202608: Prison Officer - HMP Downview

The Methodist Church in Britain; London Borough of Croydon; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday entitlement 25–30 days

Civil Service pension

Cycle to work scheme

Travel loans

Option of 37, 39 or 41 hour week

Guaranteed interview for eligible ex-m

Job summary

Ministry of Justice invites applications for a Prison Officer post at HMP Downview. The role focuses on protecting the public and building constructive relationships with women in custody, transitioning from peacekeeping to counselling or teaching within a day. The post requires female applicants due to an occupational requirement and involves evening, night, weekend, and public holiday shifts.

Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is unlikely.

Qualifications

• Clear communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to influence and work with diverse groups
• Strong commitment to quality and safety standards
• Sound decision-making under pressure
• Care, understanding, empathy, and resilience
• Proficient English (numerical, written and spoken)

Responsibilities

• Protect the public and keep the prison safe and secure.
• Build constructive, professional relationships with prisoners.
• Perform varied duties in a day, from peacekeeping to counselling and teaching.
• Engage with women in custody, many with challenging histories.
• Work as a team with colleagues to maintain safety for all.
• Cover shifts including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays.

Skills

Communication skills

Influencing skills

Commitment to quality

Decision-making

Care and understanding

Empathy and resilience

English proficiency (spoken/written)

Job description

A prison officer post at HMP Downview, part of the Women's Prison Group within the Ministry of Justice. The work centres on protecting the public and building constructive relationships with women in custody, shifting from peacekeeping to counselling or teaching within one day. Recruitment is limited to female applicants as an occupational requirement, and shifts cover evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays. Visa sponsorship is unlikely for this campaign, so applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK.

What the job involves

• Protect the public and keep the prison safe and secure
• Build constructive, professional relationships with prisoners
• Carry out varied roles in a day, from peacekeeping to counselling and teaching
• Work directly with women in custody, many of whom have experienced abuse and may distrust staff
• Act as one team with colleagues to keep the prison and everyone in it safe
• Work shifts across evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays

Skills & knowledge

• Communication and influencing skills
• Commitment to quality
• Effective decision-making
• Care and understanding
• Empathy, self-confidence and resilience
• Numerical, written and spoken English, with confident spoken English for all aspects of the role

Checks & eligibility

• Female applicant only (occupational requirement)
• Aged 18 or over at the start of employment
• Civil Service nationality requirements and right to work in the UK
• Medical and fitness assessment, including eyesight and hearing standards
• Enhanced DBS check
• Tattoos not offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating; facial tattoos generally unacceptable

Other

• Willing to work shifts including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays
• Commitment to supporting colleagues as one team
• UK resident for the last 3 years for high security (category A) prisons
• Able to get to work for fixed shift start times

Nice to have

• Driving licence and own transport (beneficial, not essential)

What’s offered

• 25 days' annual holiday, rising to 30 after 10 years' service
• Paid time off for public holidays plus 1 extra privilege day
• Civil Service pension with 28.97% employer contributions
• Cycle to work scheme and travel loans
• Choice of 37, 39 or 41 hour week, with salary reflecting hours
• Opportunities for additional paid hours
• Guaranteed interview for eligible veterans
• Redeployment interview for eligible staff at risk of redundancy