202608: Prison Officer - HMP Woodhill

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

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual holiday

Public holidays plus 1 extra privilege

Civil Service pension with employer 28

Cycle to work scheme

Travel loans

Job summary

HMP Woodhill is seeking prison officers to maintain order, protect the public and work directly with prisoners in a high-security setting.

You will move between roles such as peacekeeper, counsellor and teacher within a single day, and cover shifts across the 24-hour regime, including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays.

Qualifications

• Aged 18 or over and meet Civil Service nationality requirements.
• Pass a medical and fitness assessment with eyesight and hearing standards.
• Counter‑Terrorism Check with three years of UK residence before applying.
• Right to work in the UK.
• Willingness to work evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays.

Responsibilities

• Protect the public and keep the prison and everyone in it safe.
• Work directly with prisoners, acting as peacekeeper, counsellor or teacher within a single day.
• Build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners.
• Help make a positive impact on prisoners' lives.
• Support colleagues and act as one team.
• Cover shifts across the 24-hour regime, including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays.
• Complete initial training of 37 hours a week before choosing 37, 39 or 41 hours a week.

Skills

Communication skills

Decision making

Resilience

Empathy

English proficiency

Teamwork

Job description

Prison officer post at HMP Woodhill, a high-security Ministry of Justice prison, recruited on a merit list. The work centres on keeping order, protecting the public and working directly with prisoners, moving between roles such as peacekeeper, counsellor and teacher. The prison runs around the clock, so the post involves evening, night and weekend shifts and can be full-time, part-time, job share or flexible. Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is unlikely for this campaign, and counter‑terrorism vetting requires three years' UK residence immediately before applying.

What the job involves

• Protect the public and keep the prison and everyone in it safe
• Work directly with prisoners, acting as peacekeeper, counsellor or teacher within a single day
• Build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners
• Help make a positive impact on prisoners' lives
• Support colleagues and act as one team
• Cover shifts across the 24-hour regime, including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays
• Complete initial training of 37 hours a week before choosing 37, 39 or 41 hours a week

What’s required

Skills & knowledge

• Communication and influencing skills
• Commitment to quality
• Effective decision‑making
• Care and understanding, with empathy
• Resilience, self‑confidence and strength of character
• Numerical, written and spoken English abilities, with spoken English confident enough for all aspects of the role

Checks & eligibility

• Aged 18 or over at start, meeting Civil Service nationality requirements
• Pass a medical and fitness assessment, meeting the eyesight standard in both eyes and a hearing standard without aids
• Tattoos not offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating; facial tattoos generally not acceptable
• Enhanced DBS check and HMPPS Enhanced Level 2 vetting
• Counter‑Terrorism Check, requiring UK residence for the three years immediately before applying
• Right to work in the UK

Other

• Willingness to work various shifts, including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays
• Pass the online tests and online assessment centre

Nice to have

• Driving licence and own transport, beneficial though not essential

What’s offered

• 25 days' annual holiday, rising to 30 days 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, travel loans and other benefits
• Opportunities to work additional paid hours