Frequently Asked Questions

There is no set time on the process but due to the pre-employment and security checks we must do for these roles it can be lengthy – 4-6 months on average to receive a start date with HMPPS. Accurate form filling and supplying of correct information will allow the process to run smoother.

There is no upper age limit to be a prison officer. You must be 17 or older when applying to be a prison officer. Applicants who are 17 will progress through the recruitment process but their start date will need to be after their 18th birthday.

There is a requirement to work shifts, these will include night shifts. Day shifts typically start between 6:30am and 7:30am depending on your department and depending on the length of shift the day shifts can finish between 8:30 pm and 10:00pm. You can be required to work weekends and bank holidays including Christmas and New year’s for example.

Within the first week of induction or prior to start if required you have your shifts ahead and planned for 6 months in advance.

The Prison Service is a national organisation covering England and Wales. As a prison officer you are considered mobile and can be required to be transferred to any Civil Service post, whether in the UK or abroad. There may be occasions where you are asked to temporarily work in a different prison for a period of time to ensure we run safe and decent regimes in prisons as well as being able to respond appropriately to any operational issues that arise.

You are expected to meet the costs for travelling to your place of work. Please ensure you are aware of the location of the prison you have applied to.

If you do not drive, please check how you are going to get to and from work. Many of our prisons are in rural locations with limited public transport. You will need to meet any financial costs for daily travel yourself.

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, therefore you must have suitable accommodation in place for your start date. If you are intending to relocate this will be at your own expense. You can apply for a tenancy loan agreement if you require assistance with a rental deposit. Please note however, that this deposit loan cannot be provided prior to your employment commencing with HMPPS.

Your start date will be communicated once all mandatory steps in the process have been successfully completed. We would advise you to not hand in your notice in until your pre-employment/vetting checks have been completed and you have been contacted to arrange a start date.

You do not have to join the Civil Service Pension arrangements. If you opt out, you will still build up benefits in the State Pension. But if you are considering opting out, we strongly recommend that you read the starter pack which we will send you before you make any decision. Further information regarding pension arrangements can be found on the Civil Service Pension website

We offer a market force supplement for some of our sites, and this is not included in the main contract, but it is attached as a separate letter giving details of the additional allowance. These 2 sums should equate to the salary advertised.

Salaries are paid monthly on the last working day. However, depending on start date, you may have to wait until the last working day of the following month.

Being a prison officer is being part of a uniformed service. You will be provided with a uniform that you must wear to work every day. You are not allowed to embellish it or to substitute other clothing or footwear without permission. It is your responsibility to look after your uniform and keep it clean and in good repair.

It’s important to remember that a prison establishment can be a challenging environment. It’s likely that you will witness or may even be involved in conflict. You may also come across cases of prisoners with mental health conditions, substances misuse, self-harm or other disturbing events. Please take time to think about the prison officer role and fully consider the impact on your own mental health, particularly if you have experienced mental health conditions previously which could potentially resurface in a challenging environment.

Yes, Hair must be worn off the collar so long hair would be required to be worn in a bun or tied up.

As a prison officer you will be working within what can sometimes be a hostile environment. You will be managing prisoners with a host of issues and a diverse range of attitudes and risks. Safety of staff and prisoners is paramount, and you will be working in a team to make sure you and all in your care are kept safe. You will be trained to deal with these issues during your initial training and will be supported when working within the prison environment.

There are lots of opportunities to work in various areas within the prison. Initially you may be deployed within a residential setting but there are many departments such as reception, visits, healthcare, Dog section and many more. There are many opportunities to progress your career through promotion and once you have passed your initial probation period of one year, you are able to apply for a promotion.

Tattoos are permitted, including those that are visible, as long as they are not deemed as offensive in any way. Facial tattoos are generally not acceptable, except those that are for cultural, religious or medical reasons.

We have a lot of shift working within the prison service. We want to make sure that you are happy at home and happy at work. As a working parent, you will need to work shifts and every other weekend as a prison officer on shift, but we can also consider applications for work life balance. We have excellent maternity and paternity support.

Please don’t be tempted to just accept any prison in order to be able to join the service with the intention of requesting a transfer shortly afterwards. It is unlikely that you’ll be able to transfer for at least 12 months and even at that point it cannot be guaranteed. Moving prisons will be restricted to promotions and advertised campaigns only.

You will transfer into HMPPS.

Call us on: 0345 241 5358 (press option 1 for prison officer recruitment)

Or Email us: moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

Yes all positions are permanent.

Vacancy end dates have been agreed and will not be extended on an individual basis.

Once an application is submitted it cannot be amended.

Once your application has been submitted, you are unable to add any additional detail.

You can withdraw your application at any stage of the process via your 'Careers Portal' in the Applicant Tracking System which is the system you used to apply for the job(s).

As these are externally advertised roles (i.e. outside of the Civil Service), current agency members of staff working within the HMPPS are eligible to apply. If you decide to apply, please select yourself as an external applicant and not internal when submitting your application. If you are currently an agency member working in an Other Government Department (OGD), you're required to select yourself as external also.

Although you may be completing your online assessment from home we do still expect our candidates to be dressed smartly ready to be assessed.

If you are or believe you may have any technical issues when connecting to the online assessment centre, please call us immediately on 0345 241 5358 (press option 1 for prison officer recruitment).

You had the option of indicating your need for reasonable adjustments by selecting 'yes' in the relevant section of the application form.

If you did not select the ‘yes’ option but now think you require reasonable adjustments, please get in touch with us as soon as possible at moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com or 0345 241 5358.

If you are unsuccessful at your online assessment centre and would still like to become a prison officer, you will need to wait 6 months before you can reapply for the same or a different prison.

You might also like to take a look at other roles within HMPPS, such as the operational support grade job where you’d play a crucial role in keeping prisons safe and running smoothly.

After passing your online assessment centre, you will be required to pass additional assessments in order to work with young people.

This will involve taking additional assessments during a separate online assessment centre.

Please apply for the relevant vacancy and contact:

If you have a complaint or feedback relating to the prison officer assessment process, please contact:
recruitment-allocations@gov.sscl.com and one of ours team will be able to respond to your email.

We will test your vision in both eyes with and without glasses or contact lenses (if you wear them). We need to test your uncorrected vision, so this means that you will need to remove your contact lenses or glasses.

Please remember to bring contact lens solution if you will need to put your lenses back in.

Contact us so that we can reschedule your medical/fitness.

Call us on: 0345 241 5358

Or email us: moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

A suitable standard of hearing is required for safety reasons for all potential candidates for prison officer training. You should be able to hear at 10 feet (3 metres) without the use of a hearing aid. This is to ensure that if an officer’s hearing aids are dislodged or damaged during an incident, they are still able to hear sufficiently to keep themselves and their colleagues safe. A hearing test will be performed on the day without the use of hearing aids, this will be conducted using the ‘Whisper Test’.

Ideally BMI should be 30 or less. On a specific basis those with a BMI of 31-35 may also be considered fit, particularly if they are heavily muscled individuals and have no restrictions to their movement / activities and no underlying contributing health factors

If your BP is below 90/60 mmHg or above 160/100 mmHg you will be required to have 3 further readings to determine if your BP is within range of 90/60 mmHg- 160/100 mmHg and will be tested on both arms. If further readings fall within these parameters, you will progress to the fitness test. If they remain above or below, then it would not be safe to partake in the fitness on that day.

If it is deemed that you cannot complete the fitness test on the day due to your BP reading being too hight or low, you will be advised to see your GP and you will be allowed time within the recruitment process to this

Contact us so that we can reschedule your medical/fitness.

Call us on: 0345 241 5358

Or email us: moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

To claim back expenses please complete this form and email it to moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

Please note we are not able to facilitate medical and fitness assessments outside of the UK. Applicants will be required to attend a UK based medical and fitness assessment centre to progress their application.

