202609: Prison Officer - HMP Send

The Methodist Church in Britain; Woking; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Public holidays paid

Civil Service pension with 28.97%‚€$em

Cycle to work scheme

Travel loans

Opportunity to work additional paidhrs

Job summary

Ministry of Justice's HMP Send seeks prison officers to maintain order and safety, switching between peacekeeper, counsellor and teacher roles in a women’s prison. Roles require DBS checks, right to work in the UK and medical/fitness clearances; visa sponsorship is unlikely.

Officers work rotating shifts including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays to keep the prison running 24/7. No formal qualifications are required beyond checks and eligibility.

Qualifications

• Clear communication and the ability to influence colleagues and prisoners.
• Commitment to delivering quality in a challenging environment.
• Ability to make effective decisions under pressure.
• Care and understanding in handling sensitive situations.
• Basic numerical skills for common tasks.
• Confident spoken English for all role activities.

Responsibilities

• Protect the public and keep the prison, staff and prisoners safe.
• Build constructive, professional relationships with prisoners.
• Carry out multiple roles in a single day, from peacekeeping to counselling and teaching.
• Work with women in custody who may have experienced abuse and have trust concerns.
• Support colleagues and work as one team.
• Work shifts across evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.
• Help make a positive impact on prisoners' lives.

Skills

Communication

Influencing

Quality Commitment

Decision Making

Care and Understanding

Numerical Skills

Confident English

Job description

A prison officer post at HMP Send, a women's prison within the Ministry of Justice's Women\'s Prison Group, filled from a merit list valid for 12 months. Officers keep order and safety while switching between peacekeeper, counsellor and teacher roles, building professional relationships with women in custody. Shifts rotate across evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays, as the prison runs around the clock. No qualifications are needed, but candidates must pass medical, fitness, eyesight and hearing checks, and visa sponsorship is unlikely for this campaign.

What the job involves

• Protect the public and keep the prison, staff and prisoners safe
• Build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners
• Carry out a range of roles in a single day, from peacekeeping to counselling and teaching
• Work with women in custody, many of whom have experienced abuse and may not trust staff
• Support colleagues and act as one team
• Work shifts across evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays
• Help make a positive impact on prisoners' lives

What\'s required

Skills & knowledge

• Communication and influencing skills
• Commitment to quality
• Effective decision‑making
• Care and understanding
• Basic judgement and numerical skills
• Confident spoken English for all spoken aspects of the role

Checks & eligibility

• Aged 18 or over at the start of employment
• Meet the Civil Service nationality requirements
• Right to work in the UK, maintained throughout employment
• Enhanced DBS check
• UK residence for the last 3 years for work in a category A prison

Other

• Pass a medical and fitness assessment held in the UK
• Meet the eyesight standard in both eyes, with or without corrective lenses
• Meet the hearing standard without hearing aids
• Tattoos not offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating; facial tattoos generally not acceptable

What\'s offered

• 25 days' annual holiday, rising to 30 after 10 years' service
• Paid public holidays and 1 extra privilege day
• Civil Service pension with 28.97% employer contributions
• Cycle to work scheme and travel loans
• Opportunity to work additional paid hours