202608: Prison Officer - HMP Drake Hall

Ministry of Justice; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

Civil Service pension

Cycle to work

Travel loans

Additional hours

Other benefits

Job summary

HMP Drake Hall is seeking a prison officer to maintain safety and build constructive relationships with women in custody. The role involves shifts including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays, with dynamic duties spanning peacekeeping, counselling and teaching within a single day.

The position requires strong communication and decision-making, with a commitment to quality and care. Applicants must meet Civil Service nationality rules and be legally eligible to live and work in the

Qualifications

• Aged 18 or over at start of employment
• Civil Service nationality requirements
• Medical and fitness assessment
• Eyesight standard in both eyes, with or without corrective lenses
• Hearing standard without hearing aids
• Right to live and work in the UK

Responsibilities

• Protect the public and keep the prison safe
• Build positive, professional relationships with prisoners
• Work directly with prisoners across roles such as peacekeeper, counsellor and teacher in a single day
• Work various shifts, including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays
• Support colleagues and act as one team to keep the prison and everyone in it safe
• Help make a positive impact on prisoners' lives

Skills

Communication skills

Quality commitment

Decision making

Care and understanding

Resilience and confidence

Spoken English

Job description

Prison officer post at HMP Drake Hall, a women's prison, with appointments made from a merit list as places arise. The work centres on maintaining safety and building constructive relationships with women in custody, many of whom have experienced abuse. Shifts cover evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays, and the post moves between peacekeeping, counselling and teaching within one day. Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is unlikely for this campaign, and medical, fitness, eyesight and hearing tests apply.

What the job involves

• Protect the public and keep the prison safe
• Build positive, professional relationships with prisoners
• Work directly with prisoners across roles such as peacekeeper, counsellor and teacher in a single day
• Work various shifts, including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays
• Support colleagues and act as one team to keep the prison and everyone in it safe
• Help make a positive impact on prisoners' lives

What’s required

Skills & knowledge

• Communication and influencing skills
• Commitment to quality
• Effective decision-making
• Care and understanding
• Resilience and self-confidence
• Confident spoken English for all spoken aspects of the role

Checks & eligibility

• Aged 18 or over at start of employment
• Civil Service nationality requirements
• Medical and fitness assessment
• Eyesight standard in both eyes, with or without corrective lenses
• Hearing standard without hearing aids
• Right to live and work in the UK

Other

• Willingness to work shifts, including some weekends
• Tattoos that are not offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating; facial tattoos generally not acceptable

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 employer contributions of 28.97%
• Cycle to work scheme and travel loans
• Opportunities for additional paid hours
• Other benefits