202512: Prison Officer - HMP Garth

Ministry of Justice; Leyland; On-site; GBP 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental organization in Leyland is looking for a prison officer. The role offers a competitive starting salary of £35,875 for a 39-hour week, alongside benefits such as 25 days’ annual leave and a Civil Service pension. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, meet nationality requirements, and pass several assessments. This unique job entails varied roles daily, with the possibility of being placed on a merit list for future positions.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Civil Service pension

Cycle to work scheme

Travel loans

Qualifications

• At least 18 years old at the commencement of employment.
• Meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements.
• Pass a medical and fitness assessment.
• Meet the required eyesight standard.
• Suitable standard of hearing without hearing aids.
• Tattoos must not be offensive or intimidating.

Responsibilities

• Carry out various roles in a single day as a prison officer.
• Assist in maintaining safety and security.
• Participate in training sessions.
• Complete necessary assessments and evaluations.

Skills

Communicating and influencing

Managing a quality service

Making effective decisions

Caring

Job description

Prison officer – HMP Garth

HMP Garth, Ulnes Walton Lane, Leyland, Lancashire. PR26 8NE

City/Town: Leyland

Region: North West

Vacancy type: Merit

Starting salary: £35,875 a (for a 39 hour week inc 20% unsocial)

From 4 April 2024, the Government increased the salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas. The change means that HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) cannot guarantee sponsorship for those seeking sponsorship via the Skilled Worker visa route. If you are applying to be a prison officer and you do not meet the new eligibility criteria for sponsorship, you will need to consider your options for obtaining and/or maintaining your right to work in the UK in light of these changes. HMPPS will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service.

Read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria here.

An extraordinary job

In this unique career, you’ll have the opportunity to carry out many different roles in any one day.

Recruitment Assessment

During the recruitment process you will be assessed on:

• Communicating and influencing
• Managing a quality service
• Making effective decisions
• Caring

Requirements

To become a prison officer, you will need to:

• Be at least 18 years old at the commencement of employment
• Meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements
• Pass a medical and fitness assessment
• Meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes
• Meet a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids)
• For safety reasons, meet a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids)
• Whilst tattoos are permitted, including those that are visible, they must not be deemed as offensive, discriminatory, violent, or intimidating. Facial tattoos are generally not acceptable, except where this is for cultural, religious, or medical reasons.
• For safety reasons, everyone training to be a prison officer must have a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids)
• To work in a high security prison (category A) you must have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years.

How to apply

Once you have completed your initial application form, you will be invited to complete stage 1 of the online test, to see if you have the basic judgement and numerical skills. If you pass, we will invite you to complete stage 2 of the online tests, which is a task‑based assessment. If you pass the online tests, we will invite you to an online assessment centre (OAC). Once you’ve successfully completed the OAC and you are allocated to a vacancy, we will invite you to complete a medical and fitness test. This will cover an eyesight test, hearing test and basic health screening, including a blood pressure check.

Pay

The initial training is 37 hours a week. After training, you can choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week. Your annual salary will reflect your weekly hours.

• 37 hours a week = £33,746 a year
• 39 hours a week = £35,875 a year
• 41 hours a week = £38,003 a year

All salary figures quoted include any additional allowances. The standard working week of a prison officer is based on a 39 hours per week shift pattern.

Benefits

• 25 days’ annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service)
• Paid time off for public holidays and 1 extra privilege day
• Civil Service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%
• Cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits

Job offers: merit vacancy

This is a merit job vacancy. If you are successful at the online assessment centre, you will be added to a merit list based on your score. When all applicants have completed the assessment centre, the prison will make job offers to individuals 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.

Operational Support Grade Role

Our Online Assessment Centre (OAC) will not only assess you against the key criteria to become a prison officer but will also determine your suitability for appointment as an operational support grade OSG. If following attendance at your OAC, you are unsuccessful in your application to become a prison officer, we may instead offer you an alternative role as an OSG. Operational support grade – Ministry of Justice

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

Reasonable adjustment support

Just tick ‘yes’ when it asks if you think you might need a reasonable adjustment.

Contact

If you feel the recruitment process has breached the principles you can raise a complaint by contacting Shared Services Connected Ltd: call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email [e-mail]