11647 - Operational Support Grade - HMP Bristol (Prison Support Role)

Ministry of Justice; Bristol; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental organization in the UK is seeking an Operational Support Grade to manage various support services in a prison environment. Responsibilities include patrol duties, monitoring CCTV, and supervising prisoners. Ideal candidates should possess strong communication skills and be comfortable with shift work including nights and weekends. This role offers a competitive salary package with generous benefits, including annual leave and a pension scheme.

Benefits

Annual leave increasing to 30 days after 10 years

Access to Civil Service pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role in English.
• Experience in a similar support role is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Ensure secure entry and exit of staff and visitors.
• Monitor CCTV and report suspicious activities.
• Supervise prisoners as required.
• Assist in reception tasks and manage incoming property.

Skills

Communication

Supervision

CCTV monitoring

Emergency response

Job description

Overview

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.

Salary and Hours

£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, evenings and weekend shifts.

You will work an average of 37 hours per week, which 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.

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

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 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

Interview

At the interview we will assess you against the following Success Profile behaviours –

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

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.

Language

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

Job offers: ‘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

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

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