Prison Officer - HMP Ashfield

TN United Kingdom; Bristol; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading company as a Prison Officer in Bristol, ensuring the health and safety of prisoners while supporting their rehabilitation. This role offers comprehensive training, clear career pathways, and a flexible work-life balance. Ideal candidates will possess strong communication and teamwork skills, with a commitment to making a difference.

Benefits

Serco discounts including cinema and shopping

Flexible rota for work-life balance

Qualifications

• Commitment to making a difference through transferable skills.
• Completion of a 10-week training course.

Responsibilities

• Supervising prisoners during wing activities.
• Overseeing work and education programs.
• Handling operational tasks like headcounts and security.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Resilience

Patience

Education

Diploma in Custodial Care

Job description

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What's in it for you?

Your starting salary will be £, pa., increasing to £, after months, and increasing again to £, when you reach 3 years’ service. We are fully committed to progressing you through your PCO Portfolio or PCO Apprenticeship, which would increase your salary to £, as soon as either of these is successfully completed, achievable within to months of joining us. We also offer:

• Opportunity to earn approximately £, including overtime (overtime availability varies, averaging 4 hrs/week)
• Clear career development pathways into operational management positions, with salaries from £, to £,
• Serco discounts including cinema, online shopping, leisure memberships, and Blue Light discount card applications.

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Is this the right career for you?

Our Prison Officers come with diverse backgrounds; previous experience isn’t essential. What matters is your commitment to making a difference. We focus on transferable skills like communication, teamwork, resilience, and patience. You’ll learn the rest during your -week training course and through our experienced colleagues.

As a Prison Officer, you'll ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone around you. Your role involves providing prisoners with structure, encouraging positive choices, and supporting their rehabilitation journey. Daily responsibilities include:

• Supervising prisoners during wing activities
• Overseeing work and education programs, encouraging participation
• Handling operational tasks like headcounts, cell searches, security, and administration
• Managing prisoners at risk of self-harm

We operate 24/7, including shifts on days, evenings, nights, weekends, and bank holidays. We value work-life balance with a flexible rota to ensure meaningful time off.

Preparing for your recruitment journey:

You’ll complete an online assessment. Successful candidates will be invited to an interview, including role play, written exercises, competency-based interview, and maths assessments. A fitness test comprises:

• Bleep Test - shuttle runs in time with beeps, approx. 3 minutes
• Agility Test - running around cones within a set time
• Shield Hold Test - holding a shield at a -degree angle for 1 minute
• Grip Test - measuring grip strength in KG (both hands)

Post-assessment, you'll attend a -week Initial Training Course (ITC) at the Prison, requiring % attendance. The 8-week classroom training includes shadowing and results in a Diploma in Custodial Care, First Aid, and Control and Restraint training.

Why Serco?

• Meaningful work: Ensuring safety and wellbeing, and reducing reoffending rates
• Opportunities: Progress into Ops Management or specialist services like Psychology, Education, Health, or the Animal unit
• Supportive colleagues: Friendly, supportive environment with comprehensive training

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 4, and offers are subject to security clearance and references. You’ll need to provide 5 years of employment and education history for these checks.