General Information

Business Unit

Bullingdon, Deerbolt, Elmley, Highpoint, Norwich, Onley, Portland, Stocken, Swinfen Hall, The Mount, The Verne, Wayland

Date published

27-Aug-2026

Working time

Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working

Closing date

17-Sep-2026

Civil Service Grade

AO

Job ID

21684

Descriptions & Requirements

HMP Welland Oaks - First time prison officer recruitment scheme Sponsorship is not guaranteed, and applicants are responsible for ensuring they have, and can maintain, the appropriate right to work in the UK.

Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available for this role, subject to eligibility and in line with the UK Immigration Rules in force at the time of application. However, due to current immigration requirements and recruitment timescales, candidates who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored if applying to this campaign.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider their right to work in the UK carefully before applying. You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and eligibility criteria at gov.uk.

The Department will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service.

Launch Your Prison Officer Career with HMP Welland Oaks Applying for your first prison officer role and looking to be part of something new? This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the new team that opens and operates HMP Welland Oaks, a new Category B training prison in the Long Term & High Security Estate prison located in Market Harborough.

Operated by the public sector and currently under construction, the prison will provide capacity for 1,715 prisoners and play an important role in the future prison estate. The project is starting the process of planning the regime and operating model, ahead of mobilisation before opening in early 2029 when it will take its first prisoners. Joining now means having the opportunity to build your skills and experience in a different already established prison prior to returning to HMP Welland Oaks as a completely new modern prison.

You will be one of the very first members of staff in a new team shaping and building the culture, high standards and ways of working from the ground up. We are recruiting now for future permanent prison officer roles at HMP Welland Oaks. Successful candidates will begin their careers at one of our established prisons, gaining valuable operational experience for

23 months , before transferring permanently to HMP Welland Oaks ahead of or upon its opening.

This scheme has been designed to build an experienced, skilled workforce ready to support the successful opening of a up-to-date prison from day one. During your deployment, you will work alongside experienced colleagues, develop essential prison officer skills, and gain invaluable frontline experience that will prepare you for your permanent role at HMP Welland Oaks.

Move away to join a prison that’s 75 minutes or more from where you currently live and not only will you benefit from gaining valuable experience in an established prison workplace, but you will also receive higher take-home pay, accommodation costs paid for up to 23 months, and a paid monthly trip home. Following your deployment, you will transfer permanently to HMP Welland Oaks , becoming part of the team opening and operating the UK's newest prison.

Choose 3 prisons you’d like to work at for your initial 23-months, from the list below and wherever possible, we will aim to find you a role at one of these. You will be allocated to a prison that has the most need for prison officers at the time.

Why join this scheme? By joining now, you'll gain the skills, confidence and experience needed to thrive in your role while securing your future at HMP Welland Oaks. Rather than waiting until the prison opens, you'll start earning, training and developing your career immediately, before becoming part of the prison's inaugural operational team.

As prisons within this recruitment scheme have an ongoing need for prison officers, you may be able to start your paid training sooner than through the standard recruitment process.

An extraordinary job. Done by someone like you. Prison officers protect the public and help make an impact on prisoners' lives.

If you have the integrity, skills and strength of character we’re looking for, this fast-paced role could be the start of a successful career. No two shifts or situations are ever the same. And, as you gain experience, you’ll find a range of opportunities to grow and develop into.

Someone like you There’s no such thing as a typical prison officer. Our officers come from different walks of life, just like the offenders they work with. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, have worked in retail, the armed forces, or just feel like you’re a natural people person, you’ll have the empathy, self-confidence, great communication skills and resilience we want.

No matter the challenge, you’ll take the time to build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners who could be at the lowest point in their lives.

Teamwork plays a vital role in this environment, so you’ll need to be fully committed to supporting your colleagues and understand the importance of acting as one team to keep the prison, prisoners and everyone who works here safe.

You will be required to work various shifts and some weekends.

An extraordinary job In this unique career, you’ll have the opportunity to carry out many different roles in any one day. One minute you’re a peacekeeper, the next you’re a counsellor or a teacher. You’ll work directly with prisoners in a unique environment, helping to protect the public and make a positive impact.

