Rochdale, North West England, OL12 9DW
Job Summary
Please see job description.
Job Description
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.
Address
HMP Buckley Hall, Buckley Farm Lane, Rochdale OL12 9DW
Salary
£32,448 - £36,541
City / Town
Rochdale
Region
North West
Vacancy Type
Merit
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.
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.
Job details
Eligibility
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
* have a suitable standard of hearing
* While tattoos are permitted, they must not be deemed as offensive, discriminatory, violent, or intimidating.
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. Please note that shift start and finish times are fixed.
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 with 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
* 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 = £32,448 a year
* 39 hours a week = £34,494 a year
* 41 hours a week = £36,541 a year
All salary figures quoted include any additional allowances that are applicable to the role/location.
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
Assessment Process
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
Job offers: merit vacancy
This is a merit job vacancy. If you are successful at the online assessment centre, you will be added to a merit list based on your score.
When all applicants have completed the assessment centre, the prison will make job offers to individuals with the highest scores first when positions become available.
You can stay on the merit list for 12 months. After this, you’ll need to apply again.
Operational Support Grade Role
Our Online Assessment Centre (OAC), will not only assess you against the key criteria to become a prison officer but will also determine your suitability for appointment as an operational support grade OSG. If following attendance at your OAC, you are unsuccessful in your application to become a prison officer, we may instead offer you an alternative role as an OSG.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of Civil Servants.
We Recruit By Merit On The Basis Of Fair And Open Competition. If You Feel The Recruitment Process Has Breached The Recruitment Principles You Can Raise a Formal Complaint.
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.
Reasonable adjustment support
As a Disability Confident employer, the MoJ is committed to ensuring that everyone can demonstrate their skills, talent, and abilities.
The jobholder must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English or (when specified in Wales) Welsh.
Closing date: 6th May 2025
#J-18808-Ljbffr