prison officer

Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available for this role, subject to eligibility and in line with the UK Immigration Rules in force at the time of application. However, due to current immigration requirements and recruitment timescales, candidates who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored if applying to this campaign.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider their right to work in the UK carefully before applying. You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and eligibility criteria at gov.uk.

The Department will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service.

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

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.

For safety reasons, everyone training to be a prison officer needs a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids).

To work in a high security prison (category A) you must have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years.

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

If you are successful, we invite you to the stage 2 values based assessment (VBA)

If you pass the VBA, you'll progress to the Online Assessment Centre (OAC).

Candidates who achieve a higher pre-determined VBA score may be invited to the OAC sooner.

Once you've successfully completed the OAC and you are allocated to a vacancy, you will complete a medical and fitness test. This will cover an eyesight test, hearing test and basic health screening, including a blood pressure check.

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 = £40,876 a year

39 hours a week = £43,453 a year

41 hours a week = £46,031a year

All salary figures quoted include any additional allowances.

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 1 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

Job offers: merit vacancy

This is a merit job vacancy. If you are successful at the online assessment centre, you will be added to a merit list based on your score.

When all applicants have completed the assessment centre, the prison will make job offers to individuals with the highest scores first when positions become available.