As a prison officer you’ll be trained for every situation. Whatever the challenge, you’ll have the support you need from your team.
Before you start your role, you’ll complete the prison officer foundation training. During the training, you’ll learn and practice all the skills and behaviours that are vital for the role.
You’ll learn:
- how to look after people in custody
- search and security procedures
- de-escalation techniques
You’ll get full pay and expenses during your training.
What to expect
Weeks 1 to 10
Following a local induction at the prison where you’ll work (your ‘home’ prison), you’ll start your foundation training programme at a designated learning centre. This will usually be close to your ‘home’ prison.
If the learning centre is not within commuting distance of your home, you’ll stay at the learning centre from Monday to Friday. You’ll be able to go home at weekends.
Your training will cover:
- use of prison radios and keys
- how to de-escalate challenging situations
- control and restraint techniques
Week 11
You’ll be back at your ‘home’ prison where you’ll continue on-the-job learning. You’ll get support locally to build on the skills, knowledge and behaviours you learned in your foundation training.
Working in a women’s prison
Working with women in custody has some specific challenges that you may not encounter in a male prison.
The training to work as a prison officer in a women’s prison therefore has some specialist parts to it.
The women’s prisons 9-week foundation course ensures you are:
- skilled to assess, manage and support women in custody, including their specific risks and requirements
- able to respond to women in custody in a way that focuses on their needs
- confident in dealing with the complex environment of a women’s prison