Prison Officer - HMP Onley

Prison Officer - HMP Onley

Location: HMP Onley, Rugby, CV23 8AP

Job ID: 19544

Type: Merit - Full time (39 hour week) with part time options available.

Start date: 23 Jul 2026.

Closing date: 23 Jul 2026.

Starting salary: £36,816 per annum (39 hour week, includes 20% unsocial hours).

Responsibilities

• Protect the public and maintain safety within the prison estate.
• Ensure the security of the prison through enforcement, monitoring and threat assessment.
• Build constructive, positive and professional relationships with prisoners.
• Support colleagues, acting as one team to keep the prison and everyone working here safe.
• Work varied shifts, including evenings, nights, weekends, public holidays and holidays blended into holiday allowance.
• Carry out additional duties such as counselling, teaching or supporting prisoner programmes as required.

Eligibility & Requirements

• Be at least 18 years old at commencement of employment.
• Meet Civil Service nationality requirements (see below).
• Pass a medical and fitness assessment, and meet required eyesight and hearing standards.
• Tattoos permitted provided they are not offensive or violent; facial tattoos generally not acceptable unless cultural, religious or medical.
• For Category A (high security) prisons, must have lived in the UK for the last 3 years.

Nationality Requirements

• UK nationals.
• Republic of Ireland nationals.
• Commonwealth nationals with right to work in the UK.
• EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein nationals and permitted family members with settled or pre settled status under the EUSS.
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible for EUSS before 31 Dec 2020.
• Turkish nationals and certain family members with accrued right to work in the Civil Service.

Travel to Work

Excellent transport access is beneficial but not required unless specified. Drivers licences and own transport are advantageous for rural locations. Shift start and finish times are fixed; applicants must ensure timely arrival.

Essential Skills

• Communication and influencing.
• Commitment to quality.
• Effective decision making.
• Care and understanding.

Pay

• 37 hours per week - £34,928 per annum.
• 39 hours per week - £36,816 per annum.
• 41 hours per week - £39,334 per annum.

All figures include applicable allowances.

Benefits

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

Assessment Process

Recruitment evaluates behaviours, strengths and abilities required for effective policing:

• Communicating and influencing.
• Managing a quality service.
• Making effective decisions.
• Caring.

Additional assessment of numerical, written and spoken English.

Online Tests

Stage 1 - online test covering basic judgement and numerical skills. Successful candidates move to Stage 2 - values based assessment.

Job Offers - Merit Vacancy

Successful completion of the online assessment centre places applicants on a merit list based on score. The prison will offer positions to highest scorer first as vacancies arise. Applicants stay on the merit list for 12 months. A six month waiting period applies after an unsuccessful sift or assessment.

Operational Support Grade (OSG) Role

Unsuccessful applicants to the prison officer role may be offered an alternative OSG position.

Medical and Fitness

Applicants will attend a UK based assessment centre for eyesight, hearing, blood pressure and general health screening.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets standards of behaviour for civil servants. Applicants may raise complaints through the following order of contact. (Contact details omitted for brevity.)

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service commits to attract, retain and invest in talent irrespective of background.

Reasonable Adjustment Support

Applicants may request reasonable adjustments prior to online tests or assessment centre. Requests should be communicated as early as possible.

Allowance Details

See attached job description documentation.

Additional Information

For assistance, call or email . Quote job reference 19544.

Security Checks

All applicants will undergo required security checks for the role.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Applicants must ensure all applications are truthful and accurate. Plagiarism or misrepresentation may lead to withdrawal of application.

Job Description Attachment

Band 3 PO Safe Decent and Secure JD048 v8.0 (1).pdf - attached file.