202608: Prison Officer - HMP Elmley

The Methodist Church in Britain; Sittingbourne; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Civil Service pension

Cycle to work scheme

Travel loans

Opportunity to work additional paid/off

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice's HMP Elmley in Sittingbourne is hiring prison officers. The role involves supervising prisoners, providing guidance, and maintaining security in a 24/7 environment.

You will build professional relationships, act as peacekeeper, counsellor or teacher as needed, and support a cohesive team to keep the prison safe. Expect contracted weeks of 37, 39 or 41 hours after training, with shifts including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Commitment to quality and safeguarding.
• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise prisoners to keep the public safe.
• Build constructive, professional relationships with prisoners.
• Act as peacekeeper, counsellor or teacher as the day requires.
• Support colleagues and work as one team to maintain a safe environment.
• Cover shifts including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.

Skills

Communication

Quality commitment

Decision making

Care and understanding

Empathy and resilience

English speaking

Job description

Prison officer post at HMP Elmley, a Ministry of Justice prison, working directly with prisoners to protect the public and make a positive difference to their lives. The role moves between keeping order, counselling and teaching within one day, in a prison that runs round the clock. Contracted weeks of 37, 39 or 41 hours are chosen after training, with evening, night, weekend and public holiday shifts. Medical, eyesight and hearing checks apply, and visa sponsorship is unlikely for this campaign.

What the job involves

• Work directly with prisoners to protect the public and make a positive impact on their lives
• Build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners in difficult circumstances
• Act as peacekeeper, counsellor or teacher as the day requires
• Support colleagues and work as one team to keep the prison and everyone in it safe
• Cover shifts including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays

What’s required

Skills & knowledge

• Communication and influencing skills
• Commitment to quality
• Effective decision-making
• Care and understanding
• Empathy, self-confidence and resilience
• Ability to carry out the spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English

Checks & eligibility

• Aged 18 or over at the point employment starts
• Meet Civil Service nationality requirements and hold the right to work in the UK
• Enhanced DBS check
• UK residence for the last 3 years for category A (high security) work

Other

• Pass a UK-based medical and fitness assessment
• Meet the eyesight standard in both eyes, with or without corrective lenses, and the hearing standard without hearing aids
• Tattoos must not be offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating; facial tattoos are generally not acceptable
• Willingness to work shifts including weekends and public holidays
• Commitment to supporting colleagues as one team
• Basic numerical and written English ability, assessed during recruitment

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
• Opportunity to work additional paid hours