Prison officer jobs

People who have been sentenced to jail by the courts are the responsibility of the prison officials, who are responsible for their safety, supervision, education, and rehabilitation.

Your principal responsibilities as a corrections officer consist of your custodial tasks, which include maintaining order among the inmates, exercising supervision and control over them, and ensuring that they are housed in an atmosphere that is both safe and secure. You will be responsible for locking and unlocking their cells' doors, monitoring inmate movement around the facility, and keeping a tally of prisoner numbers and whereabouts.

In order to successfully rehabilitate inmates, you not only need to build and maintain great working relationships with the inmates, but you also need to exhibit a healthy balance of authority with a significant level of understanding and compassion. This involves encouraging inmates to act in ways that are beneficial not just to themselves but also to the people around them.

Because of the nature of the work, it is required that you have the capacity to think on your feet, make snap judgments, and successfully cope with unforeseen circumstances.

Responsibilities

You will be required to:

jail inmates should be managed, supervised, and controlled in a legitimate and secure manner.

Keep a record of those under your supervision and make sure everything is in order.

convicts, employees, and visitors should all be subjected to security inspections and search procedures.

oversee visits and carry out patrol responsibilities

accompany inmates on outside visits, like as trips to the hospital, for example

contribute to the examination of inmates

Provide inmates with guidance and counseling, as well as, if necessary, ensure that they have access to expert assistance.

manage situations as the "first on scene" and collaborate with other members of the team to find solutions to problems.

Make use of authorized methods of physical control and constraint when they are applicable.

ensure the safety of the inmates' belongings

Be conscious of the rights, the dignity, and the personal responsibility of the inmates.

It is important to offer vulnerable inmates and those who are at danger of harming themselves with the right care and assistance.

policies against bullying and suicide prevention should be promoted.

participate actively in rehabilitation programs, including any seminars that are offered.

cultivate links with other specialty employees, including specialists in the fields of social work and health care.

create required reports and paperwork for the purpose of management and quality checks.

keep records, ensure they are up to current, and compose reports on the inmates

abide by the policies and laws of both the national government and the local government.

There will be certain components of your job that change depending on the sort of jail you work in, the amount of security the prison maintains, and the ages of the inmates there. For instance, inmates in category A need a higher level of surveillance than prisoners in category C.

Officers of higher grades in a jail have additional duties, such as overseeing other officers or being in charge of a particular section or wing of the facility.

Salary

The average salary in London is £31,728 (inner London), and ranges from £30,149 to £32,149 outside of the city (outer London).

You may make between £27,118 and £29,118 per year in the South and South East.

You'll make a total of £24 1,118 in a lot of different places around England and Wales.

The starting wage for operations prison officer recruits in Scotland is £20,805, with the compensation increasing to £26,903 over the course of four years.

The Her Majesty's Jail and Probation Service (HMPPS) offers multiple pay scales depending on the employee's grade, the region of the nation they work in, and the specific prison they work in. There is a possibility of variation in working conditions, pay, and pension plans inside private jails.

You will also be eligible to receive a pension from the Civil Service as well as other perks, some of which may include travel loans, childcare vouchers, and bike to work programs.

Information on earnings from prison and probation work.

The numbers are simply meant to serve as a guide.

Time spent working

You will be expected to work regular hours that are inconvenient to your social life, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. You have the option of working either 39 or 41 hours per week, which are considered to be standard working hours. You will put in 37 hours of work each week while you are in the training phase.

It is important to verify the terms and conditions of employment before applying to a jail since salary and working hours might differ from facility to facility.

There is the possibility of finding employment on a part-time or shared basis. After successfully completing their probationary term, prison officials are eligible to participate in flexible work arrangements.

What may be anticipated

The architecture of prisons may range from being quite contemporary to dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A good number of the older restaurants now have extensive renovation projects going on. The majority of the labor is performed inside; however, there is some time spent outdoors doing activities such as patrolling and monitoring.

The task may be tough and calls for an attitude that is calm while still being adaptable, since there is a possibility that unpleasant, contentious, and even violent circumstances can emerge.

