Prison governor jobs

Jobs in corrections and probation may be psychologically and physically taxing, but they also have the potential to be very gratifying since you will have the opportunity to play an important part in making others' lives better.

There are many different ways to enter this field of work, and there is ample opportunity for professional advancement, regardless of whether you are interested in working in a uniformed capacity as a prison officer or prefer to concentrate on the rehabilitation of offenders in a role such as a prison instructor or probation officer.

Jobs in the correctional system

In your role as a uniformed prison officer working on the frontline in prisons, you will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of inmates as well as the upkeep and maintenance of the facility's security.

You'll need to be able to demonstrate authority and maintain discipline in the prison population while also cultivating constructive working relationships with those incarcerated under your watch. You can also be responsible for providing inmates with vocational training so that they are better prepared for life after release.

It's all in a day's job when it comes to policing the facility, escorting inmates, responding to emergencies, watching out for vulnerable inmates, and keeping accurate records on everyone in custody.

It is quite probable that the Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), an agency under the Ministry of Justice, will be your place of employment. However, other correctional facilities, such those administered by private organizations like G4S and Serco, have their own autonomous processes for hiring correctional personnel.

The job profile for the position of prison officer provides a comprehensive description of the responsibilities, income range, prospects for professional growth, and credentials necessary to begin a career as a prison officer in any area of the UK.

Visit the prison officer page on the website Prison and probation jobs, which is the official recruiting website of the HMPPS, to look for openings in the regions of England and Wales. The application procedure includes taking a test online, seeing the correctional facility, participating in a Recruitment Assessment Day (which includes a physical fitness test), and being vetted.

Unlocked graduate programme

The Unlocked graduate program is something you should think about applying for if you have or are expected to have a 2:1 in any degree field. It is a rigorous leadership program that lasts for two years and puts you to work as a jail officer in London or the South East of England. Depending on the region, you may earn a starting salary of up to £30,000 per year.

Your role will be to work with inmates to find ways to help them break the cycle of reoffending after you have finished the six-week residential training program. Because of this, you will have real responsibility from the beginning of your time in this position, and you will also be mentored by an experienced prison officer.

In addition to this, you will get full funding to attend Leeds Trinity University and earn a Master of Science degree in Applied Custodial Leadership by studying part-time over the course of two years. Because of this, you will be equipped with the information and skills necessary to alter attitudes and views, as well as to encourage fresh methods to prison reform. After completing the program, you will have acquired the leadership abilities necessary to work in a number of career sectors, or you will have the option to remain in the prison service if that is your preference.

The first step in the application procedure is filling out a form that is found online, and then visiting an assessment center. Find more about the best practices for completing application forms and doing well in assessment centers.

Learn more about the Unlocked program.

Become a jail governor

Governors of prisons are senior officials who are charged with general accountability for the facilities they oversee. Their duties mainly include of conducting inspections, upholding discipline and security, managing staff members, watching out for the welfare of inmates, managing finances, and achieving governmental goals. The nature and scale of the institution determine the specifics of each of these jobs.

If you want to be in a position of authority inside the correctional system, the most typical way to get there is to start out as a jail officer and work your way up through the ranks. This may take anywhere from five to 10 years or even longer.

To be successful, you will need to be self-assured, forceful, and an effective member of a team. Since producing reports and presenting in front of large groups of people, including both staff and inmates, are two primary responsibilities of the post, possessing strong written and vocal communication skills is crucial.

The National Careers Service reports that the annual salary of a prison governor may vary anywhere from £47,500 to £75,500, depending on the individual's level of expertise.

Various positions for prison instructors

By working in the corrections system as a prison teacher, you may combine your interests in teaching and in the rehabilitation of criminals. You will be working with inmates in the classroom or the workshop to assist them in the development of vocational skills that will be useful to them in their search for employment after they have been released.

Some instructors are uniformed correctional officers who are given extra responsibilities in addition to their usual tasks, while other instructors are civilians who are engaged in a teaching capacity on a full-time basis.

Your responsibilities will include, among other things, determining the educational requirements of the inmates, organizing and leading training sessions, providing supervision to the inmates, and upholding health and safety regulations.

In most cases, you will be required to have a teaching certificate of at least Level 3, as well as a qualification of the same level in your particular subject area, in addition to some relevant job experience. According to the data provided by the National Careers Service, salaries may vary anywhere from £18,000 to £29,000.

Visit the Ministry of Justice's External Opportunities page and pick Education and Training from the 'role type' dropdown to see some examples of positions that are available. You might also educate yourself on the steps necessary to enter the teaching profession.

Jobs in the field of probation supervision

As a probation officer, you will assist rehabilitate lawbreakers and lessen the likelihood that they will commit other offenses by working with them before, during, and after they have served their prison term or community order.

You will maintain close communication not just with colleagues working in the various branches of the criminal justice system, such as the police, the courts, and the prison service, but also with victims of crime.

Read up on the lifestyle of a probation officer to have a better understanding of the profession.

By browsing the job profile for the position of probation officer, you will get comprehensive information on the duties, pay range, and qualifications necessary for this field of work.

See the page "Train to be a Probation Officer" for further information on whether you meet the requirements and how to apply for positions with the National Probation Service, which is a division of HMPPS in England and Wales.