1500 - Operational Support Grade - HMP Swinfen Hall (Prison Support Role)

As an Operational Support Grade, you will look after the day-to-day running of a busy prison, working in a close-knit team to carry out a range of support services - everything from patrol and gate duties, to managing deliveries, supervising visitors, and monitoring phone calls and CCTV. You will work shifts and nights to keep things running., You will work an average of 37 hours per week and this will include working night shifts, evenings, weekends and Bank/Public holidays (these days are added to your holiday allowance) on a rolling shift pattern. The frequency of night shifts will vary for each Establishment and can be discussed at interview. For an example of the shift times that you could be working please visit our website

Responsibilities, activities and duties are likely to include:

gate/portal duties: ensure the secure entry and exit of staff, visitors, vehicles; carry out searches of staff, prisoners, visitors, contractors and vehicles; issue and collect staff keys/radios
control room: operate the establishment radio system and monitor CCTV ensuring all suspicious activities are reported
visits: book visits; identify and process visitors on their arrival, escort them if required
censors/correspondence: monitor/log mail and report any illicit or contraband items, maintaining the preservation of evidence
night duties: ensure cell doors are locked/secure and all prisoners are safely accounted for
reception: assist in supporting appropriate tasks in reception; photograph prisoners; collate documentation for the property process; search/x-ray incoming prisoner property and parcels; receive items for prisoners and check all seals are intact on property storage
prisoner supervision: supervise prisoners as required; undertake prisoner clothing/property exchange and assist officers with free flow movement
food delivery: food trolley delivery and collection, which may involve the use of an electric tug vehicle
driving duties: transport prisoners and their escort to their destination in the cellular vehicle; collect mail from local sorting office
phone calls: monitor the Personal Identification Number (PIN) system, maintaining the log of PIN Phone requests from prisoners; complete all relevant paperwork keeping an audit trail of conversations; check that legal numbers are registered solicitors
procedures and protocol: understand and conform to national and local policies, responding appropriately to invoke emergency procedures and the actions required in relation to incidents

At the interview we will assess you against the following Success Profile behaviours -

Communicating and Influencing
Managing a Quality Service
For more information please visit our website

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of behaviours and experience
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are taking measures to ensure both candidate and staff safety, as a result, some prisons will be conducting live video interviews. All details will be sent to you before your interview

The interview is the ideal opportunity to tell us more about yourself, your work history or personal experiences, so we can get to know you better and assess how you will be suited to prison work.

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

1500 - Operational Support Grade - HMP Swinfen Hall (Prison Support Role)

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

£27,840
The salary figures quoted are for a 37 hour working week inclusive of 20% unsocial hours working allowance which is included in the salary to reflect the requirement to work nights, evening and weekend shifts