201710: Prison Officer - Thames Valley Cluster (Aylesbury, Bedford, Bullingdon, Grendon, The Mount & Woodhill Prison)

£28,950
East Midlands
Aylesbury , Bedford , Bicester , Hemel Hempstead , Milton Keynes
HM Prison Bullingdon, OX25 1PZ, HM PRISON GRENDON AYLESBURY, HP18 0TL, HM PRISON THE MOUNT - INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX BOVINGDON, HP3 0NZ, HM Prison Woodhill, MK4 4DA, HMP BEDFORD BEDFORD, MK40 1HG, HMYOI AYLESBURY AYLESBURY, HP20 1EH
Band 3
Permanent
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working, Other
Operational Delivery, Prison Officer

Prison Officer - Thames Valley Cluster

HMP Woodhill, Tattenhoe Street, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK4 4DA
HMP Bullingdon, Patrick Haugh Rd, Bicester OX25 1PZ
HMP YOI Aylesbury, Bierton Rd, Aylesbury HP20 1EH
HMP The Mount, Molyneaux Avenue, Bovingdon HP3 0NZ
HMP Grendon / Springhill, Grendon Underwood, Aylesbury HP18 0TL
HMP Bedford, St Loyes St, Bedford MK40 1HG

Salary

£28,950 (based on 39 hours and including any additional allowance), with potential to earn more depending on contract hours and overtime. The standard working week for a prison officer is based on 37 hours. Working 39 hours is dependent on completing training and opting in to a 39 hour week.

About the Role

Working in a prison is fast-paced and varied. It’s an interesting and rewarding career, with training, professional qualifications and career progression.

It’s a role in which you can really make a difference.  We work every day to protect the public and help and support our prisoners to make changes to their lives.  The role can be challenging and you may face some difficult situations, but the rewards can be great.  You need enthusiasm, determination and integrity.  We will provide a full training programme and ongoing support.

As you gain experience, you could progress into management positions, or specialise into different roles with advanced training.

Working at One of our Prisons

When you join any of our Thames Valley Cluster prisons you’ll start with an induction week, where you’ll meet your new colleagues and learn the routine of the prison.  Then you will go on a residential 10-week Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT) course.  After that, further training and mentoring support at the prison will help you to continue to develop your skills and gain experience.

From day-one, you’ll be part of the friendly, welcoming team. Our team is a very strong one, based on the knowledge that only by working together can we run a safe, decent prison where it is possible for prisoners to change their lives.  There’s plenty of humour and support for each other, backed up by strong leadership and a clear sense of purpose.

We are all here to support the rehabilitation of the prisoners in our care.  We need you to have empathy, self-confidence and good communication skills.  You will be supported by a team which shares the aim of changing prisoners lives and where your skills and talents will be enhanced by those you work with. To find out more please
Click Here.

What’s in it for you

Being a prison officer is a big responsibility. So, it’s only right that we give you the right recognition and rewards for what you do.

That’s why, alongside the attractive starting salary, civil service pension and 25
days’ annual holiday (pro rata), there are many other options and benefits on offer. We want to make sure you receive the rewards you deserve.

You’ll have access to childcare vouchers, opportunities to earn more through paid overtime, a civil service pension, annual season ticket loans, a free gym, a variety of exclusive discounts, free parking and Our Give As You Earn scheme. 
Click Here to find our more about the facilities within each prison.

Eligibility

You don’t need any formal qualifications to become a prison officer - but there are some key things that we’ll be looking for. You’ll need plenty of common sense, a reliable approach, good people skills, a strong character, and the willingness to take on responsibilities.

You’ll also be expected to take part in our security and identity checks before joining us – and to tell us if you are a member of any group or organisation that does not fit with the prison service values of diversity and inclusion. You must have the right to work in the UK as well.

Application Process

By applying to HMP Thames Valley, you’ll be automatically entered into a Specialist Recruitment scheme that aims to make the assessment process faster and less bureaucratic.

The scheme aims to recruit candidates in a 30-day timeframe, from application to the issuing of a conditional contract. The process will consist of:

  • A written application – please complete this is seven days to help keep the process streamlined. It’s also really important you provide us with your preferences for which prison you’d like to work in.
  • An online test – once your application has been approved, you’ll be given access to 15 questions with multiple choice answers testing four key skills.
  • Recruitment Assessment Day (RAD) – if you pass the tests, you’ll be invited to an assessment day. This will consist of a computer based test, a group scenario test, fitness test (include health check and vetting. (Don’t worry, the tests are not too onerous and we don’t require you to be an athlete.) They will be held onsite in HMP Grendon / Springhill, Grendon Underwood, Aylesbury HP18 0TL and we’ll give you guidance on what to expect of the day in advance.

There are six prisons in our cluster, any of which you could work in as part of this campaign. However, where we can, we’ll take your preferences into account- so it’s important you provide these during your application.

Offer

If you’re successful, you’ll be given a provisional offer at the Assessment Day. Formal security checks, led by our providers SSCL will then commence

Training

Once you have passed the RAD, you’ll be booked into the 12-week Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT) programme. As part of this course, you’ll gain a Level 3 Diploma in the Management and Care of Individuals in the Custodial Environment. This will give you some excellent transferable skills, including understanding of working in custodial care, current legislative and organisational requirements, and best working practices.

Find out more

You can find out more about the benefits, assessment and training in the attached FAQs, by visiting www.prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk or by searching for us at Prison jobs on Facebook.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants, you can read more about it here [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-code/the-civil-service-code].

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The job holder must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English or (when specified in Wales) Welsh.
Please refer the Job Description supporting document

07/12/2017, 23:55 hours.

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am-6pm) or email moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk . Please quote the job reference.
Please note the successful applicant will need to undertake a medical before taking up this post.
if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance

We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.


Application form stage assessments

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

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) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for 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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

This Vacancy is closed to applications.