Career opportunities exclusively for Armed Forces service leavers and veterans
Roles in HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) often need the same sort of skills – such as good organisation, resilience and teamwork – that you need in the Armed Forces.
Join HMPPS for an opportunity to start a rewarding second career where you can continue to protect the public as well as make a positive impact on offenders’ lives.
There are 2 schemes you can choose from:
- Advance into Justice – secure a job before you leave the military
- Making the Civil Service a great place to work – a guaranteed interview scheme for veterans
Advance into Justice
- Career opportunities for you and your civil partner or spouse.
- A two-year fixed-term contract, with an opportunity to move to a permanent role once you’ve completed a full year.
- A wide range of career progression opportunities.
Eligibility
You can apply for a role via the Advance into Justice scheme if you are:
- a veteran of the Armed Forces
- an Armed Forces service leaver within your resettlement period and due to leave the services within 18 months
- a spouse or civil partner of an Armed Forces service leaver or veteran (your current partner must either be still serving or have been discharged within the last 12 months)
A range of extraordinary roles for someone like you
If you are eligible, you can apply for a range of roles working with offenders in prisons or in the community. Some of the roles have a similar focus to ones you may have done in the Armed Forces and they will build on the skills you learnt while serving.
Prison roles
Working in a prison is a truly unique experience. Prisons can be unpredictable, and no two shifts are the same. You’ve got to be resilient, confident and a great communicator.
Join us and you’ll perform a vital role in society, in an environment like no other.
Prison officer
Working as part of a close-knit team, you’ll help to keep the prison, prisoners and staff safe. You’ll support prisoners through a difficult time in their lives: from dealing with challenging behaviour and keeping the peace, to listening to individuals when they’re having a bad day and teaching them new skills to reduce their chances of reoffending.
Find out more about working as a prison officer (opens in new window).
Youth justice worker
Children and young people in custody can be challenging, but they also have enormous potential for change. Working as part of a diverse and closeknit team, you’ll be responsible for keeping them safe and secure in a custodial environment. You’ll work with them to manage their emotions and behaviours and ensure they engage in education so they’re better able to lead rewarding, constructive lives in the future.
Find out more about working as a youth justice worker (opens in new window).
Operational support grade (prison support role)
As an operational support grade (OSG), you’ll play a key role in supporting the smooth and safe running of the prison. It’s a varied and active prison support role in which you’ll work with a supportive team to do a range of tasks. These include: security and searches at the gate, monitoring phone calls and CCTV, supervising visitors and managing deliveries.
Find out more about working as an operational support grade (opens in new window).
Physical education instructor (PEI)
In this prison officer specialist role, you’ll use your passion for sport and fitness to support prisoners to maintain their physical and mental health. You’ll need to apply to be a prison officer first, complete your training, and work in the role for at least 12 months before attending a pre-selection assessment to be a PEI.
Find out more about working as a prison officer PEI (opens in new window).
Probation roles
Working in probation is a career like no other – you’ll gain the skills and insight to protect the public and reduce reoffending.
Probation services officer
As a probation services officer, you’ll work directly with offenders on probation before and after sentencing, and in the community. This will include: assessing risks and organising interventions, supporting courts with sentencing decisions, writing reports and managing offenders throughout their sentence. You’ll help offenders make positive changes to their lives and reduce their risk of reoffending.
Find out more about working as a probation services officer.
Case administrator
Case administrators play a key role in supporting probation officers to reduce reoffending. They work in a variety of settings including courts, prisons and dedicated probation offices. Using your great communication, organisational and team working skills, you’ll ensure: probation information is collated and prepared for case files, processes run smoothly and systems are maintained properly.
Community Payback supervisor
As a Community Payback supervisor, you’ll lead, supervise and motivate small teams of offenders while they do unpaid work in the community. It’s a great opportunity to work outdoors supporting offenders to make improvements to local communities while they make positive changes to get their lives back on track.
Find out more about working as a Community Payback supervisor.
Benefits of applying via the Advance into Justice scheme
- If you’re still in your transition period, you’ll be able to defer your start date for your new role to align with your leaving date.
- Job stability and a range of working patterns.
- A generous pension and Civil Service benefits.
- Paid for training and great career progression opportunities.
- Access to a range of support networks and a veteran ally when you first start in post.
Find out more about the wide range of benefits you get as a HMPPS employee.
We’re not currently recruiting under the Advance into Justice scheme
Applications will open in January 2025. In the meantime, register your interest and we will let you know when vacancies are open so you can apply.
Got a question?
If you have a question about the Advance into Justice recruitment scheme, please email Advance-into-justice@justice.gov.uk
Making the Civil Service a great place to work
If you’ve already left the Armed Forces and don’t want to wait until Advance into Justice applications open, you can apply for a range of HMPPS roles under the ‘Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for Veterans’ scheme (opens in a new tab).
When prompted to do so during your online application, simply confirm that you are eligible to apply under this scheme. You will be guaranteed an interview.