202604: Prison Officer - HMP Wealstun

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

13-May-2026

Location

Wetherby

AO

Job ID

17000

Prison officer - HMP Wealstun

HMP Wealstun, Thorp Arch, Wetherby LS23 7AZ

Starting salary: £35,875 (for a 39 hour week inc 20% unsocial)

City/Town: Wetherby

Region: North East

Vacancy type: Pass

Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available for this role, subject to eligibility and in accordance with the UK Immigration Rules in force at the time of application.

Applicants must have, and can maintain, the appropriate Right to Work in the UK for the duration of their employment.

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.

Someone like you

Our officers come from diverse backgrounds - whether you're a parent, a teacher, have worked in retail, the armed forces, or just feel naturally inclined to help people - we need empathy, self confidence, great communication skills and resilience.

Teamwork is vital; you'll need to support colleagues and act as one team to keep the prison and everyone working there safe. Various shifts, including some weekends, are required.

An extraordinary job

You'll carry out many roles in a day - peacekeeper, counsellor, teacher - helping to protect the public and make a positive impact.

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 (see below)
• Pass a medical and fitness assessment (eyesight, hearing, basic health screening)
• Meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes (with or without corrective lenses)
• Have a suitable standard of hearing (without hearing aids)
• Have any tattoos that are not offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating. Facial tattoos are generally not acceptable unless 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.

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

Successful applicants must ensure they have and 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

Pay and Hours

The initial training is 37 hours a week. After training you can choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week.

• 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 shift patterns that include evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays (added to your holiday allowance). Most prisons work with a changing shift pattern of 39 hours a week.

• 25 days' annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years' service)
• Paid time off for public holidays plus 1 extra privilege day
• Civil Service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%
• Cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits

Assessment & Selection

Applications are assessed on behaviours and strengths required of a prison officer: communicating and influencing, managing a quality service, caring, numerical, written English and spoken English abilities.

If successful at the online assessment centre, you will be offered a job immediately if a position is available, otherwise you will be placed on a reserve list. Successful pass is valid for 12 months for other prisons. If unsuccessful at the sift/assessment stage, a six month waiting period applies before re applying for a prison officer role.

Medical and Fitness

Once a vacancy is identified you will be invited to complete a medical and fitness test covering eyesight, hearing and basic health screening.

Assessments must take place in the UK. Applicants must attend a UK based assessment centre.

Legal & Equality

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as per Civil Service principles. We are a Disability Confident employer and offer reasonable adjustments. If you need adjustments, select 'yes' in the application form and inform us in advance.

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

Recruitment Process

Stage 1 online test checks basic judgement and numerical skills. Stage 2 values based assessment follows. Successful completion leads to an online assessment centre.

Benefits

• Paid holiday including public holidays and an extra privilege day
• Civil Service pension with employer contributions
• Cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other perks

Contact & EEO Statement

This role satisfies all statutory EEO requirements and is open to the populations listed above.