11598 - Operational Support Grade - HMP Swinfen Hall (Prison Support Role)

Hmp Swinfen Hall; Lichfield; On-site; GBP 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A correctional facility in Lichfield is hiring an Operational Support Grade to manage daily operations, including security duties and prisoner supervision. You will work an average of 37 hours per week, including nights, weekends, and holidays. The role demands effective communication skills and the ability to adhere to protocols. Benefits include annual leave, a pension scheme, and various employee discounts.

Benefits

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

Access to Civil Service pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Season ticket loans

Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Must be confident in spoken English.
• Ability to carry out physical duties as required.

Responsibilities

• Ensure secure entry and exit of staff and visitors.
• Operate the establishment radio system and monitor CCTV.
• Supervise prisoners and assist with their movement.

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

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) on a rolling shift pattern. The frequency of night shifts will vary for each establishment and can be discussed at interview.

Responsibilities, activities and duties are likely to include:

• 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 arrival; escort them if required.
• Censors/correspondence: monitor and 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 the 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, respond appropriately to invoke emergency procedures and the actions required in relation to incidents.

Success Profile behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

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

Benefits

• Annual leave is 25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 days after 10 years’ service (pro‑rated).
• 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 a 20 % unsocial hours working allowance, which is included in the salary to reflect the requirement to work nights, evenings and weekend shifts.