202608: Prison Officer - HMP Chelmsford

The Methodist Church in Britain; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25–30 days

Civil Service pension

Cycle to work scheme

Travel loans

Paid holiday + extra privilege day

Job summary

Ministry of Justice is recruiting for a Prison Officer at HMP Chelmsford. The role focuses on protecting the public, building professional relationships with prisoners, and delivering varied duties from keeping the peace to counselling and teaching.

Shifts cover evenings, nights, weekends and holidays, with training and progression offered. No formal qualifications are required initially, but applicants will undergo online tests, an assessment centre and medical and fitness checks.

Qualifications

• Aged 18 or over at the start of employment.
• Civil Service nationality requirements and right to work in the UK.
• Enhanced DBS check requirement.
• Medical and fitness assessment, including eyesight and hearing standards.
• Tattoos must be non-offensive; facial tattoos generally not acceptable.
• Three years' UK residence for work in a category A prison.

Responsibilities

• Protect the public and keep the prison safe and secure.
• Build constructive, professional relationships with prisoners.
• Carry out roles from keeping the peace to counselling and teaching.
• Work as part of a team to keep the prison and everyone in it safe.
• Work shifts covering evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.

Skills

Communication

Quality commitment

Decision-making

Empathy & care

Resilience

English language

Job description

Prison officer post at HMP Chelmsford, run by the Ministry of Justice and filled from a merit list. The job centres on protecting the public and building relationships with prisoners, shifting from keeping order to counselling or teaching within a day. The prison runs around the clock, so shifts cover evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays, with weeks of 37, 39 or 41 hours after training. No qualifications are needed, but candidates face online tests, an assessment centre and medical and fitness checks; visa sponsorship is unlikely.

What the job involves

• Protect the public and keep the prison safe and secure
• Build constructive, professional relationships with prisoners
• Carry out varied roles with prisoners, from keeping the peace to counselling and teaching
• Work as part of a team to keep the prison and everyone in it safe
• Work shifts covering evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays

Skills & knowledge

• Communication and influencing skills
• Commitment to quality
• Effective decision-making, with sound judgement and numerical ability
• Care, empathy and understanding
• Resilience and self-confidence
• Confident spoken English, with written English assessed

Checks & eligibility

• Aged 18 or over at the start of employment
• Civil Service nationality requirements and right to work in the UK
• Enhanced DBS check
• Medical and fitness assessment, including eyesight and hearing standards
• Tattoos that are not offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating; facial tattoos generally not acceptable
• Three years' UK residence for work in a category A prison

Other

• Willingness to work various shifts and some weekends
• Commitment to supporting colleagues as part of a team

Nice to have

• Driving licence and own transport, beneficial though not essential

What’s offered

• 25 days' annual holiday, rising to 30 after 10 years' service
• Paid time off for public holidays and one extra privilege day
• Civil Service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%
• Cycle to work scheme and travel loans
• Opportunity to work additional paid hoursChoice of 37, 39 or 41 hours a week after training