202608: Prison Officer - HMP Lewes

The Methodist Church in Britain; Piddinghoe; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual holiday rising to 30

Civil Service pension with employer 28

Cycle to work scheme

Travel loans

Opportunity for additional paid hours

Other benefits

Job summary

Ministry of Justice through HMP Lewes is seeking prison officers to join a dynamic team focused on safety, rehabilitation, and humane treatment of prisoners. The role involves flexible shifts, including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays, with online tests and assessment as part of the recruitment process.

You will be expected to build professional relationships with prisoners, assess and respond to situations, and contribute to a safe, respectful environment.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Protect the public and keep the prison safe and secure
• Build constructive, professional relationships with prisoners
• Carry out a range of roles in one day, such as peacekeeper, counsellor or teacher
• Work directly with prisoners to make a positive impact on their lives
• Cover shifts including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays
• Support colleagues and act as one team to keep the prison and staff safe
• Work additional paid hours when opportunities arise

Skills

Communication and influencing

Commitment to quality

Effective decision-making

Care and understanding

Confidence in spoken English

Numerical and written English

Job description

Prison officer post at HMP Lewes, filled from a Ministry of Justice merit list as positions open. The work centres on keeping the prison safe and building positive relationships with prisoners, shifting between roles from peacekeeper to counsellor. Prisons run around the clock, so the role covers evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays across a changing shift pattern. Selection runs through online tests and an online assessment centre, and Skilled Worker sponsorship is unlikely for this campaign.

What the job involves

• Protect the public and keep the prison safe and secure
• Build constructive, professional relationships with prisoners
• Carry out a range of roles in one day, such as peacekeeper, counsellor or teacher
• Work directly with prisoners to make a positive impact on their lives
• Cover shifts including evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays
• Support colleagues and act as one team to keep the prison and staff safe
• Work additional paid hours when opportunities arise

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

Checks & eligibility

• Aged 18 or over at the point of starting employment
• Meet Civil Service nationality requirements
• Enhanced DBS check
• Right to work in the UK
• Pass the medical and fitness assessment
• Meet the eyesight standard in both eyes and the hearing standard without hearing aids

Other

• Empathy, self-confidence and resilience
• Commitment to teamwork
• Willingness to work various shifts and some weekends
• Tattoos not offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating; facial tattoos generally unacceptable

What’s offered

• 25 days' annual holiday, rising to 30 after 10 years' service
• Paid public holidays plus one extra privilege day
• Civil Service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%
• Cycle to work scheme
• Travel loans
• Opportunities to work additional paid hours
• Other benefits