Prison Officer

Prison Officer
HMP Ashfield, Bristol, BS16 9QJ
Up to £33,337 per annum*
Permanent, full time positions, average 40hrs pw

Work with Purpose: Transfer your Skills to a Career in the Prison Service

What's in it for you?
Your starting salary will be £28,187 pa. increasing to £29,271 after 12 months and increasing again to £33,337 when you reach 3 years’ service. We are fully committed to progressing you through your PCO Portfolio or PCO Apprenticeship which would increase your salary to £33,337 as soon as either of these is successfully completed which can realistically be achieved within 12 to 18 months of joining us. We also offer:

• Opportunity to earn approximately £37,800 including overtime (while we cannot guarantee overtime will always be available, this is based on an average of 4 hrs per week)
• Clear career development pathways for you to transition quickly into operational management positions with salaries ranging from £36,000 to £42,000
• Pension scheme
• Health and wellbeing benefits
• Reward and recognition scheme
• Serco discounts which include cinema, online shopping discounts, leisure centre memberships and you can apply for a Blue Light discount card

Is this the right career for you?

Our Prison Custody Officers join us from a wide range of backgrounds - including customer service, administration, retail and hospitality, warehousing and logistics, the Armed Forces, health and social care, manufacturing, trades, operations and supervision, security, education and more.

 Day to day you’ll be involved in:

• Supervising prisoners in all aspects of prison wing activity
• Overseeing work and education programmes, encouraging prisoners to participate
• Operational matters such as prisoner headcounts, prison cell searching, security, and administrative processes
• Managing prisoners who are at risk of self-harm

What you’ve done before doesn’t matter as much as how you work. We’re focused on transferable skills and behaviours such as strong communication, teamwork, resilience, patience, time management, and the ability to de-escalate challenging situations. A commitment to customer service and upholding health and safety standards is key - the rest you’ll learn through our comprehensive 10-week training course and the ongoing support of experienced colleagues.

We operate 24/7, all year round meaning you’ll cover shifts on days, evenings, weekends, nights, and bank holidays. We value the importance of work-life balance, we operate on a rota basis that allows you the flexibility to enjoy meaningful time off.

Preparing for your recruitment journey:
You’ll be invited you to complete an online assessment. If you pass the initial assessment, we will invite you to attend an interview, you’ll take part in a short role play, written exercise, competency-based interview, and maths assessments.  You’ll also undergo a fitness test which consists of:

• Bleep Test - 15 metre shuttle runs in time with the bleeps, lasting approximately 3 minutes and 40 seconds to reach level 5.4
• Agility Test - Running around set course of cones under a set time scale
• Shield Hold Test - Holding shield out in front of you at a 45-degree angle for 1 minute
• Grip Test - 28KG (on both hands)

Once you’ve passed assessment, we’ll invite you to attend a 10-week Initial Training Course (ITC) at the Prison, which requires 100% attendance. This consists of 8 weeks classroom-based training and 2 weeks shadowing to give you a real taste of life on the job. The ITC provides high quality training, you’ll complete a Diploma in Custodial Care, First Aid and undergo Control and Restraint training.

Please note that this position is based at HMP Ashfield, Shortwood Road, Pucklechurch, Bristol, BS16 9QJ. Due to the nature of our shift patterns, we strongly encourage applicants to consider their commute time and transportation options before applying. We recommend that candidates live within a 30 mile radius of the above location to maintain punctuality, work-life balance, and job satisfaction."

What else do I need to know?
This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current UK Home Office rules, as it does not meet the required salary or skill level criteria. Whilst we encourage applications to other roles, candidates who already have a valid right to work in the UK through other immigration routes or permissions must meet the below minimum eligibility criteria: 

• Have at least two years remaining on your current visa to ensure sufficient time in the role
  Have lived in the UK for at least one year

For general right-to-work guidance, please visit the UK Home Office website.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and all offers of employment are subject to security clearance checks, and satisfactory employment references.  You’ll be required to provide 5 years of employment and education history as part of these checks. You will be required to obtain Ministry of Justice Enhanced Level 2 Clearance & Enhanced DBS with adult and child barring vetting clearances (which required 5 years of checkable history).

Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.

A little bit about us:
At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.

Our inclusive recruitment commitment:
We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, a top Great British Employer of Veterans, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme: 
Applicants with disabilities and veterans who meet the minimum job criteria are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.

For support with your application, please contact j&icareersUK@serco.com.

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