Prison Officer - HMP Swinfen Hall

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

09-Jul-2026

Location: AO

Job ID: 19517

Prison Officer - HMP Swinfen Hall (YOI)

Starting salary: £36,816 for a 39 hour week inc 20% unsocial.

Region: West Midland

Vacancy type: Merit

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.

Someone like you

We welcome candidates from a wide range of backgrounds. Whether you're a parent, a teacher, have worked in retail, the armed forces, or just feel like you're a natural people person, we value empathy, self confidence, great communication skills and resilience.

You will build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners and support colleagues as one team to keep the prison safe. This role requires working various shifts including weekends.

Job responsibilities

In this role you will play a number of roles in any one day - from peacekeeper to counsellor or teacher. You will work directly with prisoners in a unique environment, helping to protect the public and make a positive impact.

Requirements

• Be at least 18 years old on the date you commence employment.
• Meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements (see detail below).
• Pass a medical and fitness assessment, including eyesight, hearing and health screening.
• Meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes (with or without corrective lenses).
• Have a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids).
• Tattoos (including visible) must not be offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating; facial tattoos generally not acceptable unless cultural, religious or medical.
• For work in a high security (Category A) prison you must have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years.

Nationality requirements

• 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 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.

Essential skills

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

Pay and benefits

The initial training is 37 hours a week. After training you may choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week. Annual salary reflects weekly hours:

• 37 hours a week = £34,928 a year.
• 39 hours a week = £36,816 a year.
• 41 hours a week = £39,334 a year.

Other benefits include:

• 25 days' annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years of 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.

Assessment and application process

Applicants will be assessed on behaviours, strengths and abilities required for the role, including communication, managing a quality service, caring, numerical, written English and spoken English abilities. Successful candidates may be invited to a selection centre and placed on a merit list.

Medical and fitness

Medical and fitness tests, including eyesight, hearing and basic health screening, will be required as part of the selection process. Assessments must be completed within the UK.

Eligibility and commitments

Applicants must have the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom. We are a Disability Confident employer and provide reasonable adjustments where required.

As a civil service employer, we recruit by merit and uphold fair competition. Where you believe your application was subject to unfair practice, you may raise a formal complaint.

Equal Opportunity

We welcome successful applicants from all backgrounds. We comply with the Employment Equality Act and are an equal opportunity employer.

Contact

Closing date: 9 July 2026.