From 4 April 2024, the Government will be increasing the salary threshold for Skilled Workers. The changes, which can be found here, mean that we cannot guarantee sponsorship in the future. Prison officer applicants must consider options for obtaining and/or maintaining right to work in the United Kingdom. The Department will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service.

You are eligible to work in the UK if any of the following apply:

• You are a British citizen.
• You have a current visa/work permit that allows you to work in the UK.

Full detailed guidance on visa and permits can be found on
https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

It is a legal requirement to show all employers evidence of your right to work in the UK.

Yes you can apply, and you will need to undergo an element of pre-employment checks including occupational health.

For external applicants our checks include the following:

• Civil Service Eligible
• Right to work/ID/address checks
• Employment history verification
• Criminal conviction check
• Overseas police checks (where required)
• Health check
• Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) or Security Check (SC) as required.

You can view this via your 'Careers Portal' in the Applicant Tracking System which is the system you used to apply for the job(s).

Existing HMPPS employees will not require full pre-employment checks but certain checks including occupational health will be required.

You will only need to provide an Overseas PNC if you have been in one country for more than 6 months. If you have been in different countries for short durations you will need to provide an itinerary of dates and which countries you have been in. You may be asked to provide proof of this e.g. stamps in passport, airline tickets etc.

Please email us at moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com with the reason so we can assess the circumstances.

You might also like to take a look at other roles within HMPPS, such as the operational support grade job where you’d play a crucial part in keeping prisons safe and running smoothly.

Yes you will need to get it translated into English.

Please provide full details of this to moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

Please email providing the alternative counter signatory referee contact details to moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

No, unfortunately you cannot use someone who is a relative as a counter signatory.

No, you must have known them for more than 12 months.

Yes you can as long as they satisfy the relevant criteria from the list of suitable counter signatories.

You can still order a bank statement through your online banking or request a bill from your utility provider.

This will depend on individual circumstances.

You will need to send one ID document detailing your new address to moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

Yes they all need to be in your current name. However if you have one document in your new name and one in your old, you will need to provide a linking document e.g. marriage certificate, deed poll.

You will need to send in new documents with linking documents e.g. marriage certificate, deed poll. Please send to moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

Depending on the level of checks needed for the role, you may need to provide 3 documents to ensure we can evidence your identity, nationality, full permanent address and date of birth. In most cases original documents will be accepted; photocopies and online documents (e.g. bank statements, e-bills, eP60s etc.) cannot be accepted.

Primary ID Documents

• Passport
• Current biometric residence permit UK only.
• Current photo card driving licence - Full or provisional. UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands.
• Birth Certificate – issued within 12 months of Birth - UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands only.
• Adoption Certificate - UK and Channel Islands only.

Trusted government documents

• Current driving licence photo-card - full or provisional. All countries outside the UK (excluding Isle of Man and Channel Islands)
• Current driving licence (paper version) – full or provisional. UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands only. Must have been issued before 1998.
• Birth Certificate - issued after 12 months of Birth - UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands only.
• Marriage certificate/Civil Partnership certificate - UK and Channel Islands only.
• Immigration document, visa or work permit Issued by a country outside the UK - Valid only for roles whereby the applicant is living and working outside of the UK. Visa/permit must relate to the non-EEA country in which the role is based.
• HM Forces identity card - UK only
• Firearms licence - UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands only.

Financial and social history documents

• Mortgage statement financial statement, for example a pension or endowment - UK only. Issued in the last 12 months.
• Bank or building society statement Central or local government document giving entitlement - UK or Channel Islands only. Issued in the last 3 months.
• Bank or building society account opening confirmation letter, Credit card statement, Original utility bill, Benefit statement - UK only. Issued in the last 3 months.
• Mobile Phone bills and Motor Insurance documents are not acceptable.
• P45 or P60 statement Council tax Statement - UK or Channel Islands only. Issued in the last 12 months.
• Bank or building society statement from countries outside the UK Branch must be located in the country where the applicant lives and works - Issued in the last 3 months.
• Cards carrying the PASS accreditation logo UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands - Must still be valid

Only original documents are acceptable. If your bank is able to print and stamp a statement for you, this will be acceptable.

