202608: Prison Officer - HMP Erlestoke

The Methodist Church in Britain; Bath; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual holiday

Public holidays + 1 extra privilege to

Civil Service pension with employer 28

Cycle to work scheme

Travel loans

Pay includes 20% unsocial hours

Opportunity to work additional paid?

Job summary

HM Prison Erlestoke (Ministry of Justice) is seeking prison officers to protect the public and build professional relationships with prisoners. The role requires flexibility across shifts, including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays, with options for full-time, part-time or job-share arrangements.

Candidates must pass medical, fitness, eyesight and hearing standards, and visa sponsorship is unlikely for this campaign.

Qualifications

• Communication and influencing skills are essential for building professional relationships with prisoners.
• Commitment to quality and safety standards is required in a high-security environment.
• Effective decision-making helps handle dynamic, high-stress situations.
• Care and understanding are necessary to support prisoners ethically and safely.
• Strong spoken English is required for clear communication with staff and prisoners.
• Numerical and written English ability is assessed during recruitment.

Responsibilities

• Keep the prison and everyone in it safe as part of one team.
• Build professional relationships with prisoners in difficult circumstances.
• Work directly with prisoners to help them and make a positive difference.
• Move between peacekeeping, counselling and teaching roles within a single day.
• Work shifts including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays.
• Complete initial training of 37 hours a week before choosing 37, 39 or 41 hours.

Skills

Communication and influencing skills

Commitment to quality

Effective decision-making

Care and understanding

Confidence in spoken English

Numerical and written English

Job description

Prison officer vacancies at HMP Erlestoke, a Ministry of Justice prison, filled from a merit list as places open. The core work is protecting the public and forming professional relationships with prisoners, switching between peacekeeping, counselling and teaching. The prison runs around the clock, so shifts include evenings, some nights and weekends, with full-time, part-time and job-share options. Candidates need to pass medical, fitness, eyesight and hearing standards, and visa sponsorship is unlikely for this campaign.

What the job involves

• Keep the prison and everyone in it safe as part of one team
• Build professional relationships with prisoners in difficult circumstances
• Work directly with prisoners to help them and make a positive difference
• Move between peacekeeping, counselling and teaching roles within a single day
• Work shifts including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays
• Complete initial training of 37 hours a week before choosing 37, 39 or 41 hours

Skills & knowledge

• Communication and influencing skills
• Commitment to quality
• Effective decision-making
• Care and understanding
• Confidence in spoken English
• Numerical and written English ability, assessed during recruitment

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS check
• Civil Service nationality requirements and right to work in the UK
• Three years' UK residency to work in a category A prison
• Valid UK driving licence if offered an operational support grade role instead

Other

• Aged 18 or over at start of employment
• Pass a medical and fitness assessment in the UK
• Meet the eyesight standard in both eyes, with or without corrective lenses
• Suitable hearing without hearing aids
• Tattoos not offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating, with facial tattoos generally not acceptable

What’s offered

• 25 days' annual holiday, rising to 30 after 10 years' service
• Paid time off for public holidays plus one extra privilege day
• Civil Service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%
• Cycle to work scheme and travel loans
• Pay includes allowances, including 20% unsocial hours
• Opportunity to work additional paid hours