Operational Support Grade

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

Job summary

A government department in the UK is seeking an Operational Support Grade to ensure the day-to-day running of a busy prison. The role includes tasks such as performing gate duties, monitoring CCTV, and supervising prisoners. Candidates must have a full UK Driving Licence and the ability to work flexible shifts, including nights and weekends. This position offers a salary of £29,432 and benefits like a generous pension scheme and paid apprenticeship in customer service.

Benefits

Generous Civil Service pension scheme

Paid Level 2 apprenticeship in customer service

Retail discounts

Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Full, valid UK Driving Licence required.
• Ability to work flexible shifts including nights and weekends.
• Fluent in English (Welsh where applicable).

Responsibilities

• Perform gate/portal duties to secure entry/exit.
• Monitor CCTV and operate establishment radio system.
• Book visits and assist in identifying visitors.
• Ensure prison security by supervising prisoners.
• Transport prisoners to designated locations.

Skills

Driving duties

Communication

Monitoring

Supervision

Job description

Job Summary

PLEASE NOTE: Driving duties are an essential part of the OSG role at HMP Channings Wood and therefore candidates are required to hold a full, valid UK Driving Licence. As an Operational Support Grade, you 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. You will work shifts and nights to keep things running.

Compensation & Benefits

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

Hours

Average of 37 hours per week, including night shifts, evenings, weekends and bank/public holidays (added to your holiday allowance) on a rolling shift pattern. Frequency of night shifts varies by establishment and can be discussed at interview.

Responsibilities

• Gate/portal duties: secure entry/exit of staff, visitors, vehicles; searches of staff, prisoners, visitors, contractors and vehicles; issue/collect staff keys/radios
• Control room: operate the establishment radio system and monitor CCTV, ensuring all suspicious activities are reported
• Visits: book visits; identify and process visitors on arrival, escort them if required
• Censors/correspondence: monitor/log mail and report illicit or contraband items, maintaining evidence preservation
• Night duties: ensure cell doors are locked/secure and all prisoners are safely accounted for
• Reception: assist appropriate tasks, photograph prisoners, collate documentation for property process, search/x-ray incoming prisoner property and parcels; receive items for prisoners and check seals intact on property storage
• Prisoner supervision: supervise prisoners as required; undertake prisoner clothing/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 their escort to destination in the cellular vehicle; collect mail from local sorting office
• Phone calls: monitor PIN system, maintain log of PIN Phone requests, complete paperwork, audit conversation, check legal numbers registered solicitors
• Procedures and protocol: understand and conform to national and local policies, invoke emergency procedures and actions required in relation to incidents

Success Profile

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Interview

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of behaviours and experience. The interview is the ideal opportunity to tell us more about yourself, your work history or personal experiences so we can get to know you better and assess how you will be suited to prison work.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Full, valid UK Driving Licence
• Speak fluent English (in Wales also fluent Welsh)
• Ability to work nights, evenings, weekends and bank/public holidays