202512: Prison Officer - HMP Lindholme, HMP Moorland and HMP Hatfield

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

Job summary

A government agency in the UK is seeking a dedicated Prison Officer to join their team. Officers come from various backgrounds, emphasizing empathy and communication skills to support inmates. Responsibilities include ensuring safety and facilitating rehabilitation. The role offers competitive pay based on hours worked, flexible shift patterns, and benefits such as annual leave and a Civil Service pension. This is a physically active position requiring fitness assessments.

Benefits

25 days' annual holiday

Civil Service pension

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old to commence employment.
• Must pass medical and fitness assessment.
• Tattoos allowed; must meet guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Act as a peacekeeper and counsellor while ensuring safety.
• Facilitate rehabilitation and support programs.
• Attend training and briefings.

Skills

Communication and influencing skills

Commitment to quality

Effective decision-making

Care and understanding

Job description

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.

Role Overview

Someone like you. There is 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 are a parent, a teacher, have worked in retail, the armed forces, or just feel like you are a natural people person, you will have the empathy, self‑confidence, great communication skills and resilience we want. No matter the challenge, you will take the time to build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners who may be at the lowest point in their lives. Teamwork plays a vital role in this environment, so you will 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. You will be required to work various shifts and some weekends.

What The Job Involves

• Carry out many different roles in a day: peacekeeper, counsellor, teacher, and protect the public while making a positive impact.
• Work directly with prisoners in a unique environment while ensuring safety and lawful conduct.
• Act as a facilitator for rehabilitation and support essential programmes.
• Attend training, health and safety briefings and participate in continuous professional development.
• Be prepared for varied shift patterns including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays.

Assessment Process

• Initial application form.
• Stage 1 – online test (basic judgement and numerical skills).
• Stage 2 – online task‑based assessment to determine natural behaviours and qualities needed to be an effective prison officer.
• Online Assessment Centre (OAC) to test abilities, behaviours and strengths.
• Merit list for a 12‑month period; after the window closes re‑apply.
• Six month waiting period if unsuccessful at sift/assessment stage.
• Post‑assessment: medical and fitness test (eyesight, hearing, basic health screening, blood pressure).
• Only UK‑based medical and fitness assessments are facilitated.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 18 years old at the point you commence employment.
• Meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements (see nationality requirements section below).
• Physically active role – pass a medical and fitness assessment (eyesight standard in both eyes, suitable standard of hearing).
• Minimum medical and fitness assessment to progress application.
• Tattoos permitted but must not be offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating; facial tattoos generally not acceptable except for cultural, religious or medical reasons.
• High security prison (category A) – applicant must have lived in the UK for the last 3 years.
• Travel to work – driving licence and own transport beneficial but not essential (unless stated).
• Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Essential Skills

• Communication and influencing skills.
• Commitment to quality.
• Effective decision‑making.
• Care and understanding.

Pay & Salary

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 that are applicable to the role/location. Prisons operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means you will have to cover various shift patterns that will include evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays (these days are added to your holiday allowance). Most prisons work with a changing shift pattern of 39 hours a week. You may also have opportunities to work additional paid hours.

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.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of Civil Servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

Applicant Support

• Reasonable adjustment support: Applicants can arrange adjustments before the online tests or assessment centre. Please notify in plenty of time if adjustments are required.
• Disability confident employer – reasonable adjustments are provided.
• Recruitment complaints can be raised through Shared Services Connected Ltd, Ministry of Justice Resourcing or the Civil Service Commission.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining and investing in talent wherever it is found. We support veteran candidates through the 'Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for Veterans' initiative, which offers a guaranteed interview scheme for eligible former members of the Armed Forces.

Additional Information

• To work in a high security prison (category A) you must have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years.
• Travel to work: Some prison establishments are situated in rural locations with limited public transport options – a driving licence and own transport is beneficial but not essential unless specified.

Get More Details

• Read more about the application process here.
• Further details about veteran eligibility: link.
• Nationality requirements: link.

Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer. We aim to promote a diverse, inclusive and accessible workforce.