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Work as a prison officer at HMP Deerbolt

Quick facts (Back to top)

  • A category C training prison and young offender institution in County Durham 
  • Work as part of a diverse, supportive team
  • Earn between £33,746 to £38,003 a year
Apply now

About Deerbolt Prison (Back to top)

HMP Deerbolt is close to Barnard Castle in County Durham, north-east England. 

With a capacity of 500 men aged 18 and over, it is a category C training prison and young offender institution.

What’s it like working as a prison officer? (Back to top)

As a prison officer, no two shifts are the same. Working as part of a supportive team, you’ll have good days and tough days. You’ll need to be resilient, have great communication skills, self-confidence and an ability to think on your feet. 

Find out more about life as a prison officer and the skills you need.

Inside Deerbolt Prison (Back to top)

I worked in a call centre before joining the Prison Service.

I am a team player. As a prison officer, I enjoy the relationship with staff and professional working relationships with prisoners. 

HMP Deerbolt is a great place to work because I feel I have a sense of community with staff. ” 
Officer Brown

To help them make the most of their time in prison and learn new skills, prisoners in HMP Deerbolt have access to the following: 

  • Interventions that address their thinking, attitudes and behaviours which may lead them to reoffend. 
  • A range of core curriculum and further education qualifications. 
  • Onsite workshops where they can gain vocational qualifications in catering, construction, computer repair and operating a forklift.  
  • Personal fitness instructor qualifications.
     

Getting to Deerbolt Prison (Back to top)

With plenty of free onsite parking for staff, HMP Deerbolt is in a rural setting about a mile from the historic market town of Barnards Castle and 17 miles from Darlington.  

The nearest main line rail station is Darlington, which is about a 20-minute bus journey away. Prisons run to tight time schedules so you will need to plan your travel to ensure you are at work and ready to start your shift on time. This could mean travelling at times when local public transport isn’t running.

How long will it take you to get there? (Back to top)

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For example, SW1A 1AA

Pay and benefits (Back to top)

As a prison officer, you will start on a 37 hour a week contract until you have completed your initial training. You can then choose to increase your hours to 39 or 41 hours. This means you could earn between £33,746 and £38,003 as a prison officer at HMP Deerbolt. 

Find out more about prison officer pay.

As an employee of Deerbolt Prison, you will have access to a range of facilities and employee benefits including: 

  • use of a free onsite gym  
  • extensive free onsite parking  
  • excellent training and career progression opportunities 
  • an onsite bistro serving hot and cold meals and drinks

This is in addition to the great benefits you get from being a part of HM Prison and Probation Service. 

Apply now