Prison Officer in Oadby

Location: HMP Fosse Way, Wigston, LE18 4WS

Full-time with varying shift patterns.

Important: To be eligible for this role, you must have at least two years remaining on your current visa and have lived in the UK for at least one year to meet our vetting requirements.

Work with Purpose: Transfer your Skills to a Career in the Prison Service.

What’s in it for you?

• Your starting salary will be £29,314pa, increasing to £30,442 after 12 months and increasing again to £34,670 after 3 years’ service.
• Opportunity to earn approximately £37,800 including overtime.
• Clear career development pathways for you to transition quickly into operational management positions with salaries ranging from £37,000 to £42,000.
• Free parking on site, free use of the gym and free food while on shift.
• Pension scheme.
• Health and wellbeing benefits.
• Reward and recognition scheme.
• Discounts including cinema, retail, dining, leisure centre memberships, mobile phone plans and more.
• Option to apply for a Blue Light discount card.

Is this the right career for you?

Our Prison Custody Officers join us from a wide range of backgrounds - including customer service, administration, retail and hospitality, warehousing and logistics, the Armed Forces, health and social care, manufacturing, trades, operations and supervision, security, education and more.

Day to day you’ll be involved in:

• Supervising prisoners in all aspects of prison wing activity.
• Overseeing work and education programmes, encouraging prisoners to participate.
• Operational matters such as prisoner headcounts, prison cell searching, security, and administrative processes.
• Managing prisoners who are at risk of self-harm.

What you’ve done before doesn’t matter as much as how you work. We’re focused on transferable skills and behaviours such as strong communication, teamwork, resilience, patience, time management, and the ability to de-escalate challenging situations. A commitment to customer service and upholding health and safety standards is key - the rest you’ll learn through our comprehensive 10-week training course and the ongoing support of experienced colleagues.

We operate 24/7, all year round meaning you’ll cover shifts on days, evenings, weekends, nights, and bank holidays. We value the importance of work-life balance, we operate on a rota basis that allows you the flexibility to enjoy meaningful time off.

Your recruitment journey:

• You’ll be invited to complete an online assessment.
• If successful, you’ll attend a virtual competency-based interview, along with an English assessment.
• Once passed, you’ll be invited to HMP Fosse Way for a Welcome briefing about the prison and the role, a group session, a mobility assessment, and a guided visit around the prison.
• After successfully completing the assessment process, you’ll attend a 10-week Initial Training Course (ITC) at the prison (100% attendance required), which includes 8 weeks of classroom-based training, 2 weeks of on-the-job shadowing to experience the role first-hand, completion of a Diploma in Custodial Care, First Aid training, and Control and Restraint training.

Travel: Please note that this position is based at HMP Fosse Way in Leicester, which has limited public transport options. Due to the nature of our shift patterns, we strongly encourage applicants to consider their commute time and transportation options before applying. Therefore, we recommend that candidates live within a 30 mile radius of the above location to maintain punctuality, work-life balance, and job satisfaction.

What else do I need to know: This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and all offers of employment are subject to security clearance checks, and satisfactory employment references. You’ll be required to provide 5 years of employment and education history as part of these checks. This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current UK Home Office rules, as it does not meet the required salary or skill level criteria.

A little bit about us: At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on.

Our inclusive recruitment commitment: We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, a top Great British Employer of Veterans, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities and veterans who meet the minimum job criteria are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.

Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.