11513 - Operational Support Grade - HMP Channings Wood (Prison Support Role)

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

Job summary

A national correctional service in Highweek is looking for an Operational Support Grade (OSG) to support the daily operations of a busy prison. The role requires a valid UK Driving Licence and the ability to handle various duties, including security operations, prisoner supervision, and maintaining safety protocols. Successful candidates will undergo shift work and night shifts, joining a close-knit team dedicated to a secure environment. This position offers a competitive salary, benefits package, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Civil Service pension scheme

Paid Level 2 apprenticeship in customer service

Qualifications

• Hold a full, valid UK Driving Licence.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English.
• Proven ability to manage a quality service and supervise diverse tasks.

Responsibilities

• Ensure secure entry and exit of staff and visitors.
• Operate CCTV and monitor suspicious activities.
• Supervise prisoners and ensure safety in the establishment.

Skills

Driving Licence

Communication

Supervision

Job description

Job Details

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 (OSG), 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, monitoring phone calls and CCTV. You will work shifts and nights to keep things running.

Pay and Benefits

£29,432

The salary figures quoted are for a 37‑hour working week inclusive of a 20% unsocial hours working allowance.

Additional benefits include:

• 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, Employee Assistance Programme and Cycle to Work scheme

Hours

You will work an average of 37 hours per week, including night shifts, evenings, weekends and bank/public holidays (which are added to your holiday allowance). Shift patterns will be discussed at interview.

Responsibilities, activities and duties are likely to include:

• Gate/portal duties: ensure secure entry and exit of staff, visitors, vehicles; carry out searches of staff, prisoners, visitors, contractors and vehicles; issue and 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: support tasks in reception; photograph prisoners; collate documentation for the property process; search/x‑ray incoming prisoner property and parcels; receive items for prisoners and check all seals are 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 escorts to destination in cellular vehicle; collect mail from local sorting office.
• Phone calls: monitor PIN system, maintain log of PIN phone requests; complete paperwork keeping audit trail; check legal numbers registered solicitors.
• Procedures and protocol: understand and conform to national and local policies, respond appropriately to invoke emergency procedures and actions required in relation to incidents.

Success Profile behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Interview

The interview will be a blended nature consisting of behaviours and experience. It 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.

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 vacancy

This is a ‘merit’ job vacancy. If you are successful at the interview you will be added to a merit list based on your score. When all applicants have completed the assessment, the prison will make job offers to those with the highest scores first when positions become available. You can stay on the merit list for 12 months; after this, you’ll need to apply again.

Allowance Details

• 20% unsocial working allowance included in the salary figures quoted.

For more information, please visit our website: www.prisonsupportroles.co.uk.