Job details Eligibility To Become a Prison Officer, You Will Need To:

- be at least 18 years old at the point you commence employment
- meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements (see nationality section below)
- as this is a physically active job, you will need to pass a medical and fitness assessment as part of the application process
- meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes (both with and without corrective lenses)
- For safety reasons, everyone training to be a prison officer needs a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids)

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 before applying. Nationality Requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups:

- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service





Further information on nationality requirements https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules. Essential Skills You don’t need qualifications to become a prison officer. Personal qualities are more important. You need to show:

- communication and influencing skills
- commitment to quality
- effective decision-making
- care and understanding

Pay Your pay will depend on which prison you work at and your weekly shift hours. The figures below are based on a 37 hour contract which you will remain on until you have completed your initial training. You can then choose to increase your hours to 39 or 41 hours a week. Salaries quoted are based on 37 hours per week including unsocial hours allowance. Prisons marked with an Asterix also receive a separate Market Supplement Allowance which is only payable at those prisons. Starting Salary £34,928

HMP Deerbolt

HMP Norwich

HMP Onley

HMP Portland

HMP Swinfen Hall

HMP The Verne

HMP Wayland

Starting Salary £36,428

HMP Highpoint*

HMP Stocken*

HMP The Mount*

Starting Salary £38,428

HMP Bullingdon*

HMP Elmley*

On transfer to HMP Welland Oaks after your first 23 months, your pay will change to match the salary paid at that prison.

You Will Also Get:

- your accommodation costs paid (up to £750 per month) for up to 23 months.
- You will be able to reclaim the cost of a monthly trip from your deployed prison to the prison closest to your home.
- You will also be paid a recruitment and retention bonus of £1500 after the first 12 month and 23-month period

Prisons operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means you will have to cover various shift patterns that will include evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays (these days are added to your holiday allowance). You may also have opportunities to work additional paid hours.

Benefits

- 25 days’ annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service)
- paid time off for public holidays and 1 extra privilege day
- Civil Service pension of up to 20% of your salary
- cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other advantages

Prison officer rewards & benefits | HM Prison & Probation Service (prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk) Assessment Process During The Recruitment Process You Will Be Assessed On The Behaviours, Strengths And Abilities You Need To Become An Effective Prison Officer. These Include:

- communicating and influencing
- managing a quality service
- making effective decisions
- caring

Your natural strengths are assessed to find out what motivates and energises you. We will also assess your numerical, written English and spoken English abilities. Online Test Once you have completed your initial application form, you will be invited to complete stage 1 of the online test, to see if you have the basic judgement and numerical skills expected of a prison officer.

If you are successful, we will invite you to the stage 2 online test (values-based assessment). We use this assessment to understand how well you demonstrate the values needed to be an effective prison officer.

If you were unsuccessful at the stage 2 online test in the last 6 months, you can now re ‑ apply. The online assessment centre (OAC) If you pass the online test, we will invite you to an online assessment centre.

We test to see if you have the abilities, behaviours and strengths to be a prison officer.

Once you’ve successfully completed the online assessment centre, we will invite you to complete a medical and fitness test. This will cover an eyesight test, hearing test and basic health screening, including a blood pressure check.

Read more about the application process.

The rewards aren’t all you’ll gain from a role in the Prison Service. There’s the sense of achievement you feel when you’ve helped a prisoner to get their life back on track - the kind of experience you simply won’t find anywhere else.

Job offers: merit vacancy This is a merit job vacancy. If you are successful at the online assessment centre, you will be added to a merit list based on your score.

When all applicants have completed the assessment centre, the prison will make job offers to individuals with the highest scores first when positions become available.

You can stay on the merit list for 12 months. After this, you’ll need to apply again.

Your successful pass from assessment centre will be valid for 12 months if you want to apply for vacancies at other prisons.

If your application is unsuccessful at the sift/Interview stage, a six month waiting period will be applied during which time you will not be allowed to submit any further applications for prison officer positions.

Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of Civil Servants.

We Recruit By Merit On The Basis Of Fair And Open Competition, As Outlined In The Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If You Feel The Recruitment Process Has Breached The Recruitment Principles You Can Raise a Formal Complaint In The Following Order:

- Shared Services Connected Ltd: call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email [email protected]
- Ministry of Justice Resourcing
- The Civil Service Commission.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. Disability support As a Disability Confident employer, the Ministry of Justice is committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. We can offer reasonable adjustments to help with the online tests and online assessment centre.

Allowance

Please Refer To Additional Attachment. Contact Information

If you require any assistance, please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am-6pm) or e-mail [email protected]

Please quote the job reference 21684.

Closing Date - 17th September 2026

The jobholder must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English or (when specified in Wales) Welsh.

