Overview
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. If you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously, please raise this during your vetting checks and eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the immigration rules and transitional provisions in place. If you are applying for this role and you have not held a Skilled Worker visa prior to the 22 July 2025 changes, you will need to consider your options for obtaining and/or maintaining your right to work in the UK in light of these changes. Successful applicants must ensure they have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom. The Department will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service. You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria here.
About the role
Someone like you 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. No matter the challenge, you\'ll take the time to build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners who could be at the lowest point in their lives. 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. 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.
Nationality and right to work
Nationality requirements and right to work: 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 with settled or pre-settled status under the EUSS; nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein with settled or pre-settled status under the 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 who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service. Further information on nationality requirements: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules. Successful applicants must ensure they have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom.
Recruitment process and assessment
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
* making effective decisions
* caring
Your natural strengths are assessed to find out what motivates and energises you. We will also assess your numerical, written English and spoken English abilities.
Online tests — After completing your initial application form, you will be invited to complete stage 1 of the online test to assess basic judgement and numerical skills. If successful, stage 2 online test (task-based assessment) will determine the natural behaviours and qualities needed to be an effective prison officer.
Online Assessment Centre (OAC) — On successful completion of the online tests, you will be invited to an online assessment centre to test abilities, behaviours and strengths for the role.
Merit vacancy — This is a merit job vacancy. If successful at the online assessment centre, you will be added to a merit list based on your score. The prison will offer roles to individuals with the highest scores first when positions become available. The merit list is valid for 12 months; after this you will need to apply again. If unsuccessful at the sift/assessment stage, a six month waiting period applies during which you will not be allowed to submit further applications for prison officer positions.
Operational Support Grade (OSG) consideration — Our Online Assessment Centre will assess you against key criteria to become a prison officer and determine suitability for appointment as an OSG. If you are unsuccessful as a prison officer, we may offer an alternative role as an OSG.
Medical, fitness and location
Medical and fitness — When a vacancy is identified for you, you will be invited to complete a medical and fitness test, including eyesight, hearing, and basic health screening. Medical and fitness assessments are UK-based. You must be able to attend a UK-based medical and fitness assessment centre.
Working for the Civil Service — The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour for Civil Servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission\'s recruitment principles. If you feel the recruitment process has breached these principles you can raise a formal complaint in the following order: Shared Services Connected Ltd, Ministry of Justice Resourcing, The Civil Service Commission.
Disability, veterans, and inclusion
Diversity & Inclusion — The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining and investing in talent wherever it is found. Reasonable adjustment support is available to candidates when applying for our jobs. As a Disability Confident employer, adjustments can be arranged in advance of online tests or assessment centre; please request adjustments well before the assessment date.
Veterans — The Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative provides a guaranteed interview scheme to eligible former Armed Forces members. For details and eligibility, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment — Redeployment Interview Scheme offers opportunities to those at risk of redundancy. The MoJ is committed to providing interviews to eligible candidates who meet minimum criteria, except in certain campaigns. Promotion may exclude eligibility.
Candidate experience
What\'s it really like to work as a prison officer? An interactive online activity provides insight into day-to-day situations. Your responses in the activity will not form part of your application. Access the activity here: Interactive Activity. Use of AI in applications is discouraged if it contains plagiarised content; authenticity of your own experience is required. See candidate guidance for more information.
Requirements and benefits
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.
* be at least 18 years old at the point you commence employment
* meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements (see nationality requirements section above)
* pass a medical and fitness assessment as part of the application process
* meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes (with or without corrective lenses)
* sufficient hearing (no reliance on hearing aids) for safety
* tattoo policy: visible tattoos allowed if not offensive, discriminatory, violent, or intimidating; facial tattoos generally not acceptable unless for cultural, religious, or medical reasons
* to work in a high security prison (category A) you must have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years
Travel and relocation — A driving licence and own transport are beneficial but not essential unless specified. Shift start/finish times are fixed; plan travel accordingly. Consider location and transport options before applying.
Compensation and hours — The initial training is 37 hours per week. After training, you can choose 37, 39 or 41 hours per week. Salary figures (including applicable location allowances) are:
* 37 hours: £33,746 per year
* 39 hours: £35,875 per year
* 41 hours: £38,003 per year
Additional benefits — 25 days’ annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years), paid time off for public holidays and an extra privilege day, Civil Service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%, cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits. Prisons operate 24/7, so shift patterns may include evenings, nights, weekends and holidays, with these days added to holiday allowance.
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