Prison Officer and POA member Graham Ford has recently been promoted to Supervising Officer – an achievement that he feels was helped by the support he received from POA Learning.

Until his promotion Graham had always been an avid supporter of the courses offered by POA Learning ever since the unionlearn funded POA Learning Centre initially opened in April 2010.

Graham has studied a whole host of accredited and non-accredited courses via the Learning Centre ranging from the European Computer Driving License (ECDL) to a Diploma in Outdoor & Physical Education Studies and a number of Level 2 courses including Team Leading Knowledge, Mental Health Awareness and Safe Handling of Medicines.

His promotion to Supervising Officer at HMP Wandsworth in London will be an opportunity for Graham to use the skills he has learnt, and he feels that his POA Learning initiated learning will be put to best effect both in dealing with staff and offenders in his day to day duties.

Graham has not only been receiving support, but he has also been keen to help others, and in January 2015, whilst still an officer at HMP Dartmoor, Graham commenced the Union Learning Rep (ULR) stage one qualification as provided by TUC Education and POA Learning.

He feels he will get a great deal of satisfaction as a POA ULR in advising and supporting his new HMP Wandsworth colleagues towards their educational and skills requirements.

Graham said:

The support and guidance offered by both POA Learning staff at HMP Dartmoor has been excellent.

Becoming a ULR for POA Learning is my way of giving something back to the Union Learning movement as well as supporting my colleagues along their learning path."

Graham has already approached the POA Chairman at HMP Wandsworth with a view to firmly embedding POA Learning facilities at his new establishment.

HMP Dartmoor POA Learning Centre Manager, Andy Harding stated:

Graham is a shining example of a colleague who has taken advantage of what POA Learning has to offer employees over many years and has turned his learning into both advancement in the workplace as well as honing a desire to take on more of a role with POA Learning as a ULR."