Quick facts (Back to top)
- A category C prison in Wiltshire
- Earn between £34,928 and £39,334 a year
- Ongoing training and career progression opportunities
About HMP Erlestoke (Back to top)
HMP Erlestoke is a category C training and resettlement prison in rural Wiltshire. It accommodates up to 512 male prisoners, aged 18 and over, who are serving long sentences.
What it’s like working as a prison officer at HMP Erlestoke (Back to top)
Before you join us a prison officer, you’ll be invited to a familiarisation day where you’ll get to visit the prison, find out more about your new role and responsibilities, and ask any questions you might have.
After you’ve completed your prison officer foundation training and start work on the wings, you’ll be supported by a new colleague mentor (NCM). The NCM will support you to complete a 2-week training consolidation period to further strengthen your skills and provide ongoing support. You’ll also have the support of your line manager.
Alongside your colleagues, you’ll also take part in the prison’s monthly training day which will help ensure you have all the training you need and support your career development ambitions.
Find out more about life as a prison officer and the skills you need.
HMP Erlestoke is a great place to work largely because of the people. I work alongside a supportive team that looks out for one another. You can’t ask for more.”
Inside Erlestoke Prison (Back to top)
When you join HMP Erlestoke, you’ll be part of a team that’s focused on working together to support prisoners to make the most of their time in custody and prepare to return to their communities.
Prisoners have access to a range of interventions to support their rehabilitation and reduce their chances of reoffending, including:
- a range of education courses ranging from basic numeracy and literacy to further education and open university degree courses
- vocational qualifications in subjects such as catering, cleaning, construction, (including access to the Construction Skills Certification Scheme) and forklift driving
- work opportunities in onsite workshops including industrial cleaning, construction, horticulture, recycling, textiles and kitchens
There are also a number of specialist units to support specific prisoner rehabilitation needs, including drug recovery and substance free living units.
How to get to HMP Erlestoke (Back to top)
Please bear in mind that, as a prison officer, you will need to work shifts plus some unsocial hours and public holidays when public transport may not be running.
HMPYOI Erlestoke is in a rural location between the market towns of Devizes and Westbury with very limited public transport links. The nearest train station is 7 miles away, with no regular bus links. Free car parking is available on site.
How long will it take you to get there?
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 £34,928 and £39,334 as a prison officer at HMP Erlestoke.
As an employee of HMP Erlestoke, ou will have access to a range of facilities and employee benefits including:
- an onsite staff mess/canteen that is open 7 days a week
- use of a free onsite gym
- free onsite parking
- access to a range of wellbeing support services, including local staff networks
- monthly training days to support career development and progression
This is in addition to the great benefits you get from being a part of HM Prison and Probation Service.