Our prison officers perform a vital role in society in an environment like no other.

Change your career to one that changes lives.

Working in a prison is fast-paced and varied. You will be trained for all kinds of situations, from keeping the prison safe to helping offenders to learn new skills.

You’ll experience good days and tough days as a prison officer. You’ll need to be ready for challenging behaviour, and willing to take the rough with the smooth. But with training and a supportive team by your side, you’ll feel confident and assertive in your role and prepared to make a difference.

To become a prison officer, you will need to:

• be at least 18 years old
• have the right to work in the UK
• be reasonably fit and have good eyesight

If you are not a UK or EU citizen, you will need a leave to remain entitlement of approximately 30 months or more at the point you apply.

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

Relocate for your first prison officer role and earn up to £8k more

If you’re applying for your first prison officer role and are happy to relocate, consider applying for our first time prison officer relocation scheme. Move away to join a prison that’s 75 minutes or more from where you currently live and not only will you benefit from a greater variety of experience than you would working at a smaller prison, you will also get higher take-home pay, your accommodation costs paid for up to 3 years, and a paid monthly trip home.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone irrespective of background, identity, experience or circumstance, and particularly those underrepresented in our workforce. We strive for a workforce that is representative of our society and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice.

When people come to work for us we want them to feel safe and that they belong, are treated with empathy and respect, and have the support and solidarity of their colleagues and managers, so we can all deliver our services fairly and in response to individual needs. In joining us, you join an organisation which is committed to the values of humanity, openness, together and purpose.

Find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace.