22391 - Operational Support Grade - Advance Into Justice (West Midlands)

The Methodist Church in Britain; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

9 bank/holiday leave additional to A/L

Civil Service pension schemes

Season ticket loan

Discounts and EAP

Flexible working after probation

Training and promotion programmes

Job summary

HM Prison and Probation Service is seeking an Operational Support Grade for the prison support team. The role covers gate and search duties, CCTV monitoring, receptions, night checks and prisoner log activities. Shifts include nights, evenings, weekends and bank holidays across multiple sites.

Requirements include clear English communication, good judgment, teamwork and fitness for long periods of standing. Enhanced vetting and CT C checks apply; safeguarding training is provided.

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate in English (or Welsh where specified).
• Good judgement, common sense, responsibility and teamwork.
• Physical fitness for lifting, carrying and long periods of standing and walking.
• Comfortable with lone working on day and night shifts.

Responsibilities

• Control secure entry and exit of staff, visitors and vehicles, and carry out searches.
• Patrol the site and perimeter fence, escort contractors and vehicles, and issue keys and radios.
• Operate the prison radio system and monitor CCTV, reporting suspicious activity.
• Welcome and escort visitors.
• Log incoming mail and report contraband, preserving evidence where needed.
• Carry out night duties, locking cell doors and accounting for prisoners.
• Carry out reception tasks, photographing prisoners and processing property and parcels.
• Sometimes supervise prisoners, exchange clothing and property, and help escort prisoners.
• Deliver and collect food trolleys, and collect mail from the local sorting office.
• Monitor the PIN phone system and keep the log of prisoner requests.
• Follow national and local policies and respond to incidents and emergencies.

Skills

English proficiency

Judgement & responsibility

Teamwork

Physical fitness

Lone working

Job description

Operational Support Grade post in the prison support team at HM Prison and Probation Service, offered on a two-year fixed-term basis under the Advance into Justice scheme for former Armed Forces personnel and their families. Work covers gate and search duties, control room and CCTV monitoring, visits, reception, night checks, and food and mail movements. Rolling shifts cover nights, evenings, weekends and bank holidays, and prisoner contact varies by establishment. Some sites need enhanced CTC vetting, which requires three years' UK residence.

What the job involves

• Control secure entry and exit of staff, visitors and vehicles, and carry out searches
• Patrol the site and perimeter fence, escort contractors and vehicles, and issue keys and radios
• Operate the prison radio system and monitor CCTV, reporting suspicious activity
• Welcome and escort visitors
• Log incoming mail and report contraband, preserving evidence where needed
• Carry out night duties, locking cell doors and accounting for prisoners
• Carry out reception tasks, photographing prisoners and processing property and parcels
• Sometimes supervise prisoners, exchange clothing and property, and help escort prisoners
• Deliver and collect food trolleys, and collect mail from the local sorting office
• Monitor the PIN phone system and keep the log of prisoner requests
• Follow national and local policies and respond to incidents and emergencies

What’s required

Skills & knowledge

• Carry out all spoken aspects of the role confidently in English, or Welsh where specified
• Good judgement, common sense, responsibility and teamwork
• Physical fitness for lifting, carrying and long periods of standing and walking
• Comfortable with lone working on day and night shifts

Checks & eligibility

• HMPPS Enhanced Level 2 vetting
• Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) for establishments that require it
• UK residence for the three years immediately before application, for CTC
• Provide correct and up-to-date documents when requested
• Declare any membership of a group HMPPS considers racist

Other

• Eligible under Advance into Justice as a service leaver, veteran, spouse or legal partner, or reservist
• Pass the online values-based assessment and interview
• Undertake required safeguarding training
• Tattoos must not be offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating, and facial tattoos are generally not acceptable

Nice to have

• Driving licence and own transport, beneficial for rural sites

What’s offered

• 25 days annual leave rising to 30 after 10 years, pro rata
• 9 bank, public and privilege holidays added to annual leave
• Choice of two Civil Service pension schemes
• Season ticket advance after two months' service and season ticket loans
• Retail discounts, Employee Assistance Programme and Cycle to Work scheme
• Flexible working, subject to a satisfactory probationary period
• Training including equality and diversity, and access to promotion programmes
• Employee-run networks