At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the daily operations of a busy prison, ensuring security and assisting with various duties.
- Company: Join a dedicated team in a challenging yet rewarding environment.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, a generous pension scheme, and access to training opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible shifts including nights and weekends, with opportunities for career progression.
- Why this job: Make a difference in a unique role while gaining valuable experience and skills.
- Qualifications: No specific qualifications required, just a willingness to learn and work as part of a team.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 30000 £ per year.
Overview
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share
16-Oct-2025
Location
Exeter
AA
Number of jobs available
6
Job ID
10309
Descriptions & requirements
An extraordinary 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.
Address
HMYOI Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4EX
City / Town
Exeter
Region
South West
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:
- 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
- monitoring and logging mail coming into the prison
- reporting any contraband items, preserving evidence where needed
- ensuring cell doors are locked and all prisoners are safely accounted for.
Reception
- photographing prisoners
- processing prisoners’ property and parcels coming into the prison.
- sometimes supervising prisoners
- exchanging clothing and property
- helping prison officers escort prisoners around the prison
- 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.
- monitoring the prison’s Personal Identification Number (PIN) phone system
- maintaining the log of PIN phone requests from prisoners
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.
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 a paid Level 2 apprenticeship in customer service
- 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
How to apply
Stage 1
1. Tell us about yourself
Click apply and fill in your personal details on our application form
- Take a short online test
When you apply, you will receive an email with detailed instructions on how to take our online test. This is a behaviour-based assessment that assesses whether you have the right natural strengths and behavioural preferences to become an Operational Support Grade. You will complete a series of mini tasks that are designed to elicit your natural behavioural preferences (e.g., how you naturally tend to make decisions). Whilst the tasks themselves aren’t set in the context of the role; they are designed to observe the behaviours that are most important for the role. This will take around 40 minutes to complete, but there is no time limit.
You don’t need to be a gamer to do well on this test. We’re just looking for your natural ability to succeed in the role.
Stage 2
If you pass the test, we’ll invite you for an interview.
Before you take the test, you will have the opportunity to practice and prepare for the real test. You will receive information and a link to access this and the actual test once you apply .
The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of behaviours and experience. It will provide the ideal opportunity to tell us more about yourself, your work history, or personal experiences, so we can get to know you better and assess how you will be suited to prison work. Your Strengths will also be assessed at interview, but these are not shared in advance.
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.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
10309 - Operational Support Grade - HMP Exeter (Prison Support Role) employer: Ministry of Justice
As an Operational Support Grade at HMP Exeter, you will join a dedicated team committed to maintaining safety and security in a dynamic environment. The role offers competitive pay, generous annual leave, and access to a robust Civil Service pension scheme, alongside opportunities for professional development through paid apprenticeships. With a supportive work culture that values teamwork and employee well-being, HMP Exeter is an excellent employer for those seeking a meaningful career in prison support.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land 10309 - Operational Support Grade - HMP Exeter (Prison Support Role)
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the role inside out! Familiarise yourself with the responsibilities of an Operational Support Grade. This way, when you get to the interview, you can confidently discuss how your skills match what they're looking for.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Run through common interview questions and think about how your past experiences relate to the job. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or family to build your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your enthusiasm! During the interview, let your passion for the role shine through. Talk about why you want to work in a prison support role and how you can contribute to the team.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're serious about the role and keen to join our team at HMP Exeter.
We think you need these skills to ace 10309 - Operational Support Grade - HMP Exeter (Prison Support Role)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself:When you're filling out your application, let your personality shine through! We want to get to know the real you, so don’t be afraid to share your experiences and what makes you tick.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to read the job description carefully and highlight how your skills and experiences match what we're looking for. This shows us that you’re genuinely interested in the role and understand what it entails.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We appreciate a well-structured application. Use clear language and keep your points concise. This helps us quickly see why you’d be a great fit for the Operational Support Grade role.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive all your details correctly and can process your application smoothly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ministry of Justice
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of an Operational Support Grade. Familiarise yourself with tasks like gate duties, monitoring CCTV, and supervising visitors. This knowledge will help you answer questions confidently and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since the role involves a lot of interaction with staff, visitors, and prisoners, it's crucial to demonstrate your communication skills. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've effectively communicated or resolved conflicts. This will highlight your ability to manage a quality service.
✨Be Ready for Shift Work Questions
Given that this position requires working nights, weekends, and holidays, be prepared to discuss your availability and flexibility. Think about how you can manage your time and commitments around these shifts, and express your willingness to adapt to the demands of the job.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
The interview will assess your behaviours, so practice answering behavioural questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Think of specific situations where you've demonstrated skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and adherence to protocols, as these are key in a prison support role.
