202509: Prison Officer - HMP North Sea Camp

HM Prison and Probation Service; Scrane End; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the UK is seeking resilient individuals for the role of Prison Officer. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships with prisoners. The position involves various shifts and responsibilities, including safety and assessment duties. Successful applicants will receive competitive salaries based on working hours and a variety of benefits including pension contributions and holiday entitlements.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Civil Service pension

Cycle-to-work scheme

Travel loans

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old at commencement of employment.
• Strong communication and decision-making skills are essential.
• Ability to work as part of a team in high-pressure environments.

Responsibilities

• Work various shifts and participate in online tests.
• Act as a peacekeeper, counsellor, and teacher within prison.
• Complete medical and fitness assessment.

Skills

Communication

Empathy

Teamwork

Resilience

Job description

Overview

This role is not eligible for new Skilled Worker visas in accordance with the current immigration rules. From 22 July 2025, the Government introduced changes to the Skilled Worker visa route. The department cannot consider sponsoring you for this role unless you have held a Skilled Worker visa prior to the 22 July 2025 changes. If you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously, please raise this during your vetting checks and eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the immigration rules and transitional provisions in place. If you are applying for this role and you have not held a Skilled Worker visa prior to the 22 July 2025 changes, you will need to consider your options for obtaining and/or maintaining your right to work in the UK in light of these changes. Successful applicants must ensure they have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom. Read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria here.

Someone like you

There\'s no such thing as a typical prison officer. Our officers come from different walks of life, just like the offenders they work with. Whether you\'re a parent, a teacher, have worked in retail, the armed forces, or you\'re a natural people person, you\'ll have the empathy, self-confidence, great communication skills and resilience we want. You\'ll take the time to build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners who could be at the lowest point in their lives. Teamwork plays a vital role in this environment, so you\'ll need to be fully committed to supporting your colleagues and understand the importance of acting as one team to keep the prison, and everyone who works here safe.

Responsibilities

• You will be required to work various shifts and some weekends.
• In this unique career, you\'ll have the opportunity to carry out many different roles in any one day, such as a peacekeeper, counsellor or teacher, while working directly with prisoners in a unique environment to protect the public and make a positive impact.
• Participate in the online tests (Stage 1 and Stage 2) to assess basic judgement, numerical skills, and the natural behaviours and qualities needed to be an effective prison officer.
• Attend an online assessment centre (OAC) to test abilities, behaviours and strengths for appointment as a prison officer or an alternative Operational Support Grade (OSG) role if not selected as a prison officer.
• Complete a medical and fitness assessment, including eyesight and hearing checks, and attend a UK-based medical and fitness assessment centre.
• Engage in the recruitment process by merit and, if successful at the online assessment centre, be added to a merit list.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Essential skills: you don\'t need qualifications to become a prison officer; personal qualities such as communication and influencing, commitment to quality, effective decision-making, and care and understanding are important.
• Legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and the United Kingdom; meet Civil Service nationality requirements where applicable.
• You must be at least 18 years old at commencement of employment.
• As this is a physically active job, you will need to pass a medical and fitness assessment and meet the eyesight standard in both eyes (with or without corrective lenses) and have suitable hearing.
• Tattoos are allowed if not offensive, discriminatory, violent, or intimidating; facial tattoos are generally not acceptable unless for cultural, religious, or medical reasons.
• A UK driving licence is not always required for the Prison Officer role, but may be for related OSG roles where driving duties are essential.
• To work in a high-security prison (category A), residency in the UK for the last 3 years is required.
• Successful applicants must undergo a criminal record check and baseline personnel security checks for government assets.

Benefits & Pay

• The initial training is 37 hours a week. After training, you can choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week, with salary reflecting weekly hours: 37 hours £33,746; 39 hours £35,875; 41 hours £38,003 per year. All salary figures include applicable allowances.
• Prisons operate 24/7, so shift patterns may include evenings, nights, weekends and holidays (these days are added to your holiday allowance). There may be opportunities to work additional paid hours.
• Benefits include 25 days’ annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years), paid time off for public holidays and an extra privilege day, Civil Service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%, cycle-to-work scheme, travel loans and other benefits.

Application Process

• During recruitment, you will be assessed on behaviours, strengths and abilities needed to become an effective prison officer, including communication, quality management, and decision-making.
• There is an online assessment centre (OAC) to assess suitability for prison officer or an OSG role; if unsuccessful, redeployment opportunities may be offered in some campaigns.
• Successful candidates are added to a merit list and offered positions based on scores; the merit list is valid for 12 months.
• If your application is unsuccessful at the sift/assessment stage, a six-month waiting period may apply before you can submit further applications.

Additional Information

• Reasonable adjustment support is available for online tests and assessment centres if needed; please arrange in advance.
• Mandatory English language ability is required unless stated otherwise in Wales (Welsh appropriate).
• For veterans: the Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans initiative offers a guaranteed interview for those meeting minimum criteria; visit gov.uk for details.
• Redeployment Interview Scheme may offer interviews for at-risk candidates; some restrictions apply.
• Other resources: guidance on the recruitment process, candidate information page, and links to the Nationality Rules.

Read more about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries on the Candidate Information Page: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