202608: Prison Officer - HMP Bristol

The Methodist Church in Britain; West of England; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual holiday

Civil Service pension with employer 28

Cycle to work scheme

Travel loans

Opportunity to work additional paid ?

Guaranteed veteran interview

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice seeks a Prison Officer at HMP Bristol. The role focuses on safety and professional engagement with prisoners, with officers rotating between peacekeeping, counselling and teaching during shifts.

The position operates 24/7 with a 39-hour standard week and requires commitment to public service. Successful candidates will join a unified team, undergo training, and work shifts that may include evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays, all while upholding high standards

Qualifications

• Strong communication and influencing abilities.
• Commitment to delivering high-quality work.
• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure.
• Caring approach with empathy and understanding.
• Resilience, self-confidence and calm under stress.
• Basic numeracy and judgement for everyday tasks.

Responsibilities

• Protect the public and keep the prison, staff and prisoners safe.
• Build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners.
• Move between peacekeeping, counselling and teaching in a single day.
• Work shifts including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.
• Support colleagues and act as one team to keep the prison safe.
• Complete initial training of 37 hours a week, then work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week.

Skills

Communication and influencing skills

Commitment to quality

Decision making

Care and understanding

Empathy and resilience

Numerical skills

Job description

Prison officer post at HMP Bristol, a prison run by the Ministry of Justice, filled through a merit list. The work centres on keeping the prison safe and building professional relationships with prisoners, with officers moving between peacekeeping, counselling and teaching in a single day. Prisons run around the clock, so the post involves rotating shifts that include evenings, some nights and weekends, with a 39-hour week as the usual pattern. No formal qualifications are required, but Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is unlikely for this campaign.

What the job involves

• Protect the public and keep the prison, staff and prisoners safe
• Build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners
• Work directly with prisoners, moving between peacekeeping, counselling and teaching in one day
• Work shifts that include evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays
• Support colleagues and act as one team to keep the prison safe
• Complete initial training of 37 hours a week, then work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week

Skills & knowledge

• Communication and influencing skills
• Commitment to quality
• Effective decision-making
• Care and understanding
• Empathy, self-confidence and resilience
• Basic judgement and numerical skills

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS check
• Aged 18 or over at start of employment
• Civil Service nationality requirements and right to work in the UK
• Pass a medical and fitness assessment
• Eyesight standard in both eyes and suitable hearing without aids
• Resident in the UK for the last 3 years for category A work

Other

• Confident spoken English
• Commitment to supporting colleagues as one team
• Tattoos not offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating; facial tattoos generally not acceptable
• Reach fixed shift start times on time

Nice to have

• Driving licence and own transport, beneficial but not essential

What’s offered

• 25 days' annual holiday, rising to 30 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 and travel loans
• Opportunity to work additional paid hours
• Guaranteed interview for eligible veterans who meet the minimum criteria
• Redeployment interview for eligible candidates at risk of redundancy