Jobs may be found in areas all throughout the UK that have correctional facilities such as prisons, detention centers, and institutes for juvenile offenders.

The individuals who work in prisons are required to wear uniforms.

Qualifications

Because human traits and life experience are seen as being more significant than academic degrees, there is no need for qualifications in order to become a jail officer. Instead, training will be offered.

You do, however, need to satisfy certain conditions, and in England and Wales, with HMPPS, you must fulfill the following requirements:

be aged 18 or above

have the legal ability to find employment in the UK

be physically in decent shape

possess sharp vision and hearing abilities.

Additionally, if you are applying to a category A jail, you will be required to have been a resident of the United Kingdom for a minimum of three years.

It is more vital to have good personal traits and experience in life than to have good academic degrees.

The application procedure consists of many steps, including the following:

a quick application that may be completed online to verify that you are eligible to live and work in the UK.

two different online exams, one of which is based on a scenario (to see how you respond to real-life events) and the other of which is a simple numeracy test.

a test based on your behavior that determines whether or not you have the appropriate natural qualities to work in a correctional facility.

online evaluation: in this evaluation, which takes place over the course of a full day and is completed on a laptop equipped with a camera, it will be assessed whether or not you have the necessary skills, qualities, and level of physical fitness for the position.

investigations into one's past.

It is required that you pass a background check and vetting procedure, both of which might take many months to complete if you want to work as a corrections officer.

You also do not need any prior experience working in the correctional system in order to apply; however, you will be required to have a minimum of a 2:1 degree in any field, GCSEs in math and English at Level 4/C or higher, and the legal authorization to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of the program.

In England and Wales, the Prison and Probation Service is planning to introduce a Level 3 Custody and Detention Professional Apprenticeship in 2022. This will be available to anyone who are interested in pursuing an extended program of work-based learning.

This course, which must be completed in addition to your regular responsibilities as a prison officer, takes anywhere from twelve to eighteen months to finish and presents a novel method of education and advancement. Providing you with the information and abilities that will serve you well throughout your career in the corrections system.

Graduates also have the ability to work in corrections while participating in the accelerated leadership development program known as Unlocked, which lasts for two years and provides them with leadership training. The goal of the program is to generate future prison leaders who are proficient in the skills essential to assist in the reform of the prison system and the reduction of recidivism.

Psychometric testing, an application assessment, a competency-based interview, and a fitness test are the four components that make up the recruiting procedure for the position of operations prison officer in Scotland. Visit the website of the Scottish Prison Service for more information on the entrance criteria (SPS). Please refer to the Northern Ireland Jail Service if you want any more information on the function of a prison officer in Northern Ireland (NIPS).

Get in touch with the various service providers to get information on the prerequisites for admittance and the training offered by private prisons.

Skills

You'll need to make sure you have:

powerful interpersonal abilities, including the ability to be forceful and to motivate oneself.

good communication and interpersonal abilities, as well as the capacity to get along well with a diverse group of individuals

personal honesty and tenacity in the face of adversity

a capacity for leadership and the ability to shoulder one's responsibilities

abilities to learn from one another and collaborate effectively with others

talents that allow for good decision making

organizational skills

the capacity to maintain one's composure amid difficult circumstances

confidence in oneself as well as emotional sensitivity

endurance of the body

a dedication to high standards and an understanding of the role that prisons play within the larger framework of the criminal justice system and the society as a whole.

Practice in the workplace

Before starting a job in a jail, it might be beneficial to have previous work experience, and obtaining some understanding of the industry will assist you not only in your training but also in your academic studies.

You may locate opportunities that are relevant to your interests via labor that is either paid or unpaid in a variety of contexts, including the following:

authorized premises

services for visiting inmates in jail

services for assisting victims of crime

groups that work with young offenders

community service organizations

not within the jurisdiction of the community justice system

It is more essential to have a good experience than to have a lot of different ones.

Find out more information on the many types of work experience and internships that are currently offered.

Employers

The following organizations are the most significant employers of correctional officers in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland:

109 of England and Wales' 123 prisons are under the jurisdiction of the HMPPS.

