11566 - Operational Support Grade - HMP Bedford (Prison Support Role)

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

Job summary

A government agency in the UK is seeking an Operational Support Grade to manage the day-to-day operations of a busy prison. You will work in various roles including overseeing security, visitor management, and prisoner supervision while working shifts that include nights and weekends. The position offers a starting salary of £29,432 per year, which includes a 20% unsocial hours allowance and various benefits such as annual leave and a pension scheme.

Benefits

25 days annual leave increasing to 30 after 10 years

9 days bank and public holidays

Access to a paid level 2 apprenticeship

Generous Civil Service pension scheme

Retail discounts and Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate effectively in English.
• Experience in a security or supervisory role is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Ensure secure entry and exit of staff and visitors at the gate.
• Operate the establishment radio system and monitor CCTV.
• Book and manage visitor appointments.
• Monitor and log mail for contraband items.
• Ensure cell doors are secure and prisoners accounted for.
• Assist in reception tasks like photographing prisoners.
• Supervise prisoners during property exchanges.
• Deliver and collect food using a trolley.
• Transport prisoners in the cellular vehicle.
• Maintain legality and audit trails for phone calls.
• Understand and conform to national and local policies.

Skills

Communicating and Influencing

Managing a Quality Service

Job description

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.

Benefits

• annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after 10 years’ service (calculated on a pro‑rata basis)
• 9 days bank, public and privilege holidays
• access to a paid Level 2 apprenticeship in customer service
• access to the generous Civil Service pension scheme
• season ticket loans, retail discounts, an Employee Assistance Programme and a Cycle to Work scheme

£29,432

The salary figures quoted are for a 37 hour working week inclusive of 20% unsocial hours working allowance which is included in the salary to reflect the requirement to work nights, evening and weekend shifts

Hours

You will work an average of 37 hours per week and this will include working night shifts, evenings, weekends and Bank/Public holidays (these days are added to your holiday allowance) on a rolling shift pattern. The frequency of night shifts will vary for each Establishment and can be discussed at interview. For an example of the shift times that you could be working please visit our website

Responsibilities

• gate/portal duties: ensure the 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 their arrival, escort them if required
• censors/correspondence: monitor/log mail and report any illicit or contraband items, maintaining the preservation of evidence
• night duties: ensure cell doors are locked/secure and all prisoners are safely accounted for
• reception: assist in supporting appropriate 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, which may involve the use of an electric tug vehicle
• driving duties: transport prisoners and their escort to their destination in the cellular vehicle; collect mail from local sorting office
• phone calls: monitor the Personal Identification Number (PIN) system, maintaining the log of PIN Phone requests from prisoners; complete all relevant paperwork keeping an audit trail of conversations; check that legal numbers are registered solicitors
• procedures and protocol: understand and conform to national and local policies, responding appropriately to invoke emergency procedures and the actions required in relation to incidents

Success Profile Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

For more information please visit our website

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

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

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.

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

Allowance Details

In addition you will receive 20% unsocial working allowance. This has been included in the salary figures quoted.