SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate an understanding of the corrections environment 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
260129  Demonstrate an understanding of the corrections environment 
ORIGINATOR
Task Team - Corrections Science 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Safety in Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is intended for learners within the Safety in Society sub-field who work/wish to work in the Correctional Services as Corrections Officials. This Unit Standard meets the needs of the sub-field and of the society by providing competent Corrections Officials who by understanding the corrections environment, contribute to a safer society for the citizens of South Africa. The learner successfully completing this Unit Standard will gain essential knowledge of applicable legislation, legal requirements and prescribed conduct and service delivery requirements in the corrections environment.

A learner credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the legal mandates and strategic direction of the Correctional Services.
  • Describe the elements of professional conduct in corrections.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the service delivery principles. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that the learner has the following knowledge and skills:
  • Communication at NQF Level 3. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the legal mandates and strategic direction of the Correctional Services. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A description is given of the purpose of Correctional Services in the South African context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The description must be in relation to the South African Constitution, the Correctional Services Act and the White Paper on Corrections in South Africa.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    A description is given of the legal mandates of the Department of Correctional Services as stated in the Correctional Services Act. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    A description is given of the vision, mission and strategic objectives of the Department of Correctional Services. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The description must be in relation to the Strategic Plan of the Department of Correctional Services and the White Paper on Corrections in South Africa.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Describe the elements of professional conduct in corrections. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A description is given of the principles and characteristics of a Corrections Official. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The description must be in relation to Chapter 8 of the White Paper on Corrections in South Africa.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    A description is given of how organisational culture is maintained in the corrections environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    A description is given of how professional relationships are maintained in relation to the Corrections Code of Conduct. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    A description is given of ethical behaviour in the corrections environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    A description is given of professional conduct applicable in the corrections environment in terms of etiquette, dress code and protocol. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the service delivery principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A description is given of the Batho Pele principles in the context of the corrections environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    An explanation is given of the implications of poor service delivery. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • An individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this Unit Standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this Unit Standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this Unit Standard or assessing this Unit Standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The qualifying learner will be able to understand and explain relevant extracts of the following:
  • The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act No 108 of 1996.
  • Correctional Services Act, Act 111 of 1998.
  • White Paper on Corrections in South Africa, 2005.
  • Corrections Code of Conduct.
  • Batho Pele principles. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information to better understand and explain:
  • Legal mandates and strategic direction of the Correctional Services
  • Professional conduct in corrections
  • Service delivery principles. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrating an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation when:
  • Demonstrating an understanding of the legal mandates and strategic direction of the Correctional Services.
  • Describing the elements of professional conduct in corrections.
  • Demonstrating an understanding of the service delivery principles. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  64389   Further Education and Training Certificate: Corrections Services  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Correctional Services Dept 
    2. DCS KRUGERSDORP 
    3. DCS LEEUWKOP 
    4. DCS MODDERBEE MANAGEMENT AREA 
    5. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DURBAN WESTVILLE 
    6. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES SADA 
    7. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ST. ALBANS PRISON 
    8. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES WATERVAL 
    9. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: DE AAR MANAGEMENT AREA 
    10. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: KROONSTAD COLLEGE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.