Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Location: Wrexham
Descriptions & requirements
An extraordinary job. Done by someone like you.
Prison officers protect the public and help make an impact on prisoners' lives.
If you have the integrity, skills and strength of character we’re looking for, this fast-paced role could be the start of a successful career.
This role is not eligible for new Skilled Worker visas in accordance with the current immigration rules.
From 22 July 2025, the Government introduced changes to the Skilled Worker visa route. The department cannot consider sponsoring you for this role unless you have held a Skilled Worker visa prior to the 22 July 2025 changes.
There’s no such thing as a typical prison officer. Our officers come from different walks of life, just like the offenders they work with. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, have worked in retail, the armed forces, or just feel like you’re a natural people person, you’ll have the empathy, self-confidence, great communication skills and resilience we want.
Teamwork plays a vital role in this environment, so you’ll need to be fully committed to supporting your colleagues and understand the importance of acting as one team to keep the prison, and everyone who works here safe.
You will be required to work various shifts and some weekends. An extraordinary job In this unique career, you’ll have the opportunity to carry out many different roles in any one day. One minute you’re a peacekeeper, the next you’re a counsellor or a teacher. You’ll work directly with prisoners in a unique environment, helping to protect the public and make a positive impact.
To become a prison officer, you will need to:
* be at least 18 years old at the point you commence employment
* meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements
* pass a medical and fitness assessment as part of the application process
* meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes (both with and without corrective lenses)
* have a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids)
* ensure your tattoos are not deemed as offensive, discriminatory, violent, or intimidating in any way
To work in a high security prison (category A) you must have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years.
Travel to Work
Some prison establishments are situated in rural locations with limited public transport options; therefore, a driving licence and own transport is beneficial but is not an essential requirement of the role.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
* UK nationals
* nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
* Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Essential skills
You don’t need qualifications to become a prison officer. Personal qualities are more important. You need to show:
* communication and influencing skills
* commitment to quality
* care and understanding
Pay
The initial training is 37 hours a week. After training, you can choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week. Your annual salary will reflect your weekly hours.
Benefits
* 25 days’ annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service)
* paid time off for public holidays and 1 extra privilege day
* Civil Service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%
* cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits
During the recruitment process you will be assessed on the behaviours, strengths and abilities you need to become an effective prison officer. These include:
* communicating and influencing
* managing a quality service
* caring
Online Tests
Once you have completed your initial application form, you will be invited to complete stage 1 of the online test, to see if you have the basic judgement and numerical skills expected of a prison officer.
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The MoJ is committed to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy' and to making the Civil Service a great place to work for veterans.
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