Residential Officer

Scottish Prison Service; Inverness; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A public safety agency is seeking Residential Officers in Inverness to work on a shift pattern throughout 2026. The role involves encouraging rehabilitation and managing case work in a challenging environment. Candidates must have a commitment to professional development and the ability to build relationships while handling difficult behaviours. Join a dedicated team focused on making a positive impact on individuals in custody. An ongoing commitment to training and support is provided for a rewarding career in corrections.

Qualifications

• Experience of providing support, advice or guidance to others.
• Experience of making a positive difference to the lives of others.
• Experience of managing challenging circumstances or behaviours.

Responsibilities

• Encourage positive behaviours in individuals for rehabilitation.
• Manage individuals’ case work and respond to their needs.
• Complete all administration and communications as per standards.
• Ensure safe and secure supervision in line with regulations.

Skills

Building & Maintaining Relationships

Problem Solving & Decision Making

Communication Skills

Managing Information

Education

Commitment to Professional Development

Job description

Starting salary of £36,268 progressing to £42,587 within 3 years, subject to pay progression.

20/02/2026, 10:00

Hours of work: Shift Work

Job Purpose

The Scottish Prison Service is now recruiting for Residential Officers to join us throughout 2026.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS), established in 1993, is an agency of the Scottish Government whose principal objective is to contribute to making Scotland safer by protecting the public and reducing reoffending. The SPS aims to achieve this by ensuring delivery of secure custody, safe and orderly prisons, high quality standards of care, and opportunities for those in custody to build capacity to help them reintegrate into the community on release.

Values

• Belief - belief that people can change
• Respect - have proper regard for individuals, their needs and their human rights
• Integrity - apply high ethical, moral and professional standards
• Openness - work with others to achieve the best outcomes
• Courage - have the courage to care regardless of circumstances
• Humility - recognise that we can learn from others

Training & Professional Development

Newly appointed Prison Officers – Residential will undertake a block of training as part of a new professional development pathway which represents a significant and positive investment in the professional Prison Officer in Scotland. As such, the role requires a strong ongoing commitment to personal and professional development.

Work Setting

Prison Officers – Residential will spend the majority of their time in the residential (accommodation) area of the prison. The role can be physically demanding in that it involves walking and standing for a majority of the time and there will be frequent occasions where physical fitness and dexterity will be required to assist in the secure handling of challenging situations. The potentially intense nature of the interactions with those in our care and their families may exert emotional demands on Prison Officers.

Although still currently operating as HMP Inverness, we are soon to open HMP Highland, with prison officers transferring over to the new establishment at this point. A great opportunity for starting your prison officer career!

Prison Officer – Residential members of staff work on a rostered shift pattern.

Applications submitted will be considered for appointment at HMP Inverness only.

Applicants please note: The Scottish Prison Service is not a licensed Sponsor and Visa Sponsorship is not available for this role.

For the role you have applied for you must have the right to work in the UK and Civil Service.

The Immigration Act 2014 requires employers to check documents to establish a person’s eligibility to work in the UK and comply with any restrictions before they start work. Therefore, all candidates who are successful in the selection process for this role, when requested, will be required to provide evidence of their right to work.

Responsibilities

Encouraging positive behaviours in individuals in engaging with rehabilitation and reintegration initiatives and processes through a supportive, caring and inclusive approach, consistently demonstrating support and respect for equality, diversity and human rights.

Contributing to the prevention and constructive management of challenging and/or difficult behaviours whilst demonstrating fairness and consistency in order to build positive relationships with individuals in custody.

Managing individuals’ case work and exercising professional judgement in responding to particular needs and challenges, identifying changes in individuals’ physical and mental health and initiating appropriate responses by others.

Completion of all administration and communications relevant to the role, in line with local and national requirements and standards. This includes processing, analysing, evaluating and disseminating appropriate and relevant information, as well as production of high quality and accurate report writing and maintenance of paper and electronic records in accordance with SPS policies and relevant legislation.

Contributing to effective operational risk management by ensuring the safe and secure supervision of those in SPS care ensuring their needs and entitlements are consistently met in line with Prison Rules and Directives, SPS policy, Standard Operating Procedures, and relevant legislation.

Managing conflict, with a focus on de‑escalation, and contributing towards local incident management using established and approved techniques whilst recognising and managing the impact of challenging behaviours on self and others.

Person Specification

Qualifications Requirements

Commitment to Professional Development

Commitment to continuous professional development, including undertaking formal training and qualifications to support your own learning and development as well as the development of those in our care.

Experience Requirements

• Supporting Others - Experience of providing support, advice or guidance to others.
• Making a Difference - Experience of making a positive difference to the lives of others.
• Resilience - Experience of managing challenging circumstances or behaviours, using your emotional intelligence to prevent or resolve conflict, regulate your own emotional reactions and positively influencing others to achieve desired results.

Knowledge, Skills and Qualifications Requirements

• Building & Maintaining Relationships - Ability to foster good relationships and work effectively and collaboratively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills, and influencing others to achieve desired outcomes.
• Problem Solving & Decision - Making Ability to proactively identify issues, recognise themes and patterns in order to implement solutions and make decisions which are defensible, evidence-based, take account of risks, appropriate and timely.
• Communication Skills - Ability to manage situations, relationships and conflict through effective use of communication skills.
• Managing Information - Ability to use a computer and other digital devices to process, analyse, evaluate and disseminate information and produce high quality written reports and maintain effective and accurate records.