22280 - Operational Support Grade - Advance Into Justice (London)

Job summary

Please see the job description.

Job description

**PLEASE NOTE** These positions are being offered on a Fixed Term Contract for a period of 2 years.

Descriptions & requirements
Advance into Justice is a recruitment scheme targeted at supporting those who have served in the Armed Forces and their families into employment within operational roles within HMPPS.
Advance into Justice is open to Armed Forces; Service Leavers, Veterans, Spouses/ Legal Partners & Reservists.
Eligible applicants who pass our assessment processes will be offered a 2 year fixed-term appointment within the option to convert to permanency, subject to approval, after 12 months, under Exceptions to the Civil Service recruitment principles.
All provisional offers will be held for a period of 12 months from the point of offer, to allow service leavers to plan for their exit from the Armed Forces.’
For further information please visit our website Advance into Justice

Job description

An extraordinay job. Done by someone like you.
As part of our prison support team, your work will be varied and help to keep the prison moving.
This is an active role where you will be doing a range of physical tasks. These can include lifting and carrying, plus long periods of standing and walking. There will also be periods of lone working whilst undertaking tasks on both day and night shifts.
You will not always be in contact with prisoners, it depends on the prison you work in. You will have full training and a supportive team by your side.
Your location preference will be captured on the on-line application form and you will be able to select a maximum of three prison locations.
Please be advised that some prison locations will require higher-level vetting checks (CTC, see further information below). Candidates who select a location that requires a higher level of clearance may have an extended vetting process to obtain the higher-level clearance required to access these locations. Candidates will be advised during the recruitment process.
Travel to Work – 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 unless specified. 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. Please carefully consider the location of this vacancy and your transport options.

Accommodation is not provided.

Life as an OSG

Your job can include:

Gate duties

ensuring the secure entry and exit of staff, visitors, vehicles.
carrying out searches of staff, prisoners, visitors and vehicles
walking around the prison site to escort vehicles and contractors
issuing and collecting staff keys and radios
walking around the prison site patrolling and searching perimeter fence areas

Control room

operating the prison radio system
monitoring CCTV, ensuring all suspicious activities are reported.

Visits

welcoming visitors on their arrival
escorting them if needed

Correspondence

monitoring and logging mail coming into the prison
reporting any contraband items, preserving evidence where needed

Night duties

ensuring cell doors are locked and all prisoners are safely accounted for.

Reception

photographing prisoners
processing prisoners’ property and parcels coming into the prison.

Prisoner supervision

sometimes supervising prisoners
exchanging clothing and property
helping prison officers escort prisoners around the prison

Food delivery

walking around the prison delivering and collecting food trollies, or sometimes using an electric tug vehicle

Driving duties

collecting mail from the local sorting office, which may involve lifting heavy sacks.

Phone calls

monitoring the prison’s Personal Identification Number (PIN) phone system
maintaining the log of PIN phone requests from prisoners
completing relevant records

Procedures and protocol

understanding and conforming to national and local policies, responding appropriately to incidents and emergencies
You do not need any qualifications to do this job. Helping to keep a prison running smoothly and safely requires good judgement, common sense, responsibility and, above all teamwork.

Salary- £30,491 - £36,752
Inner London - £36,752, Outer London - £34,609, Other locations - £30,491
The salary figures quoted are for a 37-hour working week inclusive of 20% unsocial hours working allowance which is included in the salary to reflect the requirement to work nights, evening, and weekend shifts.

In addition to your base pay, you will receive:

• annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after 10 years’ service (calculated on a pro‑rata basis)
• 9 days bank, public and privilege holidays
• access to the generous Civil Service pension scheme
• season ticket loans, retail discounts, an Employee Assistance Programme, and a Cycle to Work scheme.

Hours

You will work an average of 37 hours per week, and this will include working night shifts, evenings, weekends, and Bank/Public holidays on a rolling shift pattern (these days are added to your holiday allowance) The frequency of night shifts will vary for each Establishment and can be discussed at interview. For an example of the shift times that you could be working please visit our website

Job offers: ‘merit’ vacancy.
This is a ‘merit’ job vacancy. If you are successful at the interview, you will be added to a merit list based on your score.
When all applicants have completed the assessment, the prison will make job offers to those with the highest scores first when positions become available.
You can stay on the merit list for 12 months. After this, you will need to apply again.
If your application is unsuccessful at the sift/Interview stage, a six‑month waiting period will be applied during which time you will not be allowed to submit any further applications for Operational Support Grade positions.

The jobholder must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English or (when specified in Wales) Welsh.

CTC (Counter Terrorist Check)

If your application is successful, you will need to undergo and clear pre‑employment checks. This will include His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service Enhanced Level 2 vetting, and dependent on the security status of the establishment Counter‑Terrorism Check (CTC vetting) may also be required. Proof that you have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years is needed to complete the CTC vetting process. The residency requirements refer to the period immediately before an application is made, and not any other three‑year period, or any other accumulation of time spent in the UK.
If you have been out of the country for a significant period of time (usually up to one year) and maintained your UK residency you may still be considered for vetting clearance. For example:
spent a significant period of time overseas without returning to the UK, but intend to return in the future
taken a gap year before or following university
travelled for a year
spent time overseas visiting family
This is not an exhaustive list.
Candidates must be able to provide correct and up to date documentation when requested during the application process.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's . Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing (resourcing-services@justice.gov.uk).
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

Reasonable Adjustment Support

As a Disability Confident employer, the MoJ is committed to ensuring that everyone can demonstrate their skills, talent, and abilities. Offering reasonable adjustment support to candidates when they apply for one of our jobs is just one way we do this.
Before completing online tests or attending an interview, it is essential to arrange reasonable adjustment support. Due to practical and logistical constraints, our assessors cannot accommodate requests on the day. Therefore, we kindly request that you let us know in plenty of time if adjustments are required. This will help ensure the right support is in place for you when you need it.
Applying for reasonable adjustment support has been made simple. Just select ‘yes’ in the application form when it asks if you think you might need it.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain, and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Person specification

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non‑contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre‑employment checks.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part‑time, flexible, and job‑sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part‑time, flexible, and job‑sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Please note that whilst tattoos are permitted, including those that are visible, they must not be deemed as offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating in any way. Facial tattoos are generally not acceptable, except where this is for cultural, religious, or medical reasons.

Benefits

Annual Leave

The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a nonstandard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro‑rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ.

Season Ticket Advance

After two months’ service, you will be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer‑period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work.

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee‑run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes.

There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts.

All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles.

Eligibility

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post.

All external candidates are subject to 6 months’ probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS.

All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist.

Interview dates: To Be Confirmed

Closing Date: 26th November 2026 23:55 hours.

Contact Information

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com. Please quote the job reference - 22280

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,491, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £8,833 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Strengths. Please see the job description. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo an enhanced (or equivalent) criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter‑terrorist check. See our vetting charter. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

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)
• 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

Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. #J-18808-Ljbffr