No, please provide an alternative counter signatory.

These are mandatory checks that need to be completed so your referees will be contacted.

If you do have any criminal convictions or cautions on your record, you can still apply. We are unable to confirm whether your convictions with affect your application before you apply, but will determine this from the full information you provide during the onboarding stage. Each case will be considered on an individual basis. If you don’t tell us about any cautions or criminal convictions, your application could be refused because you weren’t open and honest. If in doubt please disclose and provide full information.

Please disclose all information as non-disclosure may adversely affect your application.

Please select the option related to academic study and provide detail of your educational institution and dates of study.

On receipt of your provisional offer email you have 10 days to accept and progress to the next stage of the onboarding process.

You can contact the SSCL Customer Hub team and request that your provisional offer is reset, your application will then be referred for a decision on whether this is possible depending on the amount of time that has lapsed and whether another applicant has already been offered the position.

• Email: MOJ-Recruitment-Vetting-Enquiries@gov.sscl.com

Please book your medical and fitness assessment and then proceed to complete the On-boarding Form via your Careers Portal in order to progress your application.

This action has been taken as either there is missing information or further clarification is needed - please refer to the e-mail that has been sent.

Your start date will be discussed with you on a start date call once all the pre-employment checks have been completed.

We advise you not to hand in your notice to your current employers until your pre-employment/vetting checks have been completed and you have been contacted to arrange a start date.

At the end of the process when your HR record is created.

The probationary period is for 1 year however extensions are possible where required. This will not apply to internal candidates who have already satisfactorily completed a probationary period.

• Staff with less than 4 years’ continuous service: 5 weeks
• Staff with 4 years or more continuous service: not less than one week for each year of continuous employment plus one week, to a maximum of 13 weeks

New entrants to the Civil Service receive 25 days annual leave on entry. To a maximum of 30 days (after 5 years of service).

As this role requires shift working, you will be required to work every other weekend typically and bank/public holidays.

Yes, part time working may be available but how it works may vary between locations. A request will need to be submitted to the hiring prison with the hours requested to work. They can approve or deny the application.

Day one of every training week is a Monday and the day starts at 13.00. This is the time that you should be ready and correctly attired to start your training. If you are staying in one of our residential sites (Newbold, Stirling House, Lilleshall) you may want to arrive earlier to prepare. Keys are available on Mondays from 10.00. Tuesday to Thursday class times are 08.00 to 17.00 with an hour for lunch. Fridays are 08.00 to 12.00 to allow time for travel home.

It is a 13.00 start on Monday and 12.00 finish on Friday for prison officer training.

No, you will not be required to take your fitness test again. You will need an in-date fitness test, and this should be in date for the duration of your foundation training.

Shoes or boots are acceptable based on your preference.

Learning and Development do not stock or issue uniform. All uniform issues and requests need to be addressed by your prison and their procurement/stores. We do hold a very small amount of uniform that has been donated by trainers but this amounts to a few shirts, blouses and trousers and is for emergency issue only. We do not have any footwear.

Your line manager, Head of Business Assurance or the uniform stores at your prison will be able to advise.

The apprenticeship that the YCS are completing is the Level 4 - Children, young people and family's practitioner. We do not have information on this, but you should be able to obtain information locally or there will be information on the institute for apprenticeships. if you type in institute for apprenticeships and in the search box type Children, young people and family's practitioner.

No stationery will be provided. If you would like to bring your laptop for personal use, you may do so. It may also prove useful as we move to digital delivery.

Course times are standardised across all regions. Day one of every training week is a Monday and the day starts at 13.00. This is the time that you should be ready and correctly attired to start your training. If you are staying in one of our residential sites (Newbold, Stirling House) you may want to arrive earlier to prepare. Keys are available on Mondays from 10.00. Tuesday to Thursday class times are 08.00 to 17.00 with an hour for lunch. Fridays are 08.00 to 12.00 to allow time for travel home.