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Changing Lanes Andrew Tay Han Meng (Staff Sergeant) is a prison officer with Singapore Prisons as well as an avid basketballer. He tells D&D why Singapore Prison is an excellent career choice for those who like to make a difference in other people’s lives. Singapore Prisons has come a long way. From solely providing security and safe custody of inmates to today’s Yellow Ribbon, it focuses on giving ex-offenders a second chance. And like any other corporate organisation, outsourcing and marketing efforts had played critical roles in the success of the Singapore Prisons. The outsourcing of escorts to Police and CISCO officers, medical expertise to Raffles Medical Group and Yellow Ribbon Project to the CARE network, has allowed Singapore Prisons to effectively focus on its core business. At the same it was able to diversify into areas like innovation and propel into knowledge and service management.
First Class Organisation
Andrew believes this is the reason why Singapore Prisons is able to achieve the Singapore Innovation Class (I-Class). Other awards that his department had clinched this year included the 3I Greenhouse Award and the Gold award for Singapore H.E.A.L.T.H (Helping Employees Achieve Life-Time Health). The coaching framework that is in place in the organisation allowed SPO (Senior Prison Officers) and PO (Prison Officers) to build rapport with each other and understand each other’s expectations. This enables Coaches to identify the training needs of each individual officer and provide the necessary guidance. As it is a one to one type of attention, officers naturally took up personal responsibilities to learn, unlearn and relearn.
The Road Less Travelled
Andrew’s peers, teachers and even his family members have always had no objections to his choice of career path. “After joining the service I chanced upon a teacher who had taught me in Secondary school. When I told her that I am currently with the Singapore Prisons, she exclaimed ‘Serve you right!’. Well, I wasn’t exactly a good role model back then. [Laughs].” “I have been enjoying every moment in the Singapore Prisons. I learned a lot not only from colleagues but also a lot from the inmates. It is a rare learning journey where you get to hear experiences from a big pool of people from various backgrounds and experiences.”
40 draw&dish Jan’06
Basketball Against Drugs
Andrew recalled when he was in his first year of service as a personal supervisor, his Housing Unit Officer (retired) had suggested that he start an inter-Housing Unit Basketball tournament. Given his track record in Basketball, he was tasked to organise a basketball team to represent his Housing Unit.