Prison Support Role 

HMP Bullingdon

£29,432

His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. 

An extraordinary job. Done by someone like you.

As an Operational Support Grade, you will play a key part in supporting the day-to-day running of a busy prison. You will be part of a supportive team doing all sorts of things – from security and searches at the gate, to managing deliveries, supervising visitors, and monitoring phone calls and CCTV. It’s a varied and active job involving tasks which combine some desk duties with more physical tasks such as lifting, carrying and walking to escort vehicles across the prison grounds.

Travel to Work – Some prison establishments are situated in rural locations with limited public transport options, therefore a driving licence and own transport is beneficial but is not an essential requirement of the role (unless specified*).  Please note that shift start and finish times are fixed and it is your responsibility to get to and from your place of work on time for the start of your shift. Please carefully consider the location of this vacancy and your transport options.

Applicants must hold a full, valid UK driving licence which must include the D1 Vehicle Category which allows you to drive vehicles with:

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• No more than 16 passenger seats, a maximum length of 8 metres, a trailer up to 750kg.
  

Someone like you 

You don’t need any qualifications to do this job, but if you are a good communicator and can keep calm under pressure, this fast-paced role could be the start of a successful career for you.

Helping to keep a prison running smoothly and safely you will have good judgement and common sense, and, above all, be a great team player.

As an OSG, you will work a variety of shifts, including weekend and night shifts, to keep things running.

An extraordinary job

In this unique career, you’ll have the opportunity to protect the public and make an impact on lives by supporting the important work happening daily in our prisons. 

Unlike our prison officers, your contact with prisoners is limited, although depending on the particular prison you may interact with prisoners occasionally.

The OSG role will give you significant knowledge and experience of how a prison operates. It can provide opportunities to move into other prison jobs, including opportunities to apply for the OSG to Prison Officer conversion scheme.

What you can expect from us:You’ll be given great training and opportunities for progression and development.

In addition to your base pay, you will receive:

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• annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after 10 years’ service (calculated on a pro-rata basis)
  
• 9 days bank, public and privilege holidays
  
• access to a paid Level 2 apprenticeship in customer service
  
• access to the generous Civil Service pension scheme season ticket loans, retail discounts, an Employee Assistance Programme and a Cycle to Work scheme
  

If this sounds like you, apply now.

As part of our prison support team, your work will be varied and help to keep the prison moving. This is an active role where you will be doing a range of physical tasks. These can include lifting and carrying, plus long periods of standing and walking.  There will also be periods of lone working whilst undertaking tasks on both day and night shifts.

You will not always be in contact with prisoners, it depends on the prison you work in. You will have full training and a supportive team by your side.

Address

Salary

City / Town

Region

The OSG role does not attract Sponsorship via the Skilled Worker visa/Tier 2 (general) work visa.

Travel to Work – Some prison establishments are situated in rural locations with limited public transport options, therefore a driving licence and own transport is beneficial but is not an essential requirement of the role (unless specified*).  Please note that shift start and finish times are fixed and it is your responsibility to get to and from your place of work on time for the start of your shift. Please carefully consider the location of this vacancy and your transport options.

Accommodation is not provided.

Life as an OSG

Your job can include:

Gate duties

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• ensuring the secure entry and exit of staff, visitors, vehicles.
  
• carrying out searches of staff, prisoners, visitors and vehicles
  
• walking around the prison site to escort vehicles and contractors
  
• issuing and collecting staff keys and radios
  
• walking around the prison site patrolling and searching perimeter fence areas
  

Control room

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• operating the prison radio system
  
• monitoring CCTV, ensuring all suspicious activities are reported.
  

Visits

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• welcoming visitors on their arrival
  
• escorting them if needed
  

Correspondence

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• monitoring and logging mail coming into the prison
  
• reporting any contraband items, preserving evidence where needed
  

Night duties

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• ensuring cell doors are locked and all prisoners are safely accounted for.
  

Reception

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• photographing prisoners
  
• processing prisoners’ property and parcels coming into the prison.
  

Prisoner supervision

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• sometimes supervising prisoners
  
• exchanging clothing and property
  
• helping prison officers escort prisoners around the prison
  

Food delivery

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• walking around the prison delivering and collecting food trollies, or sometimes using an electric tug vehicle
  

Driving duties

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• collecting mail from the local sorting office, which may involve lifting heavy sacks. xrlawcv
  

Phone calls

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• monitoring the prison’s Personal Identification Number (PIN) phone system
  
• maintaining the log of PIN phone requests from prisoners
  
• completing relevant records
  

Procedures and protocol

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• understanding and conforming to national and local policies, responding appropriately to incidents and emergencies
  

You do not need any qualifications to do this job. Helping to keep a prison running smoothly and safely requires good judgement, common sense, responsibility and, above all teamwork. 

National - £29,432