£10,920 Average salary at age 20
£32,760 Average Salary
43 Average hours per week

Description

Prison service officers (below Principal Officer) direct, co-ordinate and participate in guarding inmates and maintaining discipline in prisons and other detention centres.

Main Tasks

  • Escorts prisoners to and from cells and supervises them during meals, recreation and visiting periods;
  • Watches for any infringements of regulations and searches prisoners and cells for weapons, drugs and other contraband items;
  • Guards entrances and perimeter walls;
  • Investigates disturbances or any other unusual occurrences;
  • Escorts prisoners transferred from one institution to another;
  • Runs prisoner rehabilitation and support programmes;
  • Provides care and support to prisoners in custody including prevention of self harm;
  • Trains and supervises prison staff;
  • Reports on prisoners’ conduct as necessary.

Qualifications

There are no formal academic requirements for entry but candidates must pass a pre-entry test and full medical examination. Basic training is followed by a 12 month probationary period during which further on-the-job training is provided. Background checks are required for entrants, and there are generally nationality restrictions and a lower age limit of 18 years.

UK Prospects

49000 Workforce Size
14.77% Predicted growth 2025 - 2035

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