Operational Support Officer

Candidate Source; Greater London; On-site; GBP 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable security organization is seeking an Operational Support Officer at HMP Oakwood in Greater London. The role involves maintaining prison security, searching vehicles and property, monitoring CCTV, and issuing passes. No previous experience is required, though knowledge of prison policies is an advantage. The successful candidate will work in a supportive environment where they can develop their career. This is a permanent, full-time position offering a salary of £26,552.12 per annum.

Benefits

Company Pension

Free on-site parking

On-site canteen

Ongoing training and development

Access to High Street shop discounts

Qualifications

• No previous experience is necessary; knowledge of prison policies and procedures is an advantage.
• Must be eligible to work in the UK.
• Full details of employment and education history for the last 5 years are required.

Responsibilities

• Maintain prison security by following relevant procedures.
• Search vehicles and property to ensure security.
• Monitor and operate CCTV cameras and radio network.
• Issue keys and radios to authorized personnel.
• Answer and screen internal and external calls.
• Issue valid passes to visitors and ensure paperwork is completed.
• Coordinate and monitor the movement of staff, prisoners, and visitors.

Job description

Operational Support Officer

HMP Oakwood, Featherstone, Nr Wolverhampton

£26,552.12 per annum

Permanent, Full-Time, 40 hours per week

Benefits : Company Pension, free on-site parking, on-site canteen, ongoing training and development and access to High Street Shop discounts.

HMP Oakwood is an innovative prison which has been highlighted by His Majestys Inspectorate of Prisons as an Impressive institution, with a culture of decency and respect. Driven by courageous leadership, excellent peer‑led initiatives and outstanding management of learning and skills provisions.

Within Care and Rehabilitation Services, the philosophy of our prisons is to rehabilitate offenders and equip them to re‑integrate into mainstream society on release. We seek to normalise prison conditions as far as possible to reflect life in the outside community. Our aim is to create an environment in which staff and prisoners feel safe and causes of prison stress are minimised. Central to our philosophy is the relationship between staff and prisoners. Our training and operational practices emphasise the need to treat prisoners with dignity and respect and staff build positive and supportive relationships with the prisoners in their care. HMP Oakwood is one of the largest prisons in England and Wales, providing places for up to approximately 2100 Category C male prisoners.

The successful candidates will be required to maintain the security of the prison, by following all relevant procedures, including security instructions.

Key Responsibilities

• Search vehicles, occupants of vehicles, visitors and their property on access or egress through a prison lock, using technical aids, to ensure the security of the prison is maintained.
• Participate with internal and external vehicle escorts and patrols where necessary, to comply with contractual requirements.
• Monitor and operate CCTV cameras and radio network in line with relevant procedures to maintain prison security.
• Issue keys, tallies and radios to authorised personnel and ensure security keys are not removed from the prison, reporting all discrepancies immediately to the Duty Manager.
• Answer and screen internal and external telephone calls during evenings and weekends, to ensure they are directed to the correct point of contact or messages are taken and passed on to the appropriate person for action or response.
• Issue all authorised visitors with a valid pass before they enter the prison and ensure all necessary paperwork is completed for contractors equipment to maintain prison security.
• Monitor and respond to situations as they arise using the appropriate equipment to ensure that situations are dealt with promptly and the appropriate action / response is taken.
• Co‑ordinate, control and monitor the movement of staff, prisoners and visitors around the premises to ensure they arrive at the correct destination safely and securely and in a timely and efficient manner.
• Maintain security in the Visitors Centre, ensuring that the building is searched and locked at the end of each session, reporting any unusual occurrence to the Duty Manager.

No previous experience is necessary however knowledge of prison policies and procedures would be an advantage.

If you join us, you can be sure that you’ll find a secure, friendly and professional working environment and be given all the support, training and encouragement you need to build and develop a successful career with us.

Equality and Diversity

Equality and Diversity is an important part of Care and Rehabilitation Services. We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds and are a fully inclusive employer who aims to support all employees to be their true selves. We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments for either the role or during the recruitment process.

CaRS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and adults at risk and each employee is expected to support these goals.

Please note that these vacancies are subject to a 5‑year checkable history and the strict vetting standards set by the business and the Secretary of State for the Home Office and are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

You must be eligible to work in the UK, and you will need to provide full details of your employment and education history for the last 5 years as part of the security screening process for this role.

Candidate Source Ltd is an advertising agency. Once you have submitted your application it will be passed to the third‑party Recruiter who is responsible for processing your application. This will include holding and sharing your personal data, our legal basis for this is legitimate interest subject to your declared interest in a job. Our privacy policy can be found on our website and we can be contacted to confirm who your application has been forwarded to.

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