Level Of Security Checks Required DBS Enhanced

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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General Information

Business Unit

Bullingdon, Deerbolt, Elmley, Highpoint,



Norwich, Onley, Portland, Stocken, Swinfen Hall, The Mount, The Verne, Wayland

Date published

27-Aug-2026

Working time

Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working

Closing date

17-Sep-2026

Civil Service Grade

AO

Job ID

21684

To Become a Prison Officer, You Will Need To:

- be at least 18 years old at the point you commence employment
- meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements (see nationality section below)
- as this is a physically active job, you will need to pass a medical and fitness assessment as part of the application process
- meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes (both with and without corrective lenses)
- For safety reasons, everyone training to be a prison officer needs a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids)

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 before applying. Essential Skills You don’t need qualifications to become a prison officer. Personal qualities are more important. You need to show:

- communication and influencing skills
- commitment to quality
- effective decision-making
- care and understanding

Pay Your pay will depend on which prison you work at and your weekly shift hours. The figures below are based on a 37 hour contract which you will remain on until you have completed your initial training. You can then choose to increase your hours to 39 or 41 hours a week. Salaries quoted are based on 37 hours per week including unsocial hours allowance. Prisons marked with an Asterix also receive a separate Market Supplement Allowance which is only payable at those prisons. Starting Salary £34,928

HMP Deerbolt

HMP Norwich

HMP Onley

HMP Portland

HMP Swinfen Hall

HMP The Verne

HMP Wayland

Starting Salary £36,428

HMP Highpoint*

HMP Stocken*

HMP The Mount*

Starting Salary £38,428

HMP Bullingdon*

HMP Elmley*

On transfer to HMP Welland Oaks after your first 23 months, your pay will change to match the salary paid at that prison.

You Will Also Get:

- your accommodation costs paid (up to £750 per month) for up to 23 months.
- You will be able to reclaim the cost of a monthly trip from your deployed prison to the prison closest to your home.
- You will also be paid a recruitment and retention bonus of £1500 after the first 12 month and 23-month period

Prisons operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means you will have to cover various shift patterns that will include evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays (these days are added to your holiday allowance). You may also have opportunities to work additional paid hours.

Benefits

- 25 days’ annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service)
- paid time off for public holidays and 1 extra privilege day
- Civil Service pension of up to 20% of your salary
- cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits

Prison officer rewards & benefits | HM Prison & Probation Service (prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk) Assessment Process Attachment

- Band-3-PO-Safe-Decent-and-Secure-JD048-v8.0 (1) (4).pdf ( Attachment)

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- Band-3-PO-Safe-Decent-and-Secure-JD048-v8.0 (1) (4).pdf ( Attachment)

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General Information

Business Unit

Bullingdon, Deerbolt, Elmley, Highpoint, Norwich, Onley, Portland, Stocken, Swinfen Hall, The Mount, The Verne, Wayland

Date published

27-Aug-2026

Working time

Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Versatile Working

Closing date

17-Sep-2026

Civil Service Grade

AO

Job ID

21684

To Become a Prison Officer, You Will Need To:

- be at least 18 years old at the point you commence employment
- meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements (see nationality section below)
- as this is a physically active job, you will need to pass a medical and fitness assessment as part of the application process
- meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes (both with and without corrective lenses)
- For safety reasons, everyone training to be a prison officer needs a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids)

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 before applying. Essential Skills You don’t need qualifications to become a prison officer. Personal qualities are more important. You need to show:

- communication and influencing skills
- commitment to quality
- effective decision-making
- care and understanding

Pay Your pay will depend on which prison you work at and your weekly shift hours. The figures below are based on a 37 hour contract which you will remain on until you have completed your initial training. You can then choose to increase your hours to 39 or 41 hours a week. Salaries quoted are based on 37 hours per week including unsocial hours allowance. Prisons marked with an Asterix also receive a separate Market Supplement Allowance which is only payable at those prisons. Starting Salary £34,928

HMP Deerbolt

HMP Norwich

HMP Onley

HMP Portland

HMP Swinfen Hall

HMP The Verne

HMP Wayland

Starting Salary £36,428

HMP Highpoint*

HMP Stocken*

HMP The Mount*

Starting Salary £38,428

HMP Bullingdon*

HMP Elmley*

On transfer to HMP Welland Oaks after your first 23 months, your pay will change to match the salary paid at that prison.

You Will Also Get:

- your accommodation costs paid (up to £750 per month) for up to 23 months.
- You will be able to reclaim the cost of a monthly trip from your deployed prison to the prison closest to your home.
- You will also be paid a recruitment and retention bonus of £1500 after the first 12 month and 23-month period

Prisons operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means you will have to cover various shift patterns that will include evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays (these days are added to your holiday allowance). You may also have opportunities to work additional paid hours.

Benefits

- 25 days’ annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service)
- paid time off for public holidays and 1 extra privilege day
- Civil Service pension of up to 20% of your salary
- cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other perks

Prison officer rewards & benefits | HM Prison & Probation Service (prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk) Assessment Process Attachment

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📌 21684 - HMP Welland Oaks – First Time Prison Officer Scheme
🏢 Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB)
📍 Welland