Overview
As an Operational Support Grade you will look after the day‑to‑day running of a busy prison, working in a close‑knit team to carry out a range of support services – everything from patrol and gate duties to managing deliveries, supervising visitors, and monitoring phone calls and CCTV.
Schedule
You will work an average of 37 hours per week, including night shifts, evenings, weekends and Bank/Public holidays. These days are added to your holiday allowance and the pattern rolls regularly. The frequency of night shifts varies by establishment and can be discussed at interview.
Responsibilities
* Gate/portal duties: ensure the secure entry and exit of staff, visitors, vehicles; carry out searches of staff, prisoners, visitors, contractors and vehicles; issue and collect staff keys/radios.
* Control room: operate the establishment radio system and monitor CCTV, ensuring all suspicious activities are reported.
* Visits: book visits; identify and process visitors on arrival, escort them if required.
* Censors/correspondence: monitor/log mail and report any illicit or contraband items, maintaining evidence preservation.
* Night duties: ensure cell doors are locked/secure and all prisoners are safely accounted for.
* Reception: support reception tasks; photograph prisoners; collate documentation for the property process; search/x‑ray incoming prisoner property and parcels; receive items for prisoners and check all seals are intact on property storage.
* Prisoner supervision: supervise prisoners as required; undertake prisoner clothing/property exchange and assist officers with free‑flow movement.
* Food delivery: deliver and collect food trolley, which may involve the use of an electric tug vehicle.
* Driving duties: transport prisoners and their escort to their destination in the cellular vehicle; collect mail from local sorting office.
* Phone calls: monitor the PIN system, maintain the log of PIN phone requests from prisoners, complete all relevant paperwork keeping an audit trail of conversations, and check that legal numbers are registered with solicitors.
* Procedures and protocol: understand and conform to national and local policies, respond appropriately to invoke emergency procedures and take the actions required in relation to incidents.
Success Profile Behaviours
* Communicating and Influencing
* Managing a Quality Service
The job holder must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English or, when specified in Wales, Welsh.
Annual Leave
25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 days after 10 years’ service (calculated on a pro‑rata basis). 9 days of bank, public and privilege holidays.
Benefits
* Access to a paid Level 2 apprenticeship in customer service.
* Access to the generous Civil Service pension scheme.
* Season ticket loans, retail discounts, an Employee Assistance Programme and a Cycle to Work scheme.
Salary
£29,432 – this figure is for a 37‑hour working week inclusive of a 20 % unsocial hours working allowance, which is included in the salary to reflect the requirement to work nights, evenings and weekend shifts.
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