Prison officer

Prison officers keep prisoners in secure custody. They also aim to help with rehabilitation and resettlement. Officers work in a variety of institutions. They all undertake security work, which can include cell searches and patrolling. Instructional officers also teach a skill or trade to prisoners. The minimum age for entry is 18.

Also known as:

• Custody officer – prison
• Warder – prison

Work activities

Prison officers keep offenders in a secure and safe environment and help with their rehabilitation. Their work has two aims: to protect the public and reduce the risk of re-offending. Officers work in places ranging from young offender institutions to high-security closed prisons for long-term criminals. Male and female inmates are usually housed in separate prisons. It is possible for female officers to serve in male prisons and vice versa. In private prisons, prison officers are known as custody officers. Whatever the type of prison, officers have security duties, including:

• Maintaining order and safety.
• Dealing with difficult behaviour.
• Calming down tense situations.
• Overseeing inmates’ work, recreation activities and family visits.
• Reporting incidents.
• Cell searches.
• Patrolling buildings and grounds.
• Using physical control and restraint procedures when appropriate.
• Duties arising from policies, for example, incentives and earned privileges.

Certain officers have special training in dog-handling or electronic security techniques. Others are concerned with the reception of new inmates, issuing clothing, completing paperwork, and liaising with medical and welfare staff. Prison officers also make sure that standards of hygiene and cleanliness are maintained by prisoners. In prisons and remand centres where offenders are awaiting sentence, prison officers are involved in the assessment of prisoners. This helps to determine the type of prison to which they should be sent. Prison officers help to set targets for prisoners’ education, training, work and activities that will help them when they are released. They also provide care and support for prisoners who are in danger of harming themselves. Officers actively promote anti-bullying campaigns and are also involved in drug rehabilitation programmes.

Personal qualities and skills

As a prison officer, you’ll need to:

• Be firm and fair, and able to act with authority when necessary.
• Be able to work in an environment where strict rules must be followed.
• Get on with people from different backgrounds and experiences.
• Be understanding, sensitive and approachable, and committed to helping with the rehabilitation of offenders.
• Treat prisoners with dignity and without discrimination.
• Remain focused on security at all times.
• Act quickly and keep calm during a conflict.
• Use your initiative.
• Be fit and active.

You should have:

• Good judgement.
• Decision-making skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and listening skills.
• Patience.
• Teamworking skills.
• Confidence in your abilities.
• A sense of humour.
• An open mind.
• Report-writing skills.

You will need to be able to move around the country to work in different prisons and should be prepared to work shifts. Instructional officers need teaching skills and should be able to explain things clearly. Qualification requirements vary depending on the specific role. Some medical conditions might make it very difficult for you to become a prison officer. If you think this could apply to you, you should check carefully with the Prison Service before applying. You’ll need good eyesight in both eyes (with glasses or contact lenses if necessary).

Pay and opportunities

Prison officers are paid on a rising scale between £30,702 up to £38,165 a year. In addition, extra allowances are paid for working in some prisons.

Prison officers work 37-41 hours a week, which includes shifts on a rota basis, including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays.

Prison officers work in prisons and young offender institutions operated by HM Prison Service. There are also opportunities with the growing number of prisons run by private companies. Opportunities for prison officers occur in prisons throughout the UK, although 84% of the prison service workforce is located in England. Officers can be posted to different areas, and therefore must be prepared to move if necessary.

Anyone applying to join HM Prison Service (HMPS) must:

• Be free from immigration control and have no time restrictions
• Not be a member of a group or organisation that HMPS considers to have racist philosophy, aims, principles or policies.
• Not be an undischarged bankrupt.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local newspapers, on the Government’s Find a Job service, and on the HM Prison Service and privately run prison companies’ websites.

Entry routes and training 

There are several stages when applying to be a prison officer, including online application, selection test, recruitment days, a medical, and a fitness test. At the time of appointment to the Prison Service, you must be at least 18. You must also have good hearing. Applicants who wear glasses or contact lenses must have a minimum standard of unaided vision. You must be a British or Commonwealth citizen or meet certain other nationality requirements laid down by the Prison Service.

A level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship in the role of custody and detention professional is also a great place to start.

All recruits start on the same prison officer grade. Training takes place both in your own prison and at a training centre. In the first eight weeks, you’ll have classroom-based learning and you’ll also learn practical skills such as searching, control and restraint techniques and first aid. Entry level training is followed by a probationary year. During this time, you will learn to develop management, communication and leadership skills. You will need to complete a diploma in custodial care during your probationary year. Control and restraint training is repeated each year as required.

Promotion to higher grades is open to anyone whose work is of a high standard. There are opportunities for prison officers who are trained in a practical skill or trade. Instructional officers are fully trained prison officers and have security duties, but they also practise their skill and teach it to prisoners.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: Working as a prison officer is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

All entrants have to pass a selection test, a fitness test and a medical examination. Entrants could have a wide range of academic qualifications, including GCSEs, A-levels or equivalent, or a higher education (HE) qualification such as a degree, foundation degree or HND.

To get onto an advanced apprenticeship, you’ll usually need GCSEs at grades 9-4, including English and maths, or to have completed an intermediate apprenticeship.

Adult opportunities

Age limits apply to this occupation. The minimum age of entry into the Prison Service is 18. All entrants go through the normal selection procedure of aptitude and medical tests.

Some entrants have developed skills by working in a related occupation, for example, as a security guard or a detention officer.

Related careers

• Police community support officer
• Police officer
• Porter
• Prison governor
• Probation officer
• Probation service officer
• Security guard