Prison Officer Returners Scheme.

We can offer you a simplified return with no need to repeat the online tests, the online assessment centre or foundation training. However, if you would like to work in a women’s prison, you will be required to undertake the additional assessment for women’s prisons if you have not completed it previously.

Once your eligibility for the scheme has been confirmed, you will be allocated straight to a vacancy as one becomes available and invited to the medical and fitness assessment. You will be required to undergo full pre-employment checks prior to returning. If vacancies are not immediately available at the prison(s) of your preference, you will be placed on a merit list and be priority consideration for vacancies as they arise.

You can apply to return as a prison officer at HMPPS if you:

• left HMPPS within the last 5 years at band 3 or a higher grade
• previously worked as a prison officer at HMPPS at band 3, 4 or 5 within the last five years
• previously worked as a youth justice worker at HMPPS at band 3 or 4 within the last five years
• completed foundation training and your full probation period as a prison officer or a youth justice worker at HMPPS

If you worked in another HMPPS role before becoming a prison officer or youth justice worker, you need to have:

• completed your full probation period in that role
• worked as a prison officer or youth justice worker for more than 12 months before leaving

The scheme is also open to former HMPPS prison officers and youth justice workers who are currently working within the MoJ (excluding HMPPS) or other government departments.

HMPPS reserves the right to refuse reappointment to former prison officers and youth justice workers on grounds of previous poor attendance or performance.

To be a prison officer you must:

• 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 (both with and without corrective lenses)
• Have a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids)

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.

DBS vetting will be undertaken for specific prisons. CTC vetting will be undertaken for high security prisons if you do not already have a clearance which is still in date. To work in a high security prison (category A) you must have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years.

Application Process:

You will be asked to provide up to three prisons where you would be willing to return to the prison officer role. Once your eligibility for the scheme has been confirmed, you will be allocated straight to a vacancy as one becomes available and invited to the medical and fitness assessment. You will be required to undergo full pre-employment checks prior to returning. If you are allocated to a women’s prison, you will need to complete the additional assessment for women’s prisons if you have not completed it previously.

You will return to full-time hours (starting at 37 hours a week), unless you request other hours when you apply. The availability of part-time and work-life balance arrangements depends on local staffing needs therefore cannot be guaranteed.

Travel to Work:

Some of our prisons 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. Shift start and finish times are fixed so it is your responsibility to arrive on time.

Pay:

You will return as a Band 3 on pay point 2. If returning full-time, you will be given a contract for 37 hours a week. Your annual salary will reflect your weekly hours.

National: 37 hours a week (pay point 2) = £33,583 a year

Outer London: 37 hours a week (pay point 2) = £37,343 a year

Inner London: 37 hours a week (pay point 2) = £39,301 a year

All starting salary figures quoted are for 2024/25 and include the 20% unsocial hours allowance. Some establishments also receive a market supplement.

Prisons operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means you will have to cover various shift patterns that will include evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.

You may also have opportunities to work additional paid hours.

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.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. If you feel the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you can raise a formal complaint.

If you require any assistance, please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am-6pm) or e-mail MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk. Please quote the job reference 4598.

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

Closing date: This campaign is due close on 25th June 2025 but may be extended.

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.

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• 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

Please refer to additional job description attachment.