Operational Support Grade - HMP Bedford (Prison Support Role)

Posted 1 day 5 hours ago by Ministry of Justice

Permanent

Full Time

Other

Bedfordshire, Bedford, United Kingdom, MK401

Job Description

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

10-Sep-2026

Location

Bedford United Kingdom

Number of jobs available

Job ID

21710

Descriptions & requirements

Descriptions & requirements

An extraordinary job. Done by someone like you.

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

HMP Bedford, St Loyes St, Bedford MK40 1HG

City / Town: Bedford

Region: East of England

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:

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

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

Visits

welcoming visitors on their arrival
escorting them if needed
monitoring and logging mail coming into the prison
reporting any contraband items, preserving evidence where needed
ensuring cell doors are locked and all prisoners are safely accounted for.

Reception

photographing prisoners
processing prisoners' property and parcels coming into the prison.
sometimes supervising prisoners
exchanging clothing and property
helping prison officers escort prisoners around the prison
walking around the prison delivering and collecting food trollies, or sometimes using an electric tug vehicle

Driving duties

collecting mail from the local sorting office, which may involve lifting heavy sacks.
monitoring the prison's Personal Identification Number (PIN) phone system
maintaining the log of PIN phone requests from prisoners

Procedures and protocol

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.

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.

In addition to your base pay, you will receive:

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 the generous Civil Service pension scheme
season ticket loans, retail discounts, an Employee Assistance Programme, and a Cycle to Work scheme.

Hours

You will work an average of 37 hours per week, and this will include working night shifts, evenings, weekends, and Bank/Public holidays on a rolling shift pattern (these days are added to your holiday allowance) 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

Interview dates: To Be Confirmed

Closing Date: 10th September 2026, 23:55 hours.

We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance .

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

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 of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
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

In addition you will receive 20% unsocial working allowance. This has been included in the salary figures quoted.

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.

Job Description Attachment

Band-2-SSO-Operational-Support-Grade-General-JD010-v9.0.pdf(Job Description Supporting Documents)