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Projects > Next Gen Leadership

Next Gen Leadership

Supporting the next generation of prison service leaders to improve life in prison for all that live and work there.

What's the issue?

There is a staffing crisis in our prisons. Morale amongst prison leaders, prison staff and prisoners is very low, and all the evidence reveals a service that is failing to meet the most basic needs for those in its care.

Safety in prisons has deteriorated rapidly during the last ten years. Budgets remain down on pre-austerity levels and the pressure on prison places means that people are forced to live and work in conditions which are unacceptable.

Inspectors have revealed worsening relationships between staff and prisoners because of the long periods they are forced to spend in their cells. Limited access to work, education and resettlement opportunities mean that too few people receive the necessary support, fuelling the boredom and frustration that create instability in our jails.

The rapid turnover of prison leaders and staff, has robbed the service of its institutional experience of how to deliver safe and effective prisons, as well as the belief and aspiration that things can be different.

By supporting the next generation of prison service leaders, we aim to address this, and in doing so improve life in prison for all that live and work there.

Why focus on staff?

Based on her experience within HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), Pia Sinha, PRT’s CEO, has reflected on the changing role of HMPPS leaders. Facing intense pressure to lead through yet another period of crisis; beaten down by bureaucracy; and left with little room for creativity, innovation or autonomous thinking, leaders feel disempowered, demotivated and burnt out, reluctant to acknowledge and appreciate their own level of influence and authority.

The cost of this is the quality of life for those prisoners in their care.

What will we do?

Despite genuine attempts by HMPPS to enhance the quality of leadership within its ranks, a culture of mistrust within the system mean that programmes of support or coaching are often viewed with cynicism, leading to poor levels of engagement.

PRT plans to develop and deliver a series of workshops targeted towards HMPPS leaders, giving them exposure to the vast wealth of information, experience and intelligence PRT has to offer — encouraging ambitious thought and leadership to creative positive and practical changes.

We will begin with a series of four day-long workshops over a period of eight months, followed by a four-month implementation period. Throughout the year, course participants will work towards designing and implementing a place-based project that will be evaluated by PRT. 20 HMPPS leaders will participate in this pilot over the course of 12 months.

What difference will it will make?

The project’s objective is to improve the lives of people living in prison/on probation, via those who have participated in the workshops. The project will be evaluated and a final report with recommendations will be produced.

We will conduct qualitative research with people in prison/on probation who have experienced the impact of the changes.  Aspiring leaders will be able to demonstrate how participating in the workshops has enhanced their levels of motivation and prepared them for promotion through PRT’s evaluation of their place-based projects. But we hope that the most profound impact of this project will be felt by both staff and prisoners, who recognise the positive impact of good leadership.

Meet the team

  • Pia Sinha CEO
    Pia joined the Prison Service in 1999 as a Higher Psychologist at HMP & YOI Holloway. After joining HMP Wandsworth as a Senior Psychologist, she took up the post of Head of Safer Prisons, followed... by Head of Reducing Re-offending at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. She then took up her first Deputy Governor role at HMP Send, and subsequently Downview and Liverpool. In 2013 Pia was appointed to her first Governing role at HMP & YOI Thorn Cross, going on to govern at both Risley and Liverpool. In 2020 she became Acting Deputy Director Probation Reform Programme, then the Workforce Programme, before becoming Director of Women in November 2021. Pia’s vision for the Women’s Directorate was to enable safe, compassionate and individualised care for women. In April 2023 Pia became the CEO of the Prison Reform Trust.
  • Erika Clegg DL FRSA Co-facilitator
    Erika is a values and culture consultant, podcast host, author and professional speaker. She owns Larkenby, a consulting firm that works with next-gen leaders of established businesses globally, and ...Blue Light Leadership, helping talented people become the exceptional leaders we need to steer our public services, charities and institutions in an ever-changing world. As an award-winning speaker, she supports leaders with their vision, purpose and values. Her first book, Values have Power, was published in 2023 and REV, the values podcast, is the backdrop to her second book. She came to specialise in values-based leadership following a first career in brand communications which culminated in the sale of her agency, Spring, to its SLT in 2022. Her purpose is to prosper and cause others to prosper, and her values are to bring positive energy, know what matters, make the effort, and leave things better.