23375 - Operational Support Grade - HMP Woodhill - Driver (Prison Support Role)

Ministry of Justice; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25 days

Civil Service pension scheme

Job summary

Ministry of Justice in Milton Keynes is seeking a Prison Driver to transport prisoners and escorts within the prison network. The role includes varied duties, training, and a supportive team to ensure the prison runs smoothly.

The position involves day and night shifts, extensive walking and lifting, and requires a valid UK driving licence with the D1 category. Accommodation is not provided, with a salary of £30,491 for a 37-hour week.

Qualifications

• You do not need any qualifications to do this job.

Responsibilities

• Transport prisoners and their escorts in cellular vehicles.
• Receive and act on briefings from Security Manager/Governor/Escort In-Charge.
• Complete weekly and daily vehicle inspections and log any defects.
• Plan routes and maintain contact with establishments during external duties.

Job description

Job description

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

An extraordinary job. Done by someone like you.

*Applicants must hold a valid UK driving licence which must include the D1 Vehicle Category
As part of our prison support team, your work will be varied and help to keep the prison moving. This is an active role where you will be doing a range of physical tasks. These can include lifting and carrying, plus long periods of standing and walking. There will also be periods of lone working whilst undertaking tasks on both day and night shifts.
You will not always be in contact with prisoners, it depends on the prison you work in. You will have full training and a supportive team by your side.

CTC is required at HMP Woodhill - see further information below.

Address
HMP Woodhill, V2 Tattenhoe St, Milton Keynes MK4 4DA
Salary
£30,491
City / Town
Milton Keynes
Region
South East

Travel to Work - Some prison establishments are situated in rural locations with limited public transport options, therefore having your own transport is beneficial, for this Driver position a Licence with the D1 vehicle category is an essential requirement of the role. Please note that shift start and finish times are fixed and it is your responsibility to get to and from your place of work on time for the start of your shift. Please carefully consider the location of this vacancy and your transport options.

Accommodation is not provided.

Life as an OSG

Your job can include:

• Transport prisoners and their escorts to their destination in the cellular vehicle, including Category A Prisoner escorts accompanied by Police.

• Receive and act upon briefings from Security Manager/Governor/Escort In-Charge.

• Complete weekly and daily vehicle inspection, including any equipment held on board; clean, fill with fuel and take to garage when required.

• Maintain appropriate contact with establishments while on external duties.

• Complete driving log and vehicle defect logs.

• Check staff on escorting duties on entry and exit to the establishment; follow set procedures for doors and locks on cellular vehicles and will hold relevant keys.

• Plan routes, including any overnight stays/safe havens and maintain awareness of the call sign for the police radio.

• Stay with the vehicle whilst escorts take prisoner to location.

• Maintain the security of the vehicle at all times, including during overnight stops.

• Search destination before prisoner is released from the cellular vehicle.

• Understand, apply and conform to national and local polices.

• Undertake weekly and daily vehicle inspections including any equipment held on board, taking remedial action where required.

• Transport goods as required including the delivery of recycled goods to recycle outlets.

• Maintain appropriate contact with establishments while on external duties.

• Complete all deliveries and collections of items including loading and unloading as per contract.
Gate duties
- ensuring the secure entry and exit of staff, visitors, vehicles.
- carrying out searches of staff, prisoners, visitors and vehicles
- walking around the prison site to escort vehicles and contractors
- issuing and collecting staff keys and radios
- walking around the prison site patrolling and searching perimeter fence areas

Control room

- operating the prison radio system
- monitoring CCTV, ensuring all suspicious activities are reported.

Visits

- welcoming visitors on their arrival
- escorting them if needed

Correspondence

- monitoring and logging mail coming into the prison
- reporting any contraband items, preserving evidence where needed

Night duties

- ensuring cell doors are locked and all prisoners are safely accounted for.

Reception

- photographing prisoners
- processing prisoners’ property and parcels coming into the prison.

Prisoner supervision

- sometimes supervising prisoners
- exchanging clothing and property
- helping prison officers escort prisoners around the prison

Food delivery

- walking around the prison delivering and collecting food trollies, or sometimes using an electric tug vehicle

Driving duties

- transporting prisoners and their escorts to their destination
- collecting mail from the local sorting office, which may involve lifting heavy sacks.

Phone calls

- monitoring the prison’s Personal Identification Number (PIN) phone system
- maintaining the log of PIN phone requests from prisoners
- completing relevant records

Procedures and protocol

- understanding and conforming to national and local policies, responding appropriately to incidents and emergencies

You do not need any qualifications to do this job. Helping to keep a prison running smoothly and safely requires good judgement, common sense, responsibility and, above all teamwork.

National - £30,491

The salary figures quoted are for a 37-hour working week inclusive of 20% unsocial hours working allowance which is included in the salary to reflect the requirement to work nights, evening, and weekend shifts.

In addition to your base pay, you will receive:

- annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after 10 years’ service (calculated on a pro-rata basis)
- 9 days bank, public and privilege holidays
- access to the generous Civil Service pension scheme
- season ticket loans, retail discounts, an Employee Assistance Programme, and a Cycle to Work scheme.

Hours

You will work an average of 37 hours per week, and this will include working night shifts, evenings, weekends, and Bank/Public holidays on a rolling shift pattern (these days are added to your holiday allowance) The frequency of night shifts will vary for each Establishment and can be discussed at interview. For an example of the shift times that you could be working please visit our website

How to apply