Prison Officer – Advance into JusticeMinistry of Justice

Ministry of Justice

Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working

Posted 13 August 2026 Closing date 26 November 2026

Checked 17 hours ago · still listed on the Ministry of Justice jobs site Closes in 38 days · 26 Nov 2026

All

staff have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

The post holder must undertake the appropriate level of training and is

responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding

policies of the organisation.

Job description

Advance into Justice - Prison Officer

HMP

Aylesbury

Bedford

Belmarsh

Berwyn

Birmingham

Brinsford

Bristol

Brixton

Buckley Hall

Bullingdon

Bure

Cardiff

Channings Wood

Chelmsford

Coldingley

Deerbolt

Durham

Elmley

Erlestoke

Exeter

Featherstone

Feltham B

Ford

Frankland

Full Sutton

Garth

Gartree

Grendon

Guys Marsh

Hatfield

Haverigg

Hewell

High Down

Highpoint

Hindley

Hollesley Bay

Holme House

Hull

Humber

Huntercombe

Isis

Isle of Wight

Kirkham

Kirklevington Grange

Lancaster Farms

Leeds

Leicester

Lewes

Leyhill

Lincoln

Lindholme

Littlehey

Liverpool

Long Lartin

Lowdham Grange

Maidstone

Manchester

Moorland

Morton Hall

North Sea Camp

Norwich

Nottingham

Onley

Pentonville

Portland

Preston

Ranby

Risley

Rochester

Stafford

Standford Hill

Stocken

Stoke Heath

Sudbury

Swansea

Swaleside

Swinfen Hall

The Mount

The Verne

Thorn Cross

Usk/Prescoed

Wakefield

Wandsworth

Warren Hill

Wayland

Wealstun

Whatton

Whitemoor

Winchester

Woodhill

Wormwood Scrubs

Wymot

Vacancy type: Merit

Duration : 2 Year Fixed Term Appointment

Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available for this role, subject to eligibility and in line with the UK Immigration Rules in force at the time of application. However, due to current immigration requirements and recruitment timescales, candidates who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored if applying to this campaign.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider their right to work in the UK carefully before applying. You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and eligibility criteria at gov.uk.

The Department will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service.

Advance into Justice is a recruitment scheme targeted at supporting those who have served in the Armed Forces and their families into employment within operational roles within HMPPS.

Advance into Justice is open to Service Leavers, Armed Forces Veterans, their Spouses and Legal Partners.

Eligible applicants who pass our assessment processes will be offered a 2-year fixed-term appointment with the option after 12 months, to convert to permanency, subject to approval, under Exception 10 of the Civil Service recruitment principles.

All provisional offers will be held for a period of 12 months from the point of offer, to allow service leavers to plan for their exit from the Armed Forces and transition directly into a career with HMPPS.

Candidates are requested to select 3 establishment preferences

An extraordinary job. Done by someone like you.

Prison officers protect the public and help make an impact on prisoners' lives.

If you have the integrity, skills and strength of character we’re looking for, this fast-paced role could be the start of a successful career.

Someone like you

There’s no such thing as a typical prison officer. Our officers come from different walks of life, just like the offenders they work with. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, have worked in retail, the armed forces, or just feel like you’re a natural people person, you’ll have the empathy, self-confidence, great communication skills and resilience we want.

No matter the challenge, you’ll take the time to build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners who could be at the lowest point in their lives.

Teamwork plays a vital role in this environment, so you’ll need to be fully committed to supporting your colleagues and understand the importance of acting as one team to keep the prison, and everyone who works here safe. You will be required to work various shifts and some weekends.

An extraordinary job

In this unique career, you’ll have the opportunity to carry out many different roles in any one day. One minute you’re a peacekeeper, the next you’re a counsellor or a teacher. You’ll work directly with prisoners in a unique environment, helping to protect the public and make a positive impact.

Find out more about this varied role and day-to-day life as a prison officer.

Job details

Eligibility

To become a prison officer, you will need to:

· be at least 18 years old at the point you commence employment

meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements (see nationality requirements section below)

as this is a physically active job, you will need to pass a medical and fitness assessment as part of the application process

meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes (both with and without corrective lenses)

For safety reasons, everyone training to be a prison officer needs a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids)

Whilst tattoos are permitted, including those that are visible, they must not be deemed as offensive, discriminatory, violent, or intimidating in any way. Facial tattoos are generally not acceptable, except where this is for cultural, religious, or medical reasons.

CTC vetting will be undertaken for the high security prisons – ie Belmarsh, Frankland, Full Sutton, Long Lartin, Manchester, Wakefield, Whitemoor and Woodhill.

To work in a high security prison (category A) you must have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years.

Travel to Work

Some prison establishments are situated in rural locations with limited public transport options; therefore, a driving licence and own transport is beneficial but is not an essential requirement of the role (unless specified). Please note that shift start, and finish times are fixed, and it is your responsibility to get to and from your place of work on time for the start of your shift. Please carefully consider the location of this vacancy and your transport options before applying.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

· UK nationals

· nationals of the Republic of Ireland

· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules.

Essential skills

You don’t need qualifications to become a prison officer. Personal qualities are more important. You need to show:

communication and influencing skills

commitment to quality

effective decision-making

care and understanding

Pay

The initial training is 37 hours a week. After training, you can choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week. Your annual salary will reflect your weekly hours.

Salaries quoted are for National - 37 hours a week & include an unsocial hours allowance - £34,928