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Looking to apply for one of our Prison Officer jobs at Serco? We want you to have a realistic view of what it’s like to be a Prison Officer on the ground in one of our UK custodial establishments. Discover more below!

We operate

0 adult prisons
around the UK
0 prisoners
with an operational capacity to hold over  

A custodial career isn't what you might imagine...

Discover more about the role

Make no mistake, this is a role where your contribution counts - helping to give people in prison structure within their lives, being a role model to encourage positive choices, and ensuring that they're supported during their rehabilitation journey. When you're on duty you'll act as mentor and will assure the safety, security and decency of prisoners and perform a pivotal role within the prison and the community it serves.

Daily duties involve
  • Supervising prisoners in all aspects of wing-based activity

  • Encouraging prisoners to go to work or complete the jobs they have within the prison

  • Attending additional education classes

  • Serving food and effectively managing people at risk of self-harm

  • Operational matters such as headcounts, searching, supervision and security together with administrative processes must all be effectively delivered.

Every prisoner reacts differently and you'll see a full range of emotions from; apathy, anger, remorse or trauma. For the person in prison it can be one of the most stressful situations they'll ever encounter, but for you it’s an everyday part of your job.

Hours and shifts

The service that we provide is available every day of the year across a 24-hour period, meaning you'll cover various shift patterns, including days, evenings, weekends, nights and bank holidays with an average of 40 hours per week.

Training
Once you have passed the selection and vetting process, you'll attend an eight-week Initial Training Course (ITC) at the establishment you're joining, and you'll be required to have 100% attendance. The ITC will provide high quality training where you'll complete a Diploma in Custodial Care and undergo Control and Restraint training. You'll also shadow experienced Prison Officers on shift to give you a real taste of life on the job.
Specific requirements
First, you'll need to meet our essential criteria, which includes having the right to work in the UK. Beyond that, we'll check things like your eyesight and physical fitness. We'll also expect you to pass a basic maths and English test along side the ability to demonstrate the personal qualities we're looking for, when you come in for an assessment day. These tests aren't just to make the selection process easier, they're designed to make sure you have the right skills and attitude to get the most from the role. 
Security clearance
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and all offers of employment are subject to security clearance checks and approval by the Home Office.
Our prisons

Our public sector ethos is to pursue a compassionate, rehabilitative approach to reduce the demand on the custodial system and to successfully integrate those in our care back into the community. All of our prisons are Category B or C establishments.

Category B prisons are either local or training prisons. Local prisons house prisoners that are taken directly from court in the local area (sentenced or on remand), and training prisons hold long-term and high-security prisoners.

Category C prisons are training and resettlement prisons; most prisoners are located in a category C. They provide prisoners with the opportunity to develop their own skills so they can find work and resettle back into the community on release.

Search and Apply

Select apply to start your journey to become a Prison Officer.

Outside grounds at HMP Ashfield

HMP Ashfield, Bristol

HMP Ashfield is a category C adult male facility near Bristol that holds 400 convicted prisoners serving sentences for sexual offences. We have been responsible for operating the prison since 2005 and today we employ around 200 colleagues on site. Our primary purpose at HMP Ashfield is to rehabilitate prisoners convicted of sexual offences in a safe, decent and healthy environment.

Front gates of HMP Doncaster

HMP Doncaster, Doncaster

HMP Doncaster is a category B resettlement prison situated in South Yorkshire and houses a male population of up to 1,145 individuals. As a local remand institution, the purpose is to work with the prisoners, particularly those serving less than a 12-month sentence, to ensure that they have the support they need for resettlement as well as access to the services and support available to them after release.

HMP Dovegate Prison passenger and vehicle entrances

HMP Dovegate, Staffordshire

HMP Dovegate is a Category B adult male facility near Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, where we house up to 1,060 male adult prisoners over the age of 21 serving a range of sentences. HMP Dovegate runs a Therapeutic Community which is the UK’s only privately-owned, purpose-built facility providing an environment that changes people’s way of thinking with the shared aim of changing lives for the better. 

External view of the HMP Fosse Way building

HMP Fosse Way, Leicester

HMP Fosse Way is a brand-new resettlement prison in Leicester, housing around 1,700 prisoners who have served most of their sentences and are due for release in the area. The purpose of the prison is to offer support and training so that the people in prison are prepared for a successful reintegration into society with meaningful and paid employment. 

A image of the front entrance of HMP Thameside with a grass area on a sunny day

HMP Thameside, London

HMP Thameside is a local resettlement prison in the Thamesmead area of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, South-East London, and is situated next to HMP Belmarsh. HMP Thameside is London’s only private prison. A new-build prison, successfully completed in 2012, we have run the facility since it opened. The prison quickly and safely responds to the needs of the custodial population within the heart of London.

Prison Officer

Lee Norton

 

I was good at working in a team to safely solve problems, but my career lacked direction. My ability to communicate calmly has helped me to find a more purposeful career path as a Prison Officer.

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What you can expect from us

Working as a Prison Officer isn't always easy - but it is rewarding. While you're ensuring the safety of those around you, we'll be providing you with the accredited training and development you'll need for a long, successful, and interesting career within Serco. And as well as supportive colleagues we also offer a competitive salary and benefits package too. 

A place you can make an impact

Prison Officers are key to ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of prisoners, staff and visitors in their prisons. More importantly they play a vital role in reducing reoffending rates among people in prison, which is key to protecting public finances. They do this through encouraging educational and vocational development and through an empathetic approach.

A place you can count on

Our prisons hold a huge amount of variety and opportunity, with Prison Officers being able to progress into Operations Management or into specialist services such as Psychology, Education, Health or the Animal unit. There are also opportunities within our Prisoner Escorting Service and Immigration Centres - and of course our other prisons.

A place for you

Because of our investment in safeguarding and rehabilitation, our prisons are calmer and can be very different to public prisons. You’ll also receive all the training and advice you’ll need from your friendly and supportive colleagues with job shadowing and buddy programmes in place.

Salary

There is a clear salary structure in place to reward you as you grow and develop in to the role, meaning that you'll get receive salary increases after 1, 2 and 3 years’ service. 

Benefits

As well as a clear salary structure and career progression, we offer you a holiday entitlement of 23 days plus bank holidays, with your holiday entitlement rising after 1 and 2 years in service, up to 6% contributory pension scheme, and Life Assurance. Alongside Serco discounts which include cinema, merlin entertainment, online shopping discounts, discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.

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A image of a prison officer wearing glasses and smiling into the distance inside HMP Doncaster

Our process

A image of two prison officers having a conversation while walking outside down a garden path in front of HMP Dovegate

Start your journey to become a Prison Officer

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