Prison Support Officer - HMP Ashfield

Location: HMP Ashfield, Bristol

Salary: £25,494 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?

• Report to the Custodial Operations Manager, supporting with various duties.
• 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!

Why Serco:

• Meaningful and vital work - The nature of our business means you will do interesting work that matters – delivering essential services that touch people’s lives.
• A world of opportunity - Our diverse UK-wide operations offer unrivalled opportunities to learn and develop. You’ll be able to broaden your experience and apply your skills in new ways.
• Great people - We are a motivated team who will encourage you and help you to succeed. You’ll have the resources you need to do your job in a diverse and supportive environment.

What we offer:

• Serco Benefits package
• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Serco discounts which include cinema, merlin entertainment and online shopping discounts and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
• A safe and supportive culture
• The chance to make a positive difference to the prison and court systems
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion

Please note that this position is based at HMP Ashfield, Shortwood Road, Pucklechurch, Bristol, BS16 9QJ. Due to the nature of our shift patterns, we strongly encourage applicants to consider their commute time and transportation options before applying. We recommend that candidates live within a 30 mile radius of the above location to maintain punctuality, work-life balance, and job satisfaction.

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. Candidates who already have a valid right to work in the UK through other immigration routes or permissions must meet the below minimum eligibility criteria:

• Have at least two years remaining on your current visa to ensure sufficient time in the role.
• Have lived in the UK for at least one year.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all offers of employment are subject to security clearance checks and approval by the Home Office. You will be required to obtain Home Office CTC & Enhanced DBS with adult and child barring vetting clearances (which require 5 years of checkable history).

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 J&IcareersUK@serco.com. 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 J&IcareersUK@serco.com to discuss.