Prison Officer - HMP Onley
HMP Onley is a Category C Training Prison situated near Rugby, Warwickshire.
Our prison officers come from all walks of life. Join us and you’ll be part of a diverse team working to reduce reoffending and transform lives. There’s no typical day as a prison officer. You could be a negotiator or referee one minute, a mentor the next. Every shift is different, but each one is an opportunity to make a difference in a prisoner’s life. As a key worker, you’ll work with a range of people and perform a variety of tasks – from keeping the prison safe and secure, to helping vulnerable people through a difficult time in their lives. It’s hard work but it matters. There is no such thing as a typical day. Life can depend on the prison, its level of security and the prisoners. Prisons operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means you will have to cover various shift patterns that will include evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays (these days are added to your holiday allowance). Most prisons work with a changing shift pattern of 39 hours a week. Shifts usually follow regular hours although the start and finish time may vary depending on your prison. An example shift pattern is shown below.
Start Finish
Early 7.00am 12.30pm
Late 12.00pm 8.00pm
Main 8.00am 5.00pm
All day 8.00am 8.00pm
Nights 8.45pm 7.30am
As a prison officer, you will be a key worker with responsibility for around 6 offenders. You will meet with the individuals on a regular basis to support their rehabilitation. This might involve encouraging participation in education, substance recovery programmes and maintaining links with family members.
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.
How to apply
The online application begins with important details such as your National Insurance number and right to work in the UK. You will then be invited to complete the online tests, to see if you have the basic judgement and numerical skills expected of a prison officer.
The online assessment centre - If you pass the online tests, we will invite you to an online assessment centre. We test to see if you have the abilities, behaviours and strengths to be a prison officer. Once you’ve successfully completed the online assessment centre, we will invite you to complete a medical and fitness test. This will cover an eyesight test, hearing test and basic health screening, including a blood pressure check. We will tell you what to expect and bring before the day.
To become a prison officer, you will need to:
be at least 18 years old have the right to work in the UK be reasonably fit and able to pass our fitness test have good eyesight in both eyes (both with and without corrective lenses) For safety reasons, everyone training to be a prison officer needs a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids).
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 effective decision-making 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.
37 hours a week = £28,880 a year
39 hours a week = £30,702 a year
41 hours a week = £32,523 a year
All salary figures quoted include any additional allowances but do not include the recent 7% pay award that has been issued and will come into effect for all staff from September.
The standard working week of a prison officer is based on a 39 hours per week shift pattern. You may also have opportunities to work additional paid 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 of up to 20% of your salary cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits Read more about prison officer benefits.
Your training to be a prison officer - We want to make sure you are matched to the right training scheme. Once you have passed our initial selection and as part of the pre-employment procedures, we will undertake an initial assessment with you to identify whether undertaking an Apprenticeship in Custody & Detention or the Initial and Foundation Training will be appropriate in getting you ready for working in a custodial setting. The outcome of the assessment will determine which training pathway you take and this will be discussed with you before you take up post.
This is a pass job vacancy. If you are successful at the online assessment centre you will be offered a job immediately if there is a position available.