202503: Prison Officer - HMP Guys Marsh

Guy's Marsh, South West England, SP7 0AH

An extraordinary job. Done by someone like you. Prison officers protect the public and help make an impact on prisoners' lives. If you have the integrity, skills and strength of character we're looking for, this fast-paced role could be the start of a successful career.

Address: HMP Guys Marsh, Guy's Marsh, Shaftesbury SP7 0AH

Salary: £32,448 - £36,541

City / Town: Yeovil

Region: South West

Vacancy Type: Merit

Someone like you: There’s no such thing as a typical prison officer. Our officers come from different walks of life, just like the offenders they work with. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, have worked in retail, the armed forces, or just feel like you’re a natural people person, you’ll have the empathy, self-confidence, great communication skills and resilience we want. No matter the challenge, you’ll take the time to build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners who could be at the lowest point in their lives.

Teamwork plays a vital role in this environment, so you’ll need to be fully committed to supporting your colleagues and understand the importance of acting as one team to keep the prison, and everyone who works here safe. You will be required to work various shifts and some weekends.

In this unique career, you’ll have the opportunity to carry out many different roles in any one day. One minute you’re a peacekeeper, the next you’re a counsellor or a teacher. You’ll work directly with prisoners in a unique environment, helping to protect the public and make a positive impact.

Eligibility To Become a Prison Officer, You Will Need To:

• be at least 18 years old at the point you commence employment
• meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements
• pass a medical and fitness assessment as part of the application process
• meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes
• have a suitable standard of hearing

Whilst tattoos are permitted, they must not be deemed as offensive, discriminatory, violent, or intimidating in any way. Facial tattoos are generally not acceptable, except for cultural, religious, or medical reasons. To work in a high security prison (category A) you must have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years.

Some prison establishments are situated in rural locations with limited public transport options; therefore, a driving licence and own transport is beneficial but is not an essential requirement of the role. Please note that shift start and finish times are fixed, and it is your responsibility to get to and from your place of work on time for the start of your shift.

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)
• 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

Essential Skills: You don’t need qualifications to become a prison officer. Personal qualities are more important. You need to show:

• communication and influencing skills
• commitment to quality
• effective decision-making
• care and understanding

The initial training is 37 hours a week. After training, you can choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week. Your annual salary will reflect your weekly hours.

• 37 hours a week = £32,448 a year
• 39 hours a week = £34,494 a year
• 41 hours a week = £36,541 a year

All salary figures quoted include any additional allowances that are applicable to the role/location.

Benefits:

• 25 days’ annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service)
• paid time off for public holidays and 1 extra privilege day
• Civil Service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%
• cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits

During The Recruitment Process You Will Be Assessed On The Behaviours, Strengths And Abilities You Need To Become An Effective Prison Officer. These Include:

• communicating and influencing
• managing a quality service
• making effective decisions
• caring

Once you have completed your initial application form, you will be invited to complete stage 1 of the online test. If you are successful, we will invite you to the stage 2 online test (task-based assessment).

On successful completion of the online tests, we will invite you to an online assessment centre.

This is a merit job vacancy. If you are successful at the online assessment centre, you will be added to a merit list based on your score.

Our Online Assessment Centre (OAC) will also determine your suitability for appointment as an operational support grade OSG.

Once we identify a vacancy for you, we will invite you to complete a medical and fitness test.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of Civil Servants.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.

As a Disability Confident employer, the MoJ is committed to ensuring that everyone can demonstrate their skills, talent, and abilities.

Closing date: 30th April 2025.