15060 - Operational Support Grade - General

Successful candidates will be based at the following location:
 
Band 3
 
Working in a prison isn’t for everyone. But if you’re one of the few with the right blend of qualities, it’s a secure and very rewarding career.
Firstly, you’ll need great communication skills. You’ll have to deal with all kinds of situations and your ability to listen well and make yourself clearly understood will be vital. Self-confidence, personal integrity and emotional intelligence are also a must, along with plenty of discipline and physical stamina too. Together, these qualities will allow you to support prisoners with their rehabilitation, while also maintaining a safe environment. At end of the day your resilience will mean you can leave work at work and bounce back from challenging events quickly.

Day-to-day, you’ll help to create a safe, secure environment where rehabilitation is supported and encouraged. In return, you’ll receive great training, excellent benefits and the chance to make build a very rewarding career.

For more information, please visit the NOMS website: nomscareers.com

Responsibilities, Activities, & Duties

Typical tasks include:
 
• Supervise, manage and control prisoners decently, lawfully, safely and securely.
• Ensure that the routines of the prison operate effectively and that prisoners are managed within it.
• Establish, develop and maintain professional relationships with prisoners and staff.
• Conduct searches on prisoners, staff and visitors.
• Undertake external escorts to hospital.
• Deal with incidents as the ‘first on scene’ and be able to work in a team to resolve them.
• Use of IT to maintain and update records.
• Prepare relevant documentation for managers for verification / quality checking purposes.
• Attend and contribute to meetings as required.
• Complete and update Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan.
• Understand and comply with national / local policies and legislation.

Competencies

All of the competencies in the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Competency and Qualities Framework are relevant to this group profile. For the purpose of selection, the following competencies will be measured:

• 4. Leading and Communicating
• 5. Collaborating and Partnering
• 9. Managing a Quality Service
• 11. Achieving a Safe and Secure in Environment

Essential Skills/ Qualifications/ Accreditation/ Registration 
• All candidates are required to pass an online application and numeracy assessment, known as a Prison Officer Selection Test (POST), attend and pass a variety of assessments at a Recruitment Assessment Day (RAD); these include a written assessment, role-plays, medical assessment and a fitness test. Candidates who narrowly miss meeting the required standard at the RAD may be invited back to re-sit any of the modules they were unsuccessful in. Unsuccessful candidates may be offered an Operational Support Grade role at the establishment(s) they have applied to.
• Candidates have 10 calendar days to complete the online POST after receiving the email invitation. Your application will not be progressed any further if you fail to complete the online POST.
• For candidates who wish to submit multiple applications; you will be required to complete the online POST for each application. If you pass the POST you will only need to attend one Recruitment Assessment Day (RAD).
• If successful in your application, your continuation in this role is dependent on passing all modules within the initial Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT), which is a pathway to becoming a fully competent Prison Officer.
• Failure to successfully complete and pass POELT course could result in your removal from this role and may result in the termination of your employment.
• Following completion of the POELT course you will be subject to a 12 month probationary period.

Salary, Working Arrangements & Further Information

37 hour working week (standard).

Unsocial hours working

This role requires working regular unsocial hours. A permanent 17% payment will be paid in addition to your basic pay to recognise this. Unsocial hours are those hours outside 0700 - 1900hrs Monday to Friday and include working evening, nights, weekends and Bank / Public holidays.

Additional conditioned hours at enhanced pay

As a Prison Officer you will also have the option to commit to working between 1-4 additional committed hours at an enhanced rate of pay on top of your standard 37 hour working week. These hours are non-pensionable.

Salary by weekly hours worked including 17% unsocial hours payment

Salary will depend on your location but will start at the following inclusive rates for the weekly hours worked (these rates include the 17% unsocial hours payment):

37 Hours - £20,751
38 Hours - £21,326
39 Hours - £21,902
40 Hours - £22,477
41 Hours - £23,052

Depending on your annual performance, affordability, public sector pay policy and the recommendations from the Prison Service pay review body, your inclusive pay may increase incrementally up to the following maximum rates over time:

National
37 Hours - £23,122
38 Hours - £23,762
39 Hours - £24,403
40 Hours - £25,044
41 Hours - £25,682

Where available, you may also be able to volunteer to work further additional hours at a premium rate.

Closing Date: 5th January 2018 at 23:55 hours

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk. Please quote the job reference.