202604: Prison Officer - HMP Elmley

Sponsorship is not guaranteed, and applicants are responsible for ensuring they have, and can maintain, the appropriate Right to Work in the UK for the duration of their employment.

The Department will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service. You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria here.

An extraordinary job

In this unique career, you'll have the opportunity to carry out many different roles in any one day.

During the recruitment process you will be assessed on:

communicating and influencing

You will then be invited to complete stage 1 of the online tests, to see if you have the basic judgement and numerical skills expected of a prison officer.

If you are successful, we will invite you to the stage 2 online test (values-based assessment).

If you pass the online tests, we will invite you to an online assessment centre (OAC).

You will then be invited to provide a written response to three behaviour-based questions. We will explore your understanding of the prison officer role in a women's prisons and why you are interested in the role.

Once you've successfully completed the online assessment centre and written responses and we've offered you a role, we will invite you to complete a medical and fitness test. This will cover an eyesight test, hearing test and basic health screening, including a blood pressure check.

To become a prison officer, you will need to:

be at least 18 years old at the commencement of employment

meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements

pass a medical and fitness assessment

meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes

for safety reasons, meet a suitable standard of hearing.

Whilst tattoos are permitted, including those that are visible, they must not be deemed as offensive, discriminatory, violent, or intimidating in any way. Facial tattoos are generally not acceptable, except where this is for cultural, religious, or medical reasons.

Pay

The initial training is 37 hours a week. After training, you can choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week. Your annual salary will reflect your weekly hours:

37 hours a week = £37,246 a year

39 hours a week = £39,375 a year

41 hours a week = £41,503 a year

All salary figures quoted include any additional allowances that are applicable to the role/location.

The standard working week of a prison officer is based on a 39 hours per week shift pattern.

Benefits

25 days' annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years' service)

paid time off for public holidays and one extra privilege day

Civil Service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%

cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits

Read more about prison officer benefits

Operational Support Grade Role

Our Online Assessment Centre (OAC), will not only assess you against the key criteria to become a prison officer but will also determine your suitability for appointment as an operational support grade OSG If following attendance at your OAC, you are unsuccessful in your application to become a prison officer, we may instead offer you an alternative role as an OSG. Operational support grade - Ministry of Justice

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of Civil Servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. If you feel the recruitment process has breached the principles, you can raise a complaint by contacting Shared Services Connected Ltd: call (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm)

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

Reasonable adjustment support