You need to enjoy working in a team and be resilient to be a prison officer.
Sound like you?
About HMP The Mount
On the site of a former RAF base, HMP The Mount is a category C training and resettlement prison in Bovingdon, 4 miles from Hemel Hempstead.
With a capacity of 1,048 it accommodates adult men who have committed a range of offences and who are typically serving medium-term sentences.
Inside HMP The Mount
Prisoners are encouraged to engage in purposeful activities to make the most of their time at HMP The Mount, to increase their chances of employment and to help reduce their risk of reoffending.
Access to learning
With a strong emphasis on education, prisoners are encouraged to:
- learn basic English and Maths
- gain qualifications in core curriculum subjects
- access higher education courses through the Open University
- study a range of vocational subjects such as barbering, bricklaying and plastering
- gain coaching and leadership qualifications through local and national partnerships
Learning new skills
A number of organisations work on site at the prison and train and employ prisoners to:
- service and repair bicycles that are sold at a local charity shop
- and roast and grind coffee that’s sold at the social enterprise’s shops
Prisoners also have opportunities to work in onsite workshops, gaining new skills in areas such as woodwork, double glazing production, motor mechanics, maintenance and waste management. And to help them prepare for work when they leave custody, they are able to meet and talk to prospective employers at onsite careers events.
A focus on staff
As well as providing access to formal support networks, such as the staff care team, the prison holds regular staff wellbeing days. Sometimes linking in with specialist charities, these include opportunities to talk about mental and physical health over breakfast or lunch.
When off duty, staff also regularly engage in fun activities together such as team sports events, a summer staff barbecue, and coffee and cake sales to raise money for charity.
Staff benefits
As an employee of HMP the Mount, you will have access to a range of facilities and employee benefits including:
- free, onsite parking
- use of a free, onsite gym
- free hot drinks every morning
- a spacious and comfortable mess where staff can eat, socialise and relax during their breaks
- excellent training and career progression opportunities
This is in addition to the great benefits you get from being a part of HM Prison and Probation Service.
How to get to HMP The Mount
With good road links and plenty of onsite parking, HMP The Mount is a short 10 to 15 minute drive from Hemel Hempstead. Aylesbury, Luton and Watford are also just 30 minutes away, and the drive from Slough and Stevenage takes around 50 minutes.
Regular trains run from London Euston to Hemel Hempstead station, which is around 5 miles from the prison. Chesham underground station is 4 miles from HMP The Mount.
Find HMP The Mount on a map (opens in a new tab).
Find out more about the prison officer role
An extraordinary job.
Done by someone like you.