202608: Prison Officer - HMP Exeter

The Methodist Church in Britain; Hampstead; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25 days

Civil Service pension

Cycle to work scheme

Travel loans

Extra paid hours

Job summary

HMP Exeter is seeking a prison officer to help keep the public safe and build constructive relationships with prisoners. The role involves shifting between duties such as peacekeeper, counsellor and teacher within one shift, including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays. Applicants must pass a medical and fitness assessment.

DBS checks and UK immigration/work eligibility are required. The post includes generous annual leave, a Civil Service pension, cycle-to-work and other benefits,

Qualifications

• Communication and influencing skills required.
• Commitment to quality in all duties.
• Effective decision-making in dynamic situations.
• Care and understanding of prisoners.
• Confidence in spoken English.
• Numerical and written English ability assessed during recruitment.

Responsibilities

• Protect the public and make a positive impact on prisoners' lives.
• Build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners.
• Carry out a range of roles in one day, such as peacekeeper, counsellor or teacher.
• Work directly with prisoners in a custodial environment.
• Work 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.
• Work additional paid hours where available.
• Carry out the duties in the attached job description (JD048).

Skills

Communication skills

Influencing skills

Commitment to quality

Decision-making

Care and understanding

English confidence

English literacy

Job description

A prison officer post at HMP Exeter, a Ministry of Justice prison, filled from a merit list after online tests and an online assessment centre. The work centres on keeping the public safe and building constructive relationships with prisoners, moving between roles such as peacekeeper, counsellor and teacher within one shift. Prisons run around the clock, so the post covers evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays, on a choice of 37, 39 or 41 hours a week. Candidates must pass a medical and fitness assessment, and Skilled Worker sponsorship is unlikely for this campaign.

What the job involves

• Protect the public and make a positive impact on prisoners' lives
• Build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners
• Carry out a range of roles in one day, such as peacekeeper, counsellor or teacher
• Work directly with prisoners in a custodial environment
• Work 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
• Work additional paid hours where available
• Carry out the duties in the attached job description (JD048)

What’s required

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
• Right to work in the UK and Civil Service nationality requirements
• Valid UK driving licence if offered an operational support grade role instead

Other

• Aged 18 or over at start of employment
• Medical and fitness assessment, held in the UK
• Eyesight standard met in both eyes, with or without corrective lenses
• Suitable hearing without hearing aids
• Tattoos not offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating; facial tattoos generally not acceptable
• For high security (category A) work, UK resident for the last 3 years

Nice to have

• Driving licence and own transport, beneficial as some sites have limited public transport

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 28.97% employer contributions
• Cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits
• Opportunities to work additional paid hours
• 20% unsocial hours element included in salary