Someone like you
Prisons are unique work environments. No two days are the same and you have to be resilient, confident and a great communicator to support prisoners.
Working in a prison education, skills and work (ESW) role, you will play a key part in helping prisoners access vital interventions that can reduce their risk of reoffending.
Having qualifications and practical work-related skills can help prisoners find jobs when they return to their communities. Your work will support them to do this and help them focus on making positive changes in their lives when they leave prison.
There are a range of different education, work and skills roles you can do in a prison. Each role requires specific skills, experience or qualifications. See the skills and qualifications section for details.
Prison education, skills and work – extraordinary jobs. Done by someone like you.
- A range of roles supporting prisoners to gain new skills, qualifications and work to reduce their chances of reoffending
- You will need specific skills, experience or qualifications to apply
- Choose from a hands-on role working directly with prisoners, or a support or senior management role
- Starting salary depends on the job band and specific role requirements
- Work-life balance working arrangements may be available
Roles, pay and benefits
The starting salaries below are based on working a 37 hour week.
Instructors
Work in onsite workshops supervising prisoners to complete constructive activities such as recycling and waste management, industrial cleaning and cycle repair or more specialist activities such as horticulture, woodwork, printing, textiles manufacturing, plastic injection moulding and engineering.
| Role | Inner London | Outer London | All other prisons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Production instructor (band 3) | £31,644 | £30,068 | £27,040 |
| Specialist production instructor (band 4) | £36,842 | £35,182 | £31,995 |
Education, skills and work strategy and implementation roles
The focus of these roles is on ensuring prisoners have access to a range of opportunities to engage in education and work opportunities to help them learn new skills to help them find work when they leave prison.
| Role | Inner London | Outer London | All other prisons |
|---|---|---|---|
| ID and banking administrator (Band 3) | £31,644 | £30,068 | £27,040 |
| Learning and skills manager (Band 6) | £42,678 | £41,169 | £38,272 |
| Neurodiversity support manager (Band 6) | £42,678 | £41,169 | £38,272 |
| Head of education, skills and work (Band 7) | £55,150 | £53,490 | £50,303 |
| Prison employment lead (Band 6) | £42,687 | £41,169 | £38,272 |
| Industries manager (Band 6) | £42,678 | £41,169 | £38,272 |
Teachers
This isn’t your average teaching job. It’s an opportunity to help prison learners take steps towards a more positive future. From teaching functional skills, core curriculum subjects, non-accredited courses, and vocational courses, there are a wide range of opportunities available. Visit our dedicated web page to find out more.
Find out more about the benefits of working for HM Prison and Probation Service