This presentation explores how the Northern Ireland Prison Service has transformed its recruitment, assessment, and retention processes through extensive staff engagement and operational collaboration. From the development of an authentic recruitment brand and campaign filmed within prison environments, to the introduction of bespoke selection methods, the approach has been designed to reflect the realities of prison work.
Operational staff have played a central role in shaping assessment exercises, recruitment processes, and training programmes, ensuring they are inclusive, realistic, and effective. The session will highlight improvements in candidate preparedness, successful completion rates, recruitment outcomes, leadership development, and staff retention across the Service.
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Emma McCullough
Director of Governance & Corporate Services, NIPS, Northern Ireland
Emma McCullough joined the Northern Ireland Prison Service in October 2025 as Director of Governance & Corporate Services. With almost 20 years’ experience as a civil servant, Emma has worked in a number of other departments prior to joining NIPS, including the Department for Infrastructure and the Department for Communities. She has held a variety of middle and senior management positions, in areas including policy, legislation, business and emergency planning, communications and staff engagement. As well as leading on corporate strategy and governance, business planning, finance, recruitment, trade union engagement and pay issues for NIPS, Emma is responsible for staff wellbeing and engagement, and the delivery of the Northern Ireland Prison Service People Plan commitments.