There are a total of 15 prisons in Scotland, 13 of which are handled by the public sector, and two of which are operated by private sector operators under contract to the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).

Administration of Prisons in Northern Ireland (NIPS)

There are a few private prisons in England, Wales, and Scotland, and those jails are in charge of their own employee recruiting. The majority of public and private prisons are subject to the same HMPPS and SPS laws and regulations, notwithstanding potential differences in other aspects between the two types of facilities. Check out the Contracted-out Prisons page on the Ministry of Justice website for a list of private prisons in England and Wales.

At addition, possibilities to work as a prison officer may be found in detention centers, institutes for juvenile offenders, open prisons, and resettlement prisons.

Check for available positions at:

Office of the Minister of Justice

Recruitment to Positions in the Northern Ireland Civil Service

Jobs Available in Prisons and on Probation

Administration of Prisons in Scotland

On their own websites, private prison companies like Sodexo Justice Services, Serco Custodial Services, and G4S Justice Services also promote open positions inside their facilities.

Improvement of one's profession

The first round of training to become a prison officer lasts for twelve weeks. After completing the 10-week Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT) course at one of the training sites located across England and Wales, you will spend Weeks 1 and 2 at the prison that has been assigned to you. During this time, you will become acquainted with the prison's layout as well as your work responsibilities. Afterwards, you will consolidate and apply the knowledge you gained during this training.

In England, Scotland, and Wales, the first training for prison officials continues during the one-year probation term that follows their hiring. This period begins in England. You will need to get a passing grade in each component in order to successfully finish your probationary term.

Graduates of the Unlocked accelerated leadership development program begin their training with a residential course that covers conventional prison officer training and lasts for a total of six weeks. Participants in the training are each paired with a more senior prison officer mentor who serves as a resource during the duration of the program. You will also have the option to produce a policy paper as part of the program, in addition to finishing a master's degree at a reduced pace as part of the program.

The several companies operating private prisons each provide their employees a unique set of learning and advancement opportunities. Contact individual company for information.

New officers in Scotland begin their careers in the prison service as operations officers, with responsibility for the safety and operation of the facility. During their first two years on the job, they are required to earn the Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Custodial Care at the SCQF Level 7 standard.

Prison officers are able to participate in a wide variety of training and development activities throughout their careers. These activities cover topics such as equality and diversity, dealing with challenging behaviors, suicide prevention and anti-bullying programs, and opportunities to access promotion programs. In addition, prison officers have the chance to participate in these activities.

Prospects for one's career

The most logical route to advancement is via positions that require increased responsibility and greater control of personnel. Work at the service's training or headquarters is another possibility, as is employment in the service's specialized programs, such as rehabilitative work with certain groups of convicts or their families.

Officers who possess the necessary skills are strongly encouraged to submit promotion applications as soon as they believe they are prepared to do so. This entails participating in a series of selection processes that are intended to evaluate one's talents as well as their capacity to perform at the subsequent level.

There is a possibility that individuals may be offered secondments to other facilities as well as jobs at the headquarters of HM Prison Service in London and local offices located across England and Wales.

You have the opportunity to advance through managerial posts in order to build up further experience in a variety of prison functions, such as security, performance management, different categories of prison, or the various prison populations, such as mothers and babies, vulnerable prisoners, or young offenders. This can be accomplished by advancing your career. After this, you are eligible to submit an application for senior management certification, and after that, you may be able to rule your own jail. Prison governors are charged with the overarching role of managing a workforce that may consist of prison officers, duty governors, and members of other departments.

You also have the option of moving on up to a higher level of management within HMPPS or changing careers entirely and taking a job outside of the prison system. Opportunities for senior managers include working in policy positions inside the Civil Service or the Ministry of Justice, working with providers in the third sector, or in the private offices of ministers.

Officers in Scotland have the opportunity to advance their careers to first-line management, senior managerial, officer instructor/vocational training officer, residential officer, and officer instructor/vocational training officer roles. After you have served your one-year probationary term, you will be eligible to apply for promotion, and your application will be evaluated based on your particular merit and abilities.