202606: Prison Officer - HMP Gartree

Job Overview

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

Location: AO. Job ID: 18521.

Prison Officer - HMP Gartree

HMP Gartree, Gallow Field Rd, Leicestershire LE16 7RP. Starting salary £35,875 for a 39 hour week including 20% unsocial.

Region: Midlands. Vacancy type: Merit.

Applicants must ensure they have the right to work in the UK. Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available but is unlikely for this campaign.

Someone Like You

Our officers come from diverse walks of life. Whether you're a parent, teacher, retail worker, armed forces veteran, or a natural people person, you'll bring the empathy, self confidence, great communication and resilience we value.

You'll build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners who may be at the lowest point in their lives. Teamwork is vital; you must support colleagues and act as one team to keep the prison safe. You will work various shifts and some weekends.

An Extraordinary Job

In this unique career, you'll carry out many roles in a day: peacekeeper, counsellor, teacher, the next minute. You'll work directly with prisoners, helping to protect the public and make a positive impact.

Responsibilities

• Protect the public and help make an impact on prisoners' lives.
• Maintain high standards of security, health, hygiene and safety.
• Build and maintain constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners.
• Support colleagues and act as one team to keep the prison and everyone here safe.

Qualifications and Physical Requirements

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.
• Pass a medical and fitness assessment, including eyesight and hearing tests.
• Meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes, with and without correct lenses.
• Have a suitable standard of hearing without the use of hearing aids.
• Have visible tattoos that are not offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating. Facial tattoos are generally not acceptable, except for cultural, religious or medical reasons.

To work in a high security prison (category A) you must have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years.

Travel to Work

A driving licence and own transport are beneficial but not essential, unless specified. Check transport options for the rural location of the prison.

Nationality Requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• 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 who have applied for settled or pre settled status under the 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 who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service.

Successful applicants must ensure they maintain the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom.

Essential Skills

• Communication and influencing skills.
• Commitment to quality.
• Care and understanding.

Salary and Benefits

The initial training is 37 hours a week. After training you can choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week. Your annual salary reflects your weekly hours.

• 37 hours a week = £33,746 a year.
• 39 hours a week = £35,875 a year.
• 41 hours a week = £38,003 a year.

Prisons operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will cover various shift patterns that include evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.

• 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 with employer contributions of 28.97%.
• Cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits.

Application Process

During the recruitment process you will be assessed on behaviour, strengths and abilities required to become an effective prison officer, including numerical, written English and spoken English.

Once you have completed your initial application form, you will be invited to complete stage 1 of the online test. Successful completion invites you to stage 2 (values based assessment). The online assessment centre (OAC) tests abilities, behaviours and strengths. You will be added to a merit list based on your score and may stay on the list for 12 months.

Medical and Fitness

Once a vacancy is identified you will be invited to complete a medical and fitness test covering eyesight, hearing, basic health screening and blood pressure. We only facilitate assessments in the UK.

Closing Date

This role is closed as of 25 June 2026.