11925 - Operational Support Grade - HMP Erlestoke (Prison Support Role)

Hmp Erlestoke; Devizes; On-site; GBP 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK prison service is looking for an Operational Support Grade to ensure the day-to-day operations are secure and efficient. You will handle everything from gate duties to monitoring phone calls and CCTV, working varied shifts including nights and weekends. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills and the ability to manage potential incidents with professionalism. This position offers a competitive salary along with generous leave and pension benefits.

Benefits

25-30 days annual leave

Civil Service pension scheme

Retail discounts

Cycle to Work scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Must be able to confidently fulfill spoken aspects of the role in English.

Responsibilities

• Ensure secure entry and exit of staff and visitors.
• Operate establishment radio system and monitor CCTV.
• Book and process visitors during their arrival.
• Monitor/log mail and report illicit items.
• Lock cell doors and ensure prisoner safety.
• Assist reception tasks including photographing prisoners.
• Supervise prisoners during clothing exchanges.
• Collect and deliver food items.
• Transport prisoners and collect mail from local sorting office.
• Maintain log of prisoners' phone calls.

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. 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, 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

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 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.