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Work at HMP Woodhill


You need to enjoy working in a team and be resilient to be a prison officer.

Sound like you?

Apply now

About HMP Woodhill

Three miles outside central Milton Keynes and the market town of Bletchley, HMP Woodhill is a men’s high security prison.

Accommodating up to 500 prisoners, HMP Woodhill is committed to providing a safe and educational environment for men convicted of serious offences.

Inside HMP Woodhill

HMP Woodhill. A red brick building with a large lake in front, surrounded by trees and shrubs.

With a focus on enabling prisoners to make positive use of their time in custody, HMP Woodhill provides a broad programme of learning opportunities. Delivered in partnership with a local education provider, both academic and vocational courses are available to help prisoners increase their chances of employment when they return to their communities.

Prisoners also have access to a range of work opportunities, alongside a chance to study and earn professional qualifications, in onsite workshops including:

  • catering
  • cleaning
  • gardening
  • laundry
  • painting and decorating
  • waste management

Extraordinary work happens at HMP Woodhill

Our staff at HMP Woodhill come from all walks of life and perform vital roles in an environment like no other. You could too.

From prison officer, to operational support grade, catering, business administration and more, there are a range of extraordinary jobs to choose from.

You don’t need specific qualifications or experience for many of our roles – instead, we value personal qualities. We’re looking for team players who are confident communicators and who want to play a part in keeping our prison safe and helping prisoners prepare for a life without reoffending.

If this sounds like you, take a look at our current vacancies and apply today.

Why work as a prison officer at HMP Woodhill?

Staff benefits

As well as a beautiful landscaped garden you can use during break times, as an employee of HMP Woodhill you’ll have access to a range of facilities and employee benefits including:

• free onsite parking
• use of a free, onsite gym
• excellent training and career progression

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 Woodhill

With plenty of on-site parking, and about an hour’s drive from London and Oxford, HMP Woodhill is easily accessible by car from the M1 and M40.

Trains regularly run into Milton Keynes station, which is a short bus ride from the prison.

Find HMP Woodhill on a map (opens in a new tab).

Find out more about the prison officer role

An extraordinary job.

Done by someone like you.

Become a prison officer