Teamwork
November CCA Way Contest Submission
DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY; is the code that I have lived by for over twenty years while serving in the U.S. Army. It is a code that establishes a sense of pride, leadership and ownership to an organization that is second to none in the entire world. This code fosters team work and establishes guide lines for men and women to protect our Country and to keep it safe.
Corrections Corporation of America, CCA, has a code as well. This code plays a critical role in CCA’s mission to be the best adult corrections company in the United States. CCA fosters team work and has provided guide lines and the tools required to keep not only the staff, but the inmates safe as well. This is accomplished by effective communication between the staff and inmates. Staff and staff members must also communicate effectively among themselves. So, you guessed it, the code, in my opinion, is effective communication, team work and always being “fair, firm and consistent.
My name is Correctional Counselor McNair. My first exposure to the effectiveness of team work while working for CCA at North Fork Correctional Facility in Sayre, Oklahoma was during the training academy.
It was the day that all cadets were exposed and introduced to “Top Cop”. Each cadet was partnered up in teams of two and was exposed to Top Cop. Your partner was responsible for ensuring that you were not hurt and you were pointed in the right direction for other required tasks. After the Top Cop resolved/dissipated from your eyes and you were able to function, you were required to escort your partner through the same required set of tasks.
After the academy, I was assigned as a Pod Officer. I then was exposed to the Unit Management Team. The team consisted of a Unit Manager, Case Manager, Correctional Counselor and the Pod Officer. We all had to work together to ensure the Pod operated smoothly. As Pod Officer, I was responsible for inmate movement, inmate safety and security and Pod cleanliness. I was also responsible for ensuring that I was in compliance with the Pod Post Orders.
As Pod Officer, I relied heavily on the Correctional Counselor. In order for me to ensure that the Pod was clean, the Correctional Counselor assigned inmates as Pod Orderlies. The Correctional Counselor also ensured that I had all required cleaning supplies and equipment. The Correctional Counselor resolves inmate issues and grievances. The list of task for how the Correctional Counselor assists the Pod Officer is endless. Case Manager and Correctional Counselor work hand in hand. The most important task that the Case Manager performs for me, the Pod Officer, is to ensure that the inmates are housed properly. They also monitor gang affiliation. Gang affiliation is very important to the safety of the Pod Officer.
The Unit Manager assists the Pod Officers by ensuring that we are in compliance with all contractual obligations. Although the narrative for the team positions in this paper is short, their tasks are endless.
I was assigned as Pod Officer for six months before I was reassigned as Rover. As Pod Rover, my team expanded. Not only did I support the Unit Management Team in two Pods, my team expanded to include the yard officers and support staff. I was also assigned the additional duty of being a member of the “A” Response Team. While performing duties as a member of the A Response Team I discovered that it was even more important to rely on my team mates. Each member of the team had an important task to perform. The team leader requires that each member of the team is efficient in their assigned task. When the A Response Team is activated, there is not time for the team leader to wonder if all members of the team have their required equipment or are efficient in their assigned tasks. Drills are conducted to ensure that all team members are efficient in their assigned tasks. Deficiencies were noted and discussed after each drill for the benefit of the entire team.
Rovers also assist the yard officer in all mass movements. There may be anywhere from two to three hundred inmates moving in the yard at any given time. All mass movements are controlled and the team, pod rovers, yard utilities and the yard officer ensure the movement is safe and orderly. Mass movements also include feeding inmates. The pod rovers assist in pat down searches as well as the inmate movement to and from the dining facility. The Pod Rover also assists in inmate escorts and conducts pod roof top inspections.
Rovers assist staff movements. If staff members do not have a radio, they are required to be escorted. Also, all staff members do not have access to all locked gates. The Rover provides assistance as required.
One of the most rewarding jobs that I have been assigned while employed at North Fork Correctional Facility is Mentor. The mentorship program is a team of dedicated correctional staff members assigned to mentor, not only new employees, but all other staff as well. We are dedicated and committed to help retain good quality employees for our facility. One of the key attributes of a mentor is to set the example. If we see something that needs to be accomplished, we try what ever we can to accomplish it. Sometimes it may require us just to bring issues to the attention of supervisors and managers.
Mentors are the eyes and ears of the management team. Other officers and staff may be more willing to talk to someone of equal rank/position rather than to talk to a member of the management staff. Sometimes the staff just may need someone to talk to. The mentors are always there willing to listen and lend a helping hand.
By setting the example, the mentors can stop most negative talk about the organization. In most large, and some small organizations, there is always someone on the staff that only has negative things to say about the organization. By keeping a positive attitude, setting the example and even mentoring these negative staff members, the mentor could possibly prevent new as well as seasoned staff from looking at the negative, and to keep a positive outlook about their job and their team. A smile and a kind word go a long way. Our mentor also makes an effort to stay up beat and to stay positive. We as the mentor team must also keep each other motivated. Most of the work that we do is volunteer work. We do not get paid extra. We do it because we want to make a difference in our organization. When one of us does not attend a meeting or is experiencing the stress of the job, we are there as a team to help each other out. If at the end of the day, we have prevented one officer or staff member from quitting, we have accomplished one of our tasks. If by the end of the day, we have said a kind word to a fellow officer or staff member, or assisted an officer or staff member in the execution of his duties, we have accomplished one of our tasks. If at the end of the day, all officers and staff left the facility at the end of their assigned shift, safe and with a positive attitude about their job, we have completed one of our tasks. The list of tasks for a mentor is endless and cannot be catalogued. I can say that I am proud to be a mentor for my facility and to be part of Corrections Corporation of America as well as a part of North Fork Correctional Facility. Yes we are North Fork. We strive to make North Fork Correctional Facility the best Adult Correctional Facility in Oklahoma and in Correction Corporation of America family.