What you can expect from us
Make a difference every day
Working as a Prison Officer isn't always easy - but it is rewarding. Whilst 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 give you a competitive salary and benefits package too.
Meaningful and vital work
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 amongst prisoners, which is key to protecting public finances. They do this through encouraging educational and vocational development and through an empathetic approach.
A world of opportunity
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.
Great people
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 will get receive salary increases after 1, 2 and 3 years’ service. Please see the specific prison information below for the salary bandings.
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 and online shopping discounts, cycle to work scheme and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
Hours and Shifts
The service that we provide to our prisoners is available every day of the year across a 24 hour period, meaning you will have to 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 a 8 to 9 week Initial Training Course (ITC) at the prison (or nearby). The ITC is part of a 15 month Prison Officer development programme that includes a CDO Apprenticeship and various training modules including Control and Restraint. You’ll also shadow experienced Prison Officers on shift to give you a real taste of life on the job.
You need a 100% attendance record to pass the ITC. If you’re unable to do that then you will be offered another ITC start date.
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.