Prison Support Officer - HMP Ashfield

Location: HMP Ashfield, Bristol

Salary: £23,860 per annum, plus Serco benefits

Working hours: Full-Time, 40 hours per week / We are also offering Part Time hours if required.

We’re looking for Prison Support Officers (OSOs) to join our team at HMP Ashfield. You’ll play a vital role helping prison operations run smoothly.

What does the job involve?

You’ll report to the Custodial Operations Manager, supporting with various duties. You’ll be entrusted to:

• carry out duties in the control room, monitoring CCTV and radio systems, alerting staff when alarms are raised and completing all necessary paperwork
• conduct routine net test calls and cell call checks
• work in the Gatehouse, giving access to both visitors and staff, and searching vehicles and staff when required
• assist with escorting vehicles around the establishment
• allocate Body Worn Video Cameras (BMVCs) and be responsible for the equipment
• support with contingency planning
• plus other operational tasks as needed

What we’re looking for

• Essential: GCSEs in Maths and English (Grade C or above) or equivalent, plus good IT skills
• Desirable: Experience in a secure environment (e.g., prison service), knowledge of security procedures, and proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Skills: Strong organisation, analytical thinking, and attention to detail – reading and writing skills are important for report writing and interpreting data
• Team player: Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with staff, visitors, and prisoners
• Trust and discretion: This role involves handling sensitive information with professionalism
• Other requirements: A full driving licence and flexibility to work shifts, which may include nights

If you thrive in a structured yet dynamic environment, we’d love to hear from you!

What we offer

• Training and development: Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (including L3 Team Leader and L5 Operations Manager apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
• Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Health and wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
• Discounts: Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel.
• Employee networks: Join a network where colleagues can come together, meet new people, find support, share ideas and be part of a real community.

A little bit about us

At Serco, we’re a fast-growing company, serving governments around the globe. Our work spans sectors a wide range of sectors including Justice, Immigration, Defence, Leisure, Healthcare, Transport, and Citizen Services. We’re committed to delivering, improving and redesigning public services for the benefit of everyone, guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation, and Pride.

Our inclusive recruitment process: We see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We’re a proud holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard and a Disability Confident Leader, championing fair access to employment and equal opportunities for all. As such we’ll make reasonable adjustments from interview through to employment. As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.

Ready to impact a better future? Apply today.

About Serco
At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Apply
Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.