Prison Officer.Org.UK

[lapmonkey9]

Here is some info for you

Job description and activities

A prison officer has responsibility for the security, supervision, training and rehabilitation of people committed to prison by the courts. This includes motivating prisoners to do what is best for themselves, and others around them, within a safe and healthy environment.

In addition to their custodial duties, prison officers must be able to establish and maintain positive working relationships with prisoners, balancing authority with a large amount of understanding and compassion, in order to effect rehabilitation.

The nature of the role demands the ability to think on one's feet, make quick decisions and deal effectively with unexpected situations.

Typical work activities

Some of the work will vary according to the type of prison and level of security (e.g. category A prisoners require closer supervision than category C). However, typical work activities include:

• performing security checks and search procedures;
  
• supervising prisoners, keeping an account of those in your charge and
• maintaining proper order;
  
• supervising visits and carrying out patrol duties;
  
• escorting prisoners;
  
• assisting in prisoner reviews;
  
• advising and counselling prisoners, making sure they have access to professional help if needed;
  
• employing authorised physical control and restraint procedures where appropriate;
  
• taking care of prisoners' property;
  
• being aware of prisoners' rights, dignity and their personal responsibility;
  
• providing appropriate care and support for prisoners at risk of self-harm;
  
• promoting anti-bullying and suicide prevention policies;
  
• taking an active part in rehabilitation programmes, including workshops;
  
• assessing and advising prisoners;
  
• liaising with other specialist staff, including health and social work professionals;
  
• writing prisoner reports.

Higher-grade prison officers have extra responsibilities, such as supervising other officers or looking after an area or wing of the prison.


Salary and conditions

• Starting salaries in England and Wales range from £17,744 to £27,530. Local pay allowances may also apply, ranging from £4,250 in central London to £1,100 in surrounding areas (salary data collected Oct 07).
  
• Salaries at higher levels in England and Wales include: senior officer, £29,371; principal officer, £30,926 - £31,913; manager (G-E), £23,434 - £43,927; and senior manager (D-A), £44,589 - £78,732 (salary data collected Oct 07).
  
• In Scotland, as an operations prison officer recruit, the starting salary is £15,175. If you perform well in your probationary 12 months and beyond, you progress up the pay band. The current maximum is £20,196. (salary data collected Oct 07). You can expect to progress to the maximum of the pay band over a period of around five years. Bonuses for effective and exceptional performance are available once the maximum has been reached.
  
• There is a choice of two civil service pension schemes offered to prison officers across the UK.
  
• The annual leave allowance is 22 days on entry, rising to 25 days after one year and 30 days after 18 years' service.
  
• Pay conditions and pension schemes in private prisons may vary from the above.
  
• Officers work a variety of shifts, including nights, weekends and some long days. Working hours are, on average, 39 hours (37 in Scotland) over the shift cycle.
  
• Prisons vary from very modern buildings to those built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Major refurbishment is in progress at many of the older establishments.
  
• Most of the work is indoors, although patrolling and supervision duties involve spending time outside.
  
• Opportunities exist for staff to work on a part-time or job share basis.
  
• The gender balance within the Prison Service is predominantly male. However, the gender balance on the Intensive Development Scheme (IDS) (operating in England and Wales only) is 64% female and 36% male (data collected Oct 07).
  
• Prison officers in England and Wales are employed on a 'mobile grade' and could be required to work anywhere in the country. However, officers have the opportunity to indicate preferred work locations and in most instances preferred locations are offered.
  
• The work can be stressful and requires a flexible approach when dealing with a variety of people. Difficult, confrontational situations may arise.
  
• Prison officers are provided with a uniform.
  
• Escort duties could mean spending time away from the prison, for example supervising a prisoner who is taken to hospital, but it is unlikely that such supervision would involve extensive time beyond the normal shift pattern.

Entry requirements


A degree is only essential for entry on to the Intensive Development Scheme (IDS). For further details, see below.

To become a prison officer:

• you must pass an entrance test (Prison Officer Selection Test), irrespective of any academic qualifications you hold. In Scotland, candidates also need five Standard Grades (1-3) including maths or arithmetic and English, or equivalent, or experience within a people-facing role.
  
• you must be capable of undergoing some physical exertion. As part of the recruitment process, you are required to pass a medical examination and fitness test. If your vision is corrected, it must meet Snellen 6/12 or better on each eye. (The Prison Service operates a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled people, as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, who meet the minimum criteria for entry.)
  
• you must be a British or Commonwealth citizen, a British Protected Person, a European Union (EU) national or a national of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. Some EU family members, who are not themselves EU members, may also qualify. You must be free from immigration control and have indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom. For some posts, you may need to have been resident in the United Kingdom for at least three years.

In addition, you must not be an undischarged bankrupt or belong to a group or organisation that the Prison Service considers racist. At the time of writing (October 2007), appointed prison officers must be aged between 18 and 62 (63 in Scotland).

The IDS in England and Wales is designed to attract high-calibre candidates who possess the potential to develop quickly and to rise to the highest levels in the service. (There is no such scheme in Scotland.) Recruitment to the scheme is challenging, with only around 20 to 25 graduates recruited each year. Applications are invited each autumn, with places offered by April. If candidates pass the application form stage, they are invited to complete a series of ability tests. Those successful at that stage are invited to a two-day assessment centre with aptitude tests, practical exercises and personal interviews.

IDS for in-service staff is open to serving prison officers who have been identified by their manager as demonstrating passion, commitment and ability as an officer. Selection procedures and organisation of the scheme are identical to those for graduates. Applicants for the in-service scheme do not require a degree.

All potential candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

• strong interpersonal skills, including assertiveness and self-motivation
  
• an aptitude for responsibility
  
• leadership potential
  
• the ability to learn from others
  
• integrity and a commitment to working with social issues
  
• organisational skills
  
• excellent communication and people skills
  
• the ability to work well in a team
  
• an awareness of how prisons fit within the wider criminal justice system and the community in general.

It is illegal for employers to discriminate against candidates on the grounds of age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation or religious faith. For more information on equality and diversity in the job market see Handling Discrimination.

You may be interested in further information about work experience and further study.


Training


For all prison officers, the first week is spent getting to know the departments of the prison and how they work. This is followed by an intensive course at a training college aimed at developing the ability to work with prisoners. The entry-level training course lasts eight weeks (six in Scotland). Officers learn control and restraint techniques, search and security procedures, and court duties. There is also a focus on developing interpersonal and communication skills. On returning to prison, officers are given a brief induction course. They are then supervised by more experienced officers once the work as a prison officer really begins.

For those on the Intensive Development Scheme (IDS), the route firstly involves completing full training to become a prison officer, followed by up to 12 months carrying out the full range of prison officer duties. Progression is then to senior officer, with responsibility for a group of staff, and then to trainee operational manager (a middle management governor position). At each stage, candidates sit the key assessments and are supported by the leadership and management development programme, with both on- and off-the-job mentors and a dedicated training programme. Within three years of joining the scheme, graduates could be head of a busy unit or function within a prison.

The probation period for prison officers is one year in England and Wales. In Scotland, new officers have a one-year probation period, but must also obtain SVQ Level 3 in Custodial Care within the first two years.

Increasing emphasis is placed on developing people on the job. As experience is gained as a prison officer, training becomes more tailored to individual development needs. For example, there are a number of management training opportunities available. There is also regular physical training - prison officers must pass a fitness test on an annual basis.


Career development

Opportunities for promotion exist throughout the Prison Service in Scotland, England and Wales. Posts involving greater responsibilities and staff management form the obvious promotion pathway. Other opportunities include work at training or service headquarters, or work within specialist projects in the service, for example rehabilitative work with certain groups of prisoners or their families.

Officers with ability are encouraged to apply for promotion as soon as they feel ready. This involves going through a series of selection procedures designed to assess skills and the ability to operate at the next level. There are four levels to aim for in England and Wales:

• senior officer
  
• principal officer
  
• manager
  
• senior manager.

Opportunities may also arise for secondments to other establishments and for appointments at the service's London headquarters and area offices throughout England and Wales.

In Scotland, promotion for officers is available at first-line managerial and senior managerial levels. Having completed the probationary period of one year, officers are able to apply for promotions and will be assessed on individual merit and ability.

Career development follows a more structured pathway on the Intensive Development Scheme (IDS) for graduates and in-service staff in England and Wales. New prison officers spend at least one year as a prison officer, then a further year as a senior officer, before applying for accreditation as an operational manager (junior governor) under the IDS scheme.

Specialist prison officer posts are also available, but may require qualifications in the relevant specialism, e.g. health care or nursing. All specialist officers are first and foremost prison officers and undergo the same training. Physical education officers are also employed, but not recruited directly - they are selected from serving officers.

The requirements of managerial posts vary based on management experience and qualifications. Prison officers are required to satisfy these standards in a similar way to anyone with a non-prison background.


Typical employers/vacancy sources

The main employer of prison officers in Scotland, England and Wales is the Prison Service. The Scottish Prison Service operates independently of HM Prison Service in England and Wales. In March 2007, the Prison Service in England and Wales employed approximately 49,000 staff in 140 establishments with a population of 80,000 prisoners. In Scotland there were 4,137 staff and 7,183 prisoners spread across 18 prisons.

A number of prisons in England and Wales now operate under private contract (currently 11) and are consequently responsible for their own recruitment. Private prisons may also differ in other respects from the majority of prisons. They are, however, governed by the same Home Office rules and regulations.

Prison officer opportunities also exist in remand centres, young offenders' institutions and open or resettlement prisons. The Every Child Matters website is a useful source of information about young offenders' institutions.



» Sources of vacancies

• HM Prison Service
  
• Scottish Prison Service
  
• national and regional press, e.g. The Guardian, The Independent, The Herald and The Scotsman
  
• job centres and local newspapers.

Applicants in England and Wales should contact the personnel department at their preferred prison for vacancy details. Recruitment for the Intensive Development Scheme (IDS) for graduates and in-service staff is centralised. It is usually supported by an advertising campaign and website, which is publicised through many of the resources above. Recruitment in Scotland is centralised through the Scottish Prison Service.


Case studies

Jane, trainee prison manager (head of reducing reoffending)

Jane has a BA (Hons) Business Studies and a Certificate in Management and is currently working as a trainee prison manager. She decided to join the prison service as she thought it would be an interesting people-based career that would provide a personal challenge.

Jane spent 12 months travelling after graduation and then undertook various temporary jobs. She saw the HM Prison Service Intensive Development Scheme (IDS) advertised at a graduate recruitment fair and also had a family friend who worked for the Service. She applied and was accepted on to the Scheme.

Jane has been in the Prison Service for three years now. She began as a prison officer and then became a senior officer and principal officer. Since June 2007, she has been head of reducing reoffending (trainee manager F grade). Each position has been a promotion as part of the IDS.

Although Jane initially joined and worked as a prison officer and is now a member of the senior management team, her current role is underpinned by her learning as an officer, senior officer and principal officer.

Skills needed for the role, according to Jane, include the ability to effectively manage different types of people and an understanding of targets, performance and budget management. Jane feels that her degree in business has helped her understand the need to improve the efficiency of the Prison Service and has given her the skills to effectively manage different types of people. It has also aided her understanding of the need to use targets and the ability to measure performance and manage budgets.

Jane feels that it is difficult to qualify her role into specific tasks. She is the functional head responsible for reception, induction, the first-night centre, discipline and the offender management unit. Jane usually works from 7.30am to 5pm but this can depend on what happens during the day. She spends one shift each week as the duty governor, when she is based in the prison from approximately 7.30am until around 8.30pm, and is also on call during the night. She also works a duty governor shift one weekend in five.

What Jane likes about the job is that every day is different and her team of colleagues is fantastic. Less favourable parts include the long hours and the emotionally difficult situations that can occur, for example self-harm and suicide.

Jane's advice to students wanting to get into the Prison Service is to develop sound interpersonal skills and the ability to engage and talk to all manner of different people. An open mind and knowledge of the political position surrounding the Prison Service are also important.

In the future, Jane would eventually like to go on and govern a prison.


Susan, prison officer

Susan left university in 1994 with a degree in building surveying. Due to the economic circumstances of the time, she found it difficult to secure employment in that sector and decided to explore other career options. In addition to the Prison Service, she also applied to the police force, but was accepted first by the Prison Service and started her training in 1995. She has worked full time in the Prison Service ever since.

She currently works in the busy reception area of a young offenders' institute. She is the only female officer in a team of nine, but is comfortable working in a predominantly male environment.

She is the first point of contact for the young adults entering the establishment. The reception process involves initially checking the warrants to ascertain whether the young adults' personal details are correct, and that the prison is legally able to detain them. They are then interviewed using a risk assessment form to determine if they are at risk of suicide or self-harm. This is especially relevant to first offenders embarking on their first custodial sentence or remand.

Susan admits it can be a difficult and demanding job, but one in which you can also make a difference to someone's life. There are so many opportunities available to the young adults, eg an education unit and workshops, whereby they can gain qualifications in order to secure a job on release. It is the role of a prison officer to make the young adults aware of these opportunities.

To undertake the role successfully, Susan states that good communication skills are a necessity, both with colleagues and the prisoners themselves. Good teamworking skills are also required. The ability to make decisions and carry them through is important. Circumstances can change so quickly in a prison environment - such skills can help deal with potential problems and de-escalate situations.

In Susan's opinion, life skills and experiences, rather than a particular degree, are the most useful tools for success in this field.


Contacts

Addresses

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons
First Floor, Ashley House, 2 Monck Street, London SW1P 2BQ
Tel: 020 7035 2136
inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmiprisons

HM Prison Service
Headquarters, Cleland House, Page Street, London SW1P 4LN
www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk

Home Office
Direct Communications Unit, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF
Tel: 020 7035 4848
www.homeoffice.gov.uk

National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO)
169 Clapham Road, London SW9 0PU
Tel: 020 7582 6500
www.nacro.org.uk

National Probation Service
NOMS Probation, 1st Floor Abell House, John Islip Street, London SW1P 4LHwww.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk

Northern Ireland Prison Service
Headquarters, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3SU
Tel: 028 9052 5065
www.niprisonservice.gov.uk

Prison Officers Association
Cronin House, 245 Church Street, London N9 9HW
Tel: 020 8803 0255
www.poauk.org.uk

Scottish Prison Service
Calton House, 5 Redheughs Rigg, Edinburgh EH12 9HW
Tel: 0131 244 8745
www.sps.gov.uk




Thank you for reading,

[Shackles]

yes i do

[Garden Fairy]

Me too, thanks for that Lapmonkey9

[Widdiwoo]

Yes, me also. Some really useful info there, thanks.

[sweetfemale]

Absolutally, most definatly

[Mickma]

After reading that its put my mind at rest. I was still (at this stage) unsure of wether I would take up on an offer once presented to me. The answer now is yes. Thanks Lapmonkey9

[littlegoldfishie]

I still want to, Just wish they'd get a wriggle on and send me out the results of my RAD!

[DUCKBILL]

Thanks for that.
Cleared up a few points about training.
Waiting for start date confirmation been given begining of May approx.