11468 - Operational Support Grade - HMP Wayland (Prison Support Role)

Ministry of Justice; Brighton; On-site; GBP 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency is seeking an Operational Support Grade staff member to manage the day-to-day operations of a busy prison in Brighton. The role involves a range of responsibilities from managing security to supervising visitors and monitoring prison communications. Successful candidates will work in a close-knit team, with shifts that include nights and weekends. The position offers a salary of £29,432, along with a range of benefits including paid apprenticeship and a civil service pension scheme.

Benefits

Annual leave of 25 days, increasing to 30 after 10 years

Paid apprenticeship in customer service

Generous pension scheme

Season-ticket loans and retail discounts

Qualifications

• Ability to monitor and report suspicious activities effectively.
• Confidence in communicating in English.
• Experience with operational procedures in a secure environment.

Responsibilities

• Ensure secure entry and exit for staff and visitors.
• Monitor CCTV and radio communications.
• Supervise prisoners and manage food deliveries.

Skills

Communicating and Influencing

Managing a Quality Service

Job description

The Operational Support Grade staff member will look after the day-to-day running of a busy prison, working in a close-knit team to carry out a range of support services – everything from patrol and gate duties, to managing deliveries, supervising visitors, and monitoring phone calls and CCTV. Shifts and nights keep the prison running.

Pay & Benefits

• Annual leave: 25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 days after 10 years’ service (pro‑rated).
• 9 days bank, public and privilege holidays.
• Paid Level 2 apprenticeship in customer service.
• Generous Civil Service pension scheme.
• Season‑ticket loans, retail discounts, an Employee Assistance Programme and a Cycle to Work scheme.
• £29,432 salary (37‑hour working week, inclusive of 20% unsocial hours working allowance).

Hours

The average pattern is 37 hours per week and includes night shifts, evenings, weekends and Bank/Public holidays. Frequencies of night shifts differ by establishment and can be discussed at interview. Shift times are available on our website.

Responsibilities (Activities & Duties)

• Gate/portal duties: secure entry/exit of staff, visitors, vehicles; searches of staff, prisoners, visitors, contractors and vehicles; issue and collect staff keys/radios.
• Control room: operate the establishment radio system and monitor CCTV, reporting all suspicious activities.
• Visits: book visits; identify and process visitors on arrival, escort as required.
• Censors/correspondence: monitor/log mail, report illicit or contraband items, maintain evidence preservation.
• Night duties: ensure cell doors are locked/secure and prisoners are accounted for.
• Reception: support tasks in reception, photograph prisoners, collate documentation for property process, search/X-ray incoming prisoner property and parcels, receive items for prisoners and check seals are intact on storage.
• Prisoner supervision: supervise prisoners as required, undertake property exchange and assist officers with free‑flow movement.
• Food delivery: food trolley delivery and collection, may involve electric tug vehicle.
• Driving duties: transport prisoners and escort to destination in cell vehicle; collect mail from local sorting office.
• Phone calls: monitor PIN system, maintain log of PIN phone requests, complete paperwork, audit conversation trail, confirm legal numbers registered for solicitors.
• Procedures & protocol: understand national & local policies, invoke emergency procedures, take required actions on incidents.

Success Profile – Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Interview Process

The interview blends behavioural and experience questions, giving you an opportunity to discuss your background and suitability for prison work. The interview is the ideal opportunity to tell us more about yourself, your work history or personal experiences.

Language Requirement

The job holder must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English or (when specified in Wales) Welsh.

Merit List

This is a ‘merit’ vacancy. Successful interviewees are added to a merit list based on score. After all applicants have completed assessment, offers are made to those with the highest scores first when positions become available. The merit list is valid for 12 months; thereafter you must reapply.

Website

For more information, visit www.prisonsupportroles.co.uk.