Position Overview
PLEASE NOTE These positions are being offered on a Fixed Term Contract for a period of 2 years.
Your location preference will be captured on the online application form and you will be able to select a maximum of three prison locations.
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. You will work shifts and nights to keep things running.
Salary and Benefits
In addition to your base pay of £29,432 for a 37‑hour working week inclusive of a 20% unsocial hours working allowance, you will receive:
* 25 days annual leave on appointment, increasing to 30 days after 10 years’ service (pro‑rata)
* 9 days bank, public and privilege holidays
* 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
Working Hours
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 on a rolling shift pattern. The frequency of night shifts will vary for each establishment and can be discussed at interview.
Responsibilities
* Gate/portal duties: ensure secure entry and exit of staff, visitors, vehicles; carry out searches; issue and collect staff keys and radios.
* Control room: operate the establishment radio system and monitor CCTV, reporting suspicious activities.
* Visits: book visits; identify and process visitors on arrival, escorting where required.
* Censors/correspondence: monitor and log mail, reporting illicit or contraband items, preserving evidence.
* Night duties: ensure cell doors locked and prisoners safely accounted for.
* Reception: support tasks, photograph prisoners, collate documentation for the property process, search and x‑ray incoming property and parcels, receive items for prisoners, and check seals are intact.
* Prisoner supervision: supervise prisoners as required; undertake clothing/property exchange and assist officers with free‑flow movement.
* Food delivery: deliver and collect food trolley, possibly using an electric tug vehicle.
* Driving duties: transport prisoners and escorts to destinations and collect mail from the local sorting office.
* Phone calls: monitor the PIN system, maintain the log of PIN phone requests, complete paperwork and keep an audit trail, confirming legal numbers are registered with solicitors.
* Procedures and protocol: understand and conform to national and local policies, responding appropriately to emergency procedures and incidents.
Interview and Assessment
At the interview we will assess you against the following Success Profile behaviours:
* Communicating and Influencing
* Managing a Quality Service
The interview will be of a blended nature, consisting of behaviours and experience, and provides an opportunity to discuss your work history or personal experiences to assess suitability for prison work.
Language Requirements
The job holder must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English or, when specified in Wales, Welsh.
Job Offers and Merit List
This is a 'merit' job vacancy. Successful candidates will be added to a merit list based on their score. After all applicants have completed the assessment, the prison will make job offers to those with the highest scores first. Candidates may remain on the merit list for 12 months, after which they must re‑apply.
Additional Allowance
In addition, you will receive a 20% unsocial working allowance, which has already been included in the salary figure quoted.
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