The first implementation stage of the new Mentor training program has been completed by the Latvian Prison Administration. 38 mentors improved their professional competencies necessary to manage traineeship for the students of the Latvian Prison Administration Training Centre, who are acquiring the professional further education training program “Prison Guard”.
Captain Evija Jansone, Senior Lecturer at the Latvian Prison Administration Training Centre: “The training program for mentors has been developed with the aim to provide prison personnel with education appropriate for modern sentence execution, as well as to promote professional development of personnel. It is an important tool for creating gradual improvements and a new context for raising the level of education of prison staff and for realizing the vision of the Latvian Prison Administration.”
The program also emphasized the importance of feedback and using it on a daily basis. An important role in the implementation of the training program was the opportunity to get acquainted with the experience of our Norwegian partners. The future mentors agreed that everyone’s role is important in the process of positive change, as the experience of Norwegian colleagues shows that this process is long and labor-intensive, but possible and important for making the institution more efficient.
In the new training program, mentors learned such topics as:
- Traineeship – a tool for effective acquisition of the educational program and development of professional skills.
- Feedback and its application.
- Mentor and student preparation for the first and subsequent meetings.
- Trust building and strengthening.
- Motivation. Self-motivation. Support. Cooperation.
- Strategy for achieving goals and objectives in the process of traineeship.
- Evaluation. Critical thinking. Decision-making.
Due to the established restrictions to reduce the spread of Covid-19, the training of mentors took place online.
Working together for a safe and inclusive Europe.
You can learn more about the Norway Grants 2014-2021 period programme by visiting www.norwaygrants.lv
The Latvian Prison Administration project "Establishment of Training centre infrastructure and model prison blocks for training opportunities in the Olaine prison territory" No. 1-6.4/2-2019 is implemented within the framework of the Norway Grants 2014–2021 period programme "Correctional Services".