop and empower personnel who are tasked with the responsibility of managing correctional facilities at which persons who have transgressed are incarcerated. This qualification is aimed at officials who are currently managing correctional facilities as well as those who aspire to progress in the Department of Correctional Services as Correctional Services Managers. The qualification will provide learners with the necessary knowledge and skills required to carry out their functions efficiently and professionally as Correctional Services Managers. The availability of qualified Correctional Services Managers will ensure an enabled and productive workforce that will effectively facilitate the correctional, rehabilitation, care, and development programmes, thus creating persons who, once released and reintegrated, become contributing and upstanding citizens of the broader society. There are similar qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) which focus is on developing qualified learners to operate within the correctional services field which covers functional/operational competencies whilst the Occupational Certificate: Correctional Services Manager covers managerial competencies. In addition to the differences identified from the registered qualifications, the Occupational Certificate: Correctional Services Manager targeted learners that are in possession of a relevant correctional services qualification or have acquired experience within the correctional environment who require training according to their responsibilities and aspire to become managers of correctional facilities. This qualification allows for possible mobility into managerial positions such as Centre Coordinators, Head of Centres, Head of Community Corrections, Area Commissioner, Area Coordinator, Regional Coordinator, Regional Head, Deputy Regional Commissioner, to name but a few. The qualification will benefit the society through services rendered by qualified Correctional Services Managers who will ensure a just, peaceful and safer South Africa as a result of effective and successful rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders entrusted in their care to ensure that all people in the South Africa are and feel safe. The sector will benefit from competent managers who will contribute towards ensuring that the Department of Correctional Services achieves its legislative mandate. In addition to this, the availability of qualified learners, i.e., Correctional Services Managers, will add value in growing the economy through the development various skills development programmes that are offered to inmates and offenders which they can implement to sustain themselves and their family. There is currently no registered professional body for this profession, therefore, registration with a professional body is not a requirement.

• Manage general operations of the correctional facility to ensure the rehabilitation, development, safe custody, and effective social re-integration of those entrusted in the care of correctional services.
• Manage general security of the correctional facility in line with the pillars of security (personnel, physical security measures, technological security measures, information, operational security measures and management supervision), to contribute to maintaining and protecting a just, peaceful, and safe society.
• Manage finances and supply chain activities to comply with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and to avoid irregular, unauthorized, fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
• Manage human resources and administration to enhance service delivery